[Prospect62]

Hello all, I'm sure this has been covered before and I did search but I could not find anything relevant to such an old setup.

This is an 85 F250 and I think the plow setup is from the 70's. I just bought this truck over the summer and today was the first day I hooked the plow up and tried to use it.

The plow goes up and down perfectly (I plowed my driveway with ease), but when I command left or right angle I can hear the pump making noise but nothing happens. I topped off the fluid a few days ago by adding fluid to the fill hole until it started to run out. The one quick connect on the left ram leaks a bit but nothing terrible. I can manually push the plow left and right quite easily.

Can anyone shed some light on what the issue might be? Could I have air in the system? Bad valve? Am I missing a proper fluid top-off procedure? Hell I'm not even positive I hooked the hydraulic lines up to the angle rams properly.

Like I said, lots of reports of this happening on this forum but I couldn't find anything pertaining to a setup and pump this old. Thanks for any help!

 

[Mountain Bob]

https://library.westernplows.com/westernplows/pdffiles/13523_080092.pdf

 

[Prospect62]

https://library.westernplows.com/westernplows/pdffiles/13523_080092.pdf

Thank you, at least I know what the hell I have now. Still baffled about why it's not angling - the motor responds and runs when I command left or right angle but nothing happens. My controller doesn't have a light on it as this manual says it should, but I don't think that's relevant.

 

[Mountain Bob]

You have to check if the solenoids are getting power, at the proper time. Do some testing. There is a test chart in that manual.There are some smart western people here that can help you after that.

 

[Randall Ave]

That's a old cable unit. You may have to adjust the cables.

 

[Prospect62]

That's a old cable unit. You may have to adjust the cables.

Yes, it does have the cables. Any tips for adjustment?

 

[Mountain Bob]

That's a old cable unit. You may have to adjust the cables.

Ah,good eyes!

 

[Mountain Bob]

Here is the cable manual-

https://library.westernplows.com/westernplows/pdffiles/13497_020088.pdf

 

[Randall Ave]

Ya needs to take the cover off where the angle cable goes in and see if it is moving the valve.
I always hated working on those old units.

 

[the Suburbanite]

Hello all, I'm sure this has been covered before and I did search but I could not find anything relevant to such an old setup.

This is an 85 F250 and I think the plow setup is from the 70's. I just bought this truck over the summer and today was the first day I hooked the plow up and tried to use it.

The plow goes up and down perfectly (I plowed my driveway with ease), but when I command left or right angle I can hear the pump making noise but nothing happens. I topped off the fluid a few days ago by adding fluid to the fill hole until it started to run out. The one quick connect on the left ram leaks a bit but nothing terrible. I can manually push the plow left and right quite easily.

Can anyone shed some light on what the issue might be? Could I have air in the system? Bad valve? Am I missing a proper fluid top-off procedure? Hell I'm not even positive I hooked the hydraulic lines up to the angle rams properly.

Like I said, lots of reports of this happening on this forum but I couldn't find anything pertaining to a setup and pump this old. Thanks for any help! View attachment 258483
View attachment 258479
View attachment 258480
View attachment 258482
View attachment 258481
View attachment 258484

Not a Ferd guy, but that is a pretty clean looking truck. Where’d you find it/buy it out of? Interesting use of the quick connect on the hoses, too.

 

[Hydromaster]

Not a Ferd guy, but that is a pretty clean looking truck. Where’d you find it/buy it out of? Interesting use of the quick connect on the hoses, too.

I thought that’s how all of the old westernswere plumed?

 

[Western1]

Yes that’s how the conventional were

 

[Western1]

Sounds like you have a issue with the cushion/check valves. If you can manual angle it then when you command left or right fluid is just circulating instead of filling a ram.

 

[Western1]

This help?

 

[the Suburbanite]

I thought that’s how all of the old westernswere plumed?

Could be. It’s possible I just never noticed. I didn’t really pay attention to equipment till I picked up a 15 year old Fisher MM1 a whole back No quick disconnects at the rams on that one.

 

[Western1]

Blade will not hold angle

 

[Western1]

Could be. It’s possible I just never noticed. I didn’t really pay attention to equipment till I picked up a 15 year old Fisher MM1 a whole back No quick disconnects at the rams on that one.

With the conventional it was the only way to take the plow off the truck because pump and lights stayed on the truck

 

[Prospect62]

Thank you all, especially MoutainBob and Western1. I appreciate the links to the manuals. Those valve schematics are greek to me, I always was a "watch someone else and then repeat" kind of learner. I'll read over the manuals and see if I can make sense of the cable adjustments before I tear into the valves I guess.

Not a Ferd guy, but that is a pretty clean looking truck. Where’d you find it/buy it out of? Interesting use of the quick connect on the hoses, too.

I'm not a Ferd guy either but I always wanted an old school diesel 4x4 with a 4-speed and this one found me. It's a 6.9 IDI diesel with a T19 4-speed and I absolutely love it, it's like driving an old school bus. I found it in Denver Colorado and had it shipped all the way back to me in Central New York State. Spent all summer rebuilding the front end and changing bushings, bearings, brakes and joints front and rear. Did a Ford 3G alternator upgrade, new radiator, fuel system maintenance, heater core, etc. It's a great running old-school truck. I just gotta get a plow headlight setup figured out.

That's why I was kind of heartbroken when I finally got a snowstorm up here and found the plow wouldn't angle (I plowed with it anyway). Thanks for the compliment.

 

[Prospect62]

That's a old cable unit. You may have to adjust the cables.

Can't seem to find anything in the manual about how or when to adjust the cables. Guess I'll have to open up the 4-way valve to see if they're responding to the commands before I decide I need to adjust them. But like I said, when I command left or right angle the pump is making some noise.

 

[Mountain Bob]

Page 7 shows the cable adjustments.