mvp redesign

[mattg]

Does anyone here have the new mvp after the redesign? I have been looking at boss, but like to keep an open mind. The old A frame design just didn't look strong enough to me but the new T frame looks to be a genuine improvement. If you have one, how well has it worked out for you and how well would it compare to the boss. Thanks for any help you can give. You guys seem to tell it as it is. :notworthy

[KenP]

I picked up three of them this season, they seem to work well and are a breeze to put on and off. I didn't have any problems with the Unimount other then putting it on and off until one of the guys tore it off the truck. I'll be parting it out shortly, drop me a note if you have any interest.

[T-Zab]

Hey Matt I used to have the unimount western mvp, and it was pretty good design, except for getting it on and off. I now own a western 8' ultra-mount straight blade. ( I sub for large companies and they do not pay extra for v-blades, so why beat up your truck, extra weight move more snow, less hours IMO. ) The ultra mount flat out blows away anything out there. This blade is on and off in seconds, yes seconds. My buddy has the boss quick tach setup and it tends to have its moments. He still has the occasional uni-mount situation, were as the blade is not going on IMO. If you leave your blade on all season who cares right?
But if you drive daily and remove your blade look hard and long at western.
Todd

[4evergreenlawns]

Well I put a 8.5 MVP Ultra mount on my F-450 this year. I just got to plow with it for the first time during a wet heavy 6"- 8" snow event.

I think the it plowed pretty good. I really did not see any issues with scraping to the pavement even after many say the V do not clear well. I was also able to stack heavy wet snow about 8'-10' high in the scoop with no problem.

I think the new design is very strong. The only problem I had was the screen became clogged up after the 1st plow event which slowed down and prevented the V to scoop action. Had the screen changed fulshed some fluid and all is fine again.

[Honest Mike]

Screen clogged after very first use on a brand new plow?? Not doubting you whatsoever, but how or what would clog the screen in such a short amount if time? Glad to hear plow worked well otherwise though. :) Mike

[Crash935]

Clogged Screen?? Just talked to one of the techs at western friday about the same issue. Seems that a grease was being used during the assembly of some power units that doesnt break down in the western fluid and is to heavy to be pulled through the small round filter to be broken up by the pump. They suggested a flush and fill and changing to the larger filter on the ultra mount power units. Problem is that you wont know if you have one of these power units until it happens, so if you have a new western and havent plowed with it yet, hang it on the truck for a few days and keep running it when you can to run fluid through the pump to make sure its not going to quit while your in the middle fo your route .

[4evergreenlawns]

I think it was from the hard drop in temps causing some moisture in the fluid and than freezing. It when from 60 to -7 in 36 hours. Considering I used the plow durinf some of that time I can see the warm fluid dropping in temps causing the condensation (sp) and than freezing. I guess it was not actually clogged but frozen.

You might be right about the grease thing. They pulled the truck in and went right to work on chaning the screen and flushing. They did comment that it was a common probelm with the new MVPs this season. Also mentioned if it happens again they would change the fluid to MYERS fluid in place of the Western Hyd fluid. Not sure why that would make a difference.

[mattg]

Thanks for the replies. All of the help is appreciated. One more question for you. Is the hydraulic package on the ultramount a different design than on the unimount? If so, is there an increase in blade function speed? I know someone who has the unimount style and the blade response seems to be a little on the slow side. This could very well be just his particular unit, but I would just like some input on it. Thanks again.

[Crash935]

The power unit on the ultra is different than the uni mount (sort of). The unimount had the lift cylinder as part of the unit, its seperate with the ultra. Both run the same motor, same pump design (Longer shaft and changed pickup tube location). Its basically the same power unit that has been run on the V plows for years just with the extra valve block removed.

[hoot]

Love mine. Hookup is fast... like a minute or less.

Plowed a few storms with nothing but good results. I'm not a pro but I do get raves about the job I do. They love the clean lots.

Here are pics..

PICTURES (http://www.uscom.com/~hoot/cars/duramax/gmc/plow/)

http://www.uscom.com/~hoot/cars/duramax/gmc/plow/images/DSCN4433.jpg

[Pelican]

Whoa! Stop the presses!!!

Could I be hearing this right???? A company that's been building plows for over 50 years is still making improvements to them? In all this time they still haven't gotten it right??!!
The only problem I had was the screen became clogged up after the 1st plow event which slowed down and prevented the V to scoop action.
If I had just paid $4500 for a new plow and it had done this on the first time out, I'd had driven it through the dealer's door and demanded they replace my plow immediately, plus pay for body shop expenses resulting from my tirade!:geez :scramble

[4evergreenlawns]

Steve,

I did the same thing with the Western that I WILL do if the new 810 cracks a wing, breaks a spring or hose. I called the dealer and told him I was on my way in with a problem and only leaving after it was fixed or with a new replacement.

One thing I did NOT do was FIX IT MYSELF in my garage after waiting for some parts.

Nice on the 50 years in business thing but a clogged screen is hardly broken parts or major failure of components that are suppose to be setting a product aside from the rest in the industry.

Thanks it is the thought that counts.

[JohnnyU]

:haha :rolling :haha

It's all part of the production process. No lab test will ever compare to what the customers can come up with as far as 'abuse' and hard usage. Some companies have more strict testing procedures than others, and I say that without seeing the Blizzard test facility, only the Fisher facility.

[Crash935]

Pelican, just wondering if you get bad service from your dealer? The fact that you would have to drive it through their door gives me that impression.

The problem with the sceens was a simple mistake of using the wrong grease for assembly that didnt break down. Took a whole 15 minutes to correct in the shop.

A company still making changes after 50 years? You can go back to the old conventional with a cable operated pump. I'll go with the new stuff. Western and Fischer are not the only ones changing, Blizzard sent techs to our shop 2 times in the first year to update the stock we had and they still are making changes from the original. I see Hiniker has also made some changes for this year along with Boss making theirs a few years ago. So changes are not new to the industry and we should be glad that the manufactures are willing to make changes to make our job of plowing more productive.

Pelican, hope you dont feel i was going after you. As someone who is not only a plowing contractor but a service/installer, its frustrating from both sides. I expect the equipment on my truck to be right and i also hate to see a new or recent install come back for something that only takes 15 minutes to fix.

[Pelican]

OK, I can see my comments aren't going where I intended. Everyone take a deep breath and say "SATIRE!"

[4evergreenlawns]

Steve,

I am sorry if I seemed offended. I TOTALY knew what you were doing. I think by now you know what I would do and or have done in this situation. I wish my choice was easier to make between Western or Blizzard.

Once again thanks for the thoughts and IMHO turnabout is fair play.

[Pelican]

Crash, your comments are exactly the point I've been trying to make on other threads. Any manufacturer that is not continuously improving its products regardless of age stands to be overtaken by its competition.

[Crash935]

Pelican, Boy, i thought you were going to come back and chew me a new one!

Since 90% of what i deal with is from Douglas Dynamics, i'm kind of partial to what they do. The techs from western are a great bunch and are always willing to listen to new ideas from us techs. I have dealt with other brands and got the "what the he## do you know, you just install them, how could you possibly have a better idea" from them. I still cant belive that the other company with yellow plows is still using the power unit they used in the late 70's.

Then one the other side there is the service issue. Not just from a dealer, but from the manufacture. Will the manufacture lean towards the consumer when it comes to a warranty claim? I know if i take a part off a truck and tell the service writer that its warranty, western or fisher will warranty it. What about the dealer, how long has he carried this brand? Does the dealer have the inventory to get a truck back on the road? Can they do most of the work while you wait.

But now back to the original question. I have not seen any significant problem with the 30 ultra v's that were installed at the shop i'm at other than the problem with the screen plugging or the pick up tubes dropping off. If you get a power unit fresh from western, these problems will have been taken care of by the time you get it.

Now i'm going to bed before i really get into trouble.

[urethane dino]

Steve
I undersood what you were doing, it just wasnt that funny. The thing with satire, is that it needs to be funny, otherwise it just makes the writer look like an .... well you know.
If I owned a new a western v, and it had a clogged screen, I would not have been very happy, however not equal in comparison to major wing componet failure. Apples to apples people. The first year I had my western v, I noticed a crack in the wing near the hinge on my left wing. Western replaced the wing, and I have never had another problem with the plow since. I havnt had to up grade the plow every season or two. But I was very nervous going into the next season. However its track record since has been excellent. That is why I hesitate to go away from western to be a beta tester for this years improvements on that other brand.
Dino

[Pelican]

So now I look like an.... well, you know? That almost sounds like a personal attack:confused:

I've gotten messages from others who've been following our saga who thought my post was hilarious!

Originally quoted by urethane dino:
I could use more tact that is for sure.
Understatement of the year!

Anyway, I'm done cluttering up the board with these silly exchanges. I can say this however, I've actually owned and operated a Western plow, and can make actual comparisons to my present set up, not speculate about performance and longevity issues. Western makes a product that works well for many operations, it did not work well in mine.