hydraulic ram

[Ski Country]

I was wondering if hydraulic rams go bad because I just had the pump and motor rebuilt but now the plows float does not work real well.

[Jerre Heyer]

What type of plow?

Cyls don't normally go bad and float is controlled by valves and not the ram.

[Ski Country]

Its a polar plow. I took off the quick connect to see if it would then drop the ram with the weight of the plow on it but it still would not drop

[hydro_37]

Sounds like a sticky valve. Try flushing the system out with Meyers Hydro-Flush.

[Crash935]

Take some WD, PB, or FF and spray the area around the packing nut, sometimes the packing dries out.

[AppEng]

Actually, a hydraulic cylinder or "ram" can go bad and cause drift if the cylider piston seals are leaking past. Even on a single acting cylinder (ones with only one hose to the cylinder base end) this can happen. But the cylinder will only drift down until the piston moves enough to equal the volume on the rod side, then the drift will stop.

If a single acting cylinder has bad piston seals you'll likely see an oily/wet rod or the end packing seal will be really oily.

[Chuck Smith]

Not real familiar with Polar. Is the lift ram part of the pump assembly? Did they work on the lift ram?

The packing nut on the lift ram could be way overtightened too. Hence the pump can overcome it to go up, but the weight of the plow alone cannot, to lower.

I've had some "fun" with overtightened packing nuts coming in before...:rolleyes:

~Chuck

[Crash935]

Chuck,

Polar was a Western (conventional) blade and mount with Monarch electric/hydro pump under the hood (mold board was painted orange). Were produce in the late 80's and just into the 90's. Had one installed new back in 88 on my 88 chevy, plowed commercially with that truck and plow for almost 20, sold both seperatly last fall, the plow is still working, dont know about the truck.