removing the reservoir on a SnoWay

[coolgreen]

I'm almost ready to sell this stupid SnoWay plow and buy a Western I'm so pissed off.

I've been trying all day to remove the reservoir on my SnoWay 6.8-foot ST to change the fluid, with no luck.

I've tried pulling on it, heating it up with a hair dryer, twisting it - you name it.

I don't know what kind of Herculean strength someone would have to posess to get this thing off, but I certainly can't.

of course the owner's manual says to simply twist and pull the reservoir off. It was obviously written by some moronic idiotic fool who has never seen a snowplow in his life.

Is there some trick I'm missing? Right now I'd like to hook it up to my bumper and put it in drive, but I doubt it would budge. Either that or shoot the plow full of holes.

[wyldman]

It is a pain in the butt to get off.I usually use a large rubber mallet,and keep whacking it gently from side to side.Rust builds up underneath the edge,making it a bear to get off.You may put a small dent or two in it,but it will eventually come off.

Doesn't yours have a drain plug ? Most do.They are also prone to cracking around the drain plug.I've repaired many.

Don't give up on it.If your really stuck,take a drive down,and we'll get it fixed up for ya.

Pay close attention to your quadrant and a-frame at the pivot.They tend to tear out the bushings.

[CT18fireman]

I haven't seen a lot but of the few I have serviced all had plugs. Maybe the older ones did not?

Wyldman I did see one cracked, it was in the middle of a storm so we used JBWeld and it held out the season.

[wyldman]

I've used JB weld or epoxy in a pinch,but it never lasts.I just pull them off and weld them up.The first sign is usually stains on the pump mounting plate,but no visible leaks can be seen.They will leak slowly over time.

[Alan]

My two straight Sno-ways ('94 & '96) don't have drain plugs, you remove the return line to drain the reservoir.

As for taking it off I've only had one off once and that was pretty simple, getting it back on was worse. Four small screws hold it to the valve block, it seats on a big O-ring just inside the end of the reservoir. I think I remember that I smacked it sideways a few times and it gradually walked off the mounting surface.

The reason I had mine off was because of that damn leaky fitting where the return line attaches. It's furnace brazed into a swaged hole in the housing and the brazing can't handle either the vibration or the temperature changes.

I was thinking that by the time they called them ST, MT, HT series they had gone to plastic reservoirs. I'm aobut 99% sure the vee plows use plastic.

[wyldman]

Actually I think you are correct Alan.I think it's the return line fitting I'm think of for draining,not the drain plug.They are brazed from the factory,and your right about them not holding up to the vibration.

[coolgreen]

I finally gave up. I left the reservior on and turned it upside down to get all the fluid out.

I guess I'll clean out the screens next year.

Thanks for the advice though.

[Robo]

Not to thread jack but do you guys (Wyldman) think I should change my hydraulic oil in my plow this year?? It was new in January and I only used it about 4 times....

[wyldman]

I like to see it changed every year,regardless of use.It's cheap insurance,and gets the water and contaminates out of the oil.

I actually do ours twice a year sometimes,as it doesn't take me long.I've found synthetic ATF works just as good as the fancy snoway Univis oil,and it's way cheaper and readily available.

While your in there,check everything over,like where the lift ram hose goes down through the scissor area.Also check the a-frame and quadrant bushing area,and the pump mounting plate for cracks.If the pump mounting plate is cracked or bent,it usually means you a-frame out quadrant is getting fatigued near the bushing area.

The bushings in the lift assy also need to be replaced every once and a while.

[CT18fireman]

Having the plow sit all summer long you get condensation in the lines and pump. I would definately change the oil every fall.

[Robo]

Thanks Chris you are truly the man!

I will give the synthetic ATF a try as I have heard the aviation grade hydraulic oil is a bit pricey.