Those with plows on FEL...

[Buckgnarly]

....i am assuming you are running some sort of tractor hydro fluid? My project will entail using the plow on my truck and tractor, wondering how the electro-hydru pump on the truck will do with it instead of normal plow or ATF fluid. Anyone have experience with this?

 

[dstig1]

All the ones I have seen use the tractor hydraulics to drive the angle cylinders through a 3rd function (like mine) or rear remotes. The electric pump is eliminated. If you want to be able to switch back & forth, you might be better off leaving the pump on and using the tractor electrical system to drive the pump (if it has enough power to do it). Just leave the plow/pump as a unit and you can switch it back & forth as needed. You may want to post in Snow Removal forum instead of Attachments, but no biggie.

 

[radioman]

As one hydrualic shop told me, oil is oil and it doesnt compress like air or water. There are minor differences between the types of oil used in hydraulics, but you can switch most equipment so its all the same. I'd check the specs used in your truck and see if it can be swapped with tractor hydro oil. I am sure I'll get flamed here but if it works-

 

[LD1]

I am sure I'll get flamed here but if it works-

Flame on.....

I guess it depends on the brand of the plow. But if we are dealing with meyers plows and pumps.......USE THE BLUE STUFF. Sure, it is expensive, but it dont take much. But for whatever reason (that I cannot explain) if you use anything else, you WILL have problems before the season is over. Even ATF dont work well in a meyer pump.

dstig makes a great suggestion, but I highly doubt that the small battery and alternator on these compact tractors will keep up.

Simple solution that I would do, buy two new angle cylinders and hoses. When you swap from truck to tractor, swap the cylinders so you dont cross-contaminate the meyer system (or whatever brand you have). A pair of off-brand cylinders are ~$50 each, and you shouldnt have more than about $25 in a pair of hoses.

Now if you have a really old plow that still uses the under-hood power steering type pump, then your fine swapping back and forth cause those dont have the issue like the smaller electric units.

Also when hooking up to the tractor, dot forget to incorporate some type of crossover valve to protect the plow.

 

[radioman]

good point ld1 -- I am used to the old school stuff like the power steering pump look alikes ..

 

[Buckgnarly]

I might talk to Fisher about running UDT in it, but there are some decent old fishers on Craigslist, might be time to upgrade my truck plow to an 8 or 8.5', then use my 7.5' on the Kioti.

I have the old Fisher Speedcast setup, so it's ideal for running just the plow and not the pump..... blade/frame setups can go cheap as everyone as Minute Mounts now.

 

[LD1]

If you plan on running two different plows, and plan on using the tractor hydraulics (if I understand correctly), then I wouldnt waste a call to fisher. Cause if you use a different plow on the tractor, all you are running is the angle cylinders right?? if so, whatever UDT or SUDT that is in your tractor is more than sufficient. But calling fisher, I am sure you will get something like "we cant advise that and only reccomend our plow fluid" or something.

Now for running the pump on your truck, stick with fluid made for the job and not just the generic UDT that goes in the tractor.