Dump trailer hydraulics

jenkinsph · Aug 30, 2014

J_J said:
To solve the mystery,remove the rod end hose and raise the bed.

If there is fluid on the rod side, it should flow out the rod end port. If you hold the lever in the raise position, if the seals are leaking, fluid will continue to flow out, and that is bad.

You then need a rebuild or reseal. Then reinstall the breather plug.

I agree with JJ on this, check it out and fix it if it needs it.

Did you install the new pump kit yet?

1gr8bldr · Aug 30, 2014

Took the old pump off tonight. I was not lucky. The fitting from the old hydraulic line does not work on the new pump. So, I have to find one that fits........ The pump recomends dexIII fluid. Since it takes much to fill it I purchased cheap "travelers" brand from TSC. I have not used it yet. I got to thinking that I should have done the opposite and purchased a hi quality dexIII. What do you think?

1gr8bldr · Aug 30, 2014

I figure that instead of unhooking the return line from the ram, I will leave it attached and have a bucket ready in case fluid is getting through. This way I can save it rather than spray it

Xfaxman · Aug 30, 2014

J_J said:
To solve the mystery,remove the rod end hose and raise the bed.

If there is fluid on the rod side, it should flow out the rod end port. If you hold the lever in the raise position, if the seals are leaking, fluid will continue to flow out, and that is bad.

You then need a rebuild or reseal. Then reinstall the breather plug.

1gr8bldr said:
Took the old pump off tonight. I was not lucky. The fitting from the old hydraulic line does not work on the new pump. So, I have to find one that fits........ The pump recomends dexIII fluid. Since it takes much to fill it I purchased cheap "travelers" brand from TSC. I have not used it yet. I got to thinking that I should have done the opposite and purchased a hi quality dexIII. What do you think?

I think you should have tested it like J. J. suggested, the old pump may be good.

For this system Travelers brand is ok.

TSC has hydraulic fittings, also NAPA.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

1gr8bldr · Aug 31, 2014

Xfaxman said:
I think you should have tested it like J. J. suggested, the old pump may be good.

For this system Travelers brand is ok.

TSC has hydraulic fittings, also NAPA.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

The old pump reservior will not hold fluid. I can see what seems to be a big 0 ring blown out from in between the reservior and the pump. Probably all that was needed to fix it, along with an air vent..... but I do not have time to fix it. It has to be on a job site tuesday morning.

1gr8bldr · Aug 31, 2014

Xfaxman said:
I think you should have tested it like J. J. suggested, the old pump may be good.

For this system Travelers brand is ok.

TSC has hydraulic fittings, also NAPA.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

The old pump reservior will not hold fluid. I can see what seems to be a big 0 ring blown out from in between the reservior and the pump. Probably all that was needed to fix it, along with an air vent..... but I do not have time to fix it. It has to be on a job site tuesday morning.

1gr8bldr · Aug 31, 2014

I would like to thank all of you who offered advice about my dump trailer fix. It seems to be working well although I have not raised it up past 1/4 since it is not hooked up to my truck and it is loaded. It seems to come down hard... yet I have never seen it come down loaded because it has dumped it's load before returning. I had to do some fabricating because the beam below for mounting was not wide enough for the larger size reservoir. So far, although not raised all the way yet, no fluid is coming out of the upper port of the ram. The old pump should be fine. I will keep it. Who knows, I might build something and use it. It probably just needs a new seal between the reservoir and pump.... and most of all... a breather. Now that I understand what I was working on, a breather was what I needed. More reserve would have helped but was not the problem. I always learn something when something gets fixed. Thanks for all the help.

jenkinsph · Aug 31, 2014

Let us know how it works out after you use it Tuesday. Good luck with it.

1gr8bldr · Sep 2, 2014

Had to unload the trailer today to be empty for next job. LOL, I'm glad it worked well, I was loaded. I went up strong all the way until it reached its max. Never seen it go that far. I had taken the hose that originally went from the top of the ram to the reserve and strapped it to the bottom of the frame next to the controls. I had a bucket ready in case fluid was getting by the seals. It was but not much. Maybe... 3/4 of a can drink. So since it was strong going up, I think I will run this line back to the reserve tank. But this time pipe it into the correct fitting to leave my breather functional.