Fisher Plow ( old school)

Anonymous-0 · Dec 6, 2009

I have a 1987 F-350 with a Fisher Plow with the pump off the fanbelt. I have had this truck 3 years . First year she worked fine , up and down quick . Last year she seemed to slow down a bit . Well we got our first storm last night , and I fired her up and it would hardly pick off the ground. I found her a quart low on fluid so I topped it off and she works fine now . Question I have is I dont see any major leaks anywhere . I keep the plow on all the time so the hoses are not pluged and unpluged a lot. Normal for her to use oil like that ?

Walterdavies · Dec 6, 2009

Most hydraulic systems will leak some. if all you lost was a quart I wouldn't get to excited unless you see oil all over the place.
Walt

Anonymous-0 · Dec 6, 2009

If you lost a quart you should see where that is leaking. Better take another look.

JDemaris · Dec 6, 2009

Many places it could leak. I have two old Fishers and both mine developed leaks at the reservoir (not the pump shaft). I fixed both with red silicone and they've been fine ever since.

Uncle Ernie · Dec 6, 2009

A hydraulic system in good repair should use NO oil. That said , as long as you are not starving the pump ,you can dump oil in as long as you can deal with it and are not leaving a slick...

Johnski · Dec 6, 2009

I know you added a quart but was the level ever checked before? If not, it might have been low when you got the truck and the leak is very small. I wouldn't worry if that's the case. Jf

Paul in MN · Dec 6, 2009

One place of fluid loss on all brands of hydraulic snowplow setups is the rust pits on the turn rams. The pits carry a little oil out past the seals every time the blade gets turned. And the rust pits will carry little amounts of slush and road grit back into the hydraulic system. So out goes the oil, and in goes the water and grit. The old Western system (with red ATF) seemed to have the most tolerance for this, and the Meyers with the super light oil had the least tolerance, giving the electric solenoids a real fit. As I am currently still running an E48 Meyers, I change out the oil 2 times per plowing season, at about $10/qt. The preventive maintanence is cheap compared to system failure in a nasty cold windy snowstorm.

If you have not changed out your oil and are just now adding 1 qt, then consider yourself lucky (cheap), but your system probably has a lot of built up crap in the oil and resevoir.

Paul in MN

Fisher Plow ( old school)

Anonymous-0

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Walterdavies

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Anonymous-0

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JDemaris

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Uncle Ernie

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Johnski

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Paul in MN

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