Hydraulic lift weak
 

My snow thrower isn't lifting high enough, about and inch. I even tried xtreme motorworks adjustable lift Rod and lift bracket extender. If I manually lift the thrower higher, it sags right on down. Is this a problem with the hydraulics?

Is this on your 149? :Unknown:

Yes. I did some searching, sounds like I need a 1000 psi pressure gauge. Anyone have an Amazon link to the right kind? I did a fluid change, maybe the level is too low?

No....

If you lift the blower by hand and it leaks down, you either have an issue with the valve, or the cylinder. Check to make sure that the linkage to the spool valve is allowing it to center. You can do this by moving the handle just slightly forward, then slightly back and see if it stops creeping down. If now, then you need to check and see if the cylinder is bypassing internally. Easiest way to do that is to raise the blower up all the way and block it. Then, remove the line on the opposite end of the cylinder (rod end), take the block that is holding the blower up out and see if oil comes out of the fitting. If so, replace the cylinder.

Only a few tools required. :beerchug:


Checking the pressure of the operating system is not a bad thing.... but will not tell you if your cylinder is leaking, or if you have a valve issue. Since it won't hold up the blower, my bet is the cylinder needs rebuilt.

Well it does hold up the thrower as high as it'll lift it. But if I manually lift it higher, it squishes down to same height it had lifted it too. It doesn't leak down to the ground. It's acting like the pressure is bypassing and it can't lift it high enough. It also seems weak in reverse like I can't get to full speed like it used to. That's why I'm suspect of the fluid level. I filled it to the plug height, but didn't recheck it after running the engine and pressurizing the system.

Post a pic of the rear end cover. Maybe someone changed it out with the one from a gear drive. The fluid level plugs are lower on a gear drive.

There won't be much fluid loss after running the system, and shouldn't really be any measurable amount. Less than a pint. If you started it and it lost more than that, you didn't fill it the first time. It holds 2 gallons, the pump holds less than a pint and the cylinder.... maybe 2 pints. Point is, if you filled it full.... the level wouldn't be too low to give issues.

Post some pics of it in the raised position from the RH side. :bigthink:

Pics I have already on my computer... Do any help?

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h7...psbus1xyw9.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h7...pse3s7jujq.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h7...psu5lxykxd.jpg

That's the right rear cover.
Take the tunnel cover off and watch it go up and down
and see if everything is moving correctly

:ThumbsUp:


Also, you could have a sheared roll pin on the implement lift lever by the foot rest (RH side).

Could have also sheared the spiral pin through the rock-shaft in the lift arm that the cylinder fastens to.