Hydro lift finally on tractor

[bob1959 0]

I finally got the lift rebuilt and installed on my b-112. I converted to hydro from armstrong and not sure what is correct on operation. When I first started the tractor that thing came right to life. Tractor just above idle and it lifted my snow blower right up. Last night I used it for the first time and it worked great. When I pulled it back into the garage I had the tractor around idle and it seemed to strain a little and did not lift up or lifted real slow. If I raise the engine speed it lifts but seems to be slower. I left the blower up with the tractor off for over an hour and it did not lose any height. That tells me that the value and cylinder rod rings are all tight. I just wonder if the gears don't pump as well after they get loosened up. I did have the oil filled up to the plug only because you just can't see the dog gone thing that easily. I have since removed some oil but still acts the same.

[portuncia 0]

Not sure if I am all wet here, but what is wrong with having to rev the motor a bit for it to lift, being out west i have never touched a snow blower but they look like they weigh a good bit. Never noticed whether I have had to do that with my front mount weed wacker. I would say if it holds the implement up over time, you have no leakage, and its not making any funny noises, I would be happy. You just motivated me to replace my leaking hoses on my tractor.

[Wishin2BMowin 0]

My 3212H hydro lift didn't work when I got it but new "O" rings in the lift cylinder fixed it right up. Mine will lift my 42 inch blower at an idle but it boggs down the engine a little. If I rev it up a bit I have no issues and it will even pick up the front of the tractor if I put down pressure on. Maybe you put the wrong weight oil in your pump or the pump you have is tired? Best of luck...

[bob1959 0]

I went out at lunch and used the blower. It seemed to be stronger when I first started using it. The more I used the Hydro the weaker and slower it got. I had the blower in a little snow pile and it would not lift but when I backed up it finally came up. The engine was at the same speed as it was from when I started. I decided to use 10W 30 synthetic motor oil but when I first started it with the hydro it was real strong. After I have used it a while is when it seems to be losing strength. The fact that it was over filled in the beginning shouldn't have any lasting effect.

[JimDk 1]

Bob As the oil warms it loses some viscosity and your pump or control valve may leak a little internally. As long as it works, use it and enjoy it. You may have to change to a heavier weight oil. Jim

[richp 0]

Your spring might be a little weak in your relief valve. I had one that somebody shimmed, and it would lift anything.

[bob1959 0]

Well, was out last night blowing snow and the lift finally would not lift the blower. It just gets weaker and weaker as I use it. I just finished installing on Sunday and when I started it up it was strong and went right up even at lower engine idle. I ended up draining the synthetic oil and putting in regular 10W 30. The lift would move a little if I went back and forth with the lever. It would raise 1/2 inch at a time and would lift it. When I drained the synthetic oil of course you can't get all of the oil out of the system which makes me think that the oil is still deluded enough from the synthetic. Has anyone else used synthetic oil in the hydro lift? I also got the blower the whole way up and left it over night. When I came out this morning it was still in the exact same place as I left it. This means to me that the plunger and valve seals are tight with no leakage. If that is the case then it was be in the pump gears. I don't know what else could be the problem but viscosity of the oil.

[GregB 972]

When I put the hydro lift on the Big Ten, it would not lift up the Johnny bucket empty. I took out the pressure relief plunger and spring. The seat had flattened out an area on the plunger taper. I shimmed behind the spring the amount of the "notch" that was on the taper. I worked better. I would check this before I tore apart the Gear pump area. GregB

[UCD 14]

Viscosity might contribute but I would more than likely say it is the seals in the pump leaking by when the oil gets hot and thinner. You might try putting a little bit of automatic transmission seal conditioner in it.

[Hughey 0]

Have you checked to see if the pulley is slipping under load? I have had this happen to me in the past, belt looks tight but when load is applied the belt slips.

[bob1959 0]

We got snow this weekend so I decided to fire the beast up and see what I could do with it. With about half throttle the lift did not lift but if I hit it on and off it would come up about a 1/2 inch at a time. I did that twice and then hit the throttle up and the darn thing started working. I now works on all throttle settings and is great to have. The only thing that I did to it was to drain the synthetic oil and replace with regular. I thing once it all got mixed in is seems to work fine. It is either that or dirt in the ck value that finally cleared itself. Thanks for the info but the only thing I would say is not to run synthetic oil in the hydro pump. I think that it is to good of a lubricant for this application.