Western Plow wont go down - FIXED!

Anyone have any experience fixing Western Uni-mount plows?

I was doing a little drift clean up yesterday (cold as hell out) when the plow stopped going down (float mode). Left, Right, and UP work fine.

I took the plow off in the garage and let it thaw out. I heat-gunned the valve box for awhile. Tried it again and still no down.

I haven't tested for power at the S1 solenoid yet, but I'll try that when I get home later. I've never messed with check/control valves before, but I hope it doesn't come to that.


haha... just realized my plow broke the official first day of winter... naturally.

epic

Throw it away and buy a real mans plow .

http://www.colledun.com/gallery/albu...ow/TowPlow.jpg

I don't think I could get that to fit my driveway :stare

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Originally Posted by Cryptic

I don't think I could get that to fit my driveway :stare

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Then get a bigger ******* driveway.

What the hell is that? Is it shopped?

The TowPlow is a new and revolutionary snow plow design. Bob Lannert, a Technical Support Engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation, invented the TowPlow. His farming background was instrumental in the development of this new snow removal unit. I spoke with Bob to gain a better understanding of how the TowPlow came to be and learn more about it.

Our thanks to Bob for taking the time to educate us on the TowPlow.

Bob has promised to keep us up-to-date on new developments and the performance of the TowPlow. So if we get some snow in Missouri, we’ll talk to Bob and bring you an update.

Thank you for being so precise, Myles.

Copy and paste is quite the revolutionary tool.

Stop feeding it viagra......

Here's your answer :shades

I'd bet its got water in the system, thaw it out and change the fluid, use a oil made for plows, ATF will work but seems to freeze up when its really cold out.....

I think its on its 3rd season with the same oil. It does have "western" oil in it.

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Originally Posted by Cryptic

Western Plow - won't go down.

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That's an odd pet name....

After 4 hours this is a serious medical condition called priapism. You should call your doctor right away.

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Originally Posted by fivonut

That's an odd pet name....

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Oh I giggled.

At least you got the good half of the stuck problem.

I've had the opposite, plow was stuck on the ground.
Gotta attempt to lift the plow up by hand, then readjust the chain. PITA if you don't have a jack out in the middle of nowhere :0

But yea, like GRNDNL said, there's most likely water frozen in the lines.
Stuck solenoid is less probable, but possible.

usually when the solenoid gives out you have nothing ima go with the frozen line since it has been so fricken cold the last two days

x100 for frozen line

The down function is 100% related to the coil and valve, fed by
12v. No ice is going to freaze that portion of the system.

Lack of voltage.
Bad Coil.
Expanded valve.

I have schematics if you need them, have been to the Western
schools and have the factory repair manuals at work.

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Originally Posted by Cryptic

plow stopped going down (float mode). Left, Right, and UP work fine.

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Pump,hoses and motor working fine, suction screener
would cavitate oil and make a nasty noise with ice.

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Originally Posted by fivonut

That's an odd pet name....

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ROFL:rolf:rolf:rolf:rolf:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsu p:thumbsup

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Originally Posted by Russ Jerome

Pump,hoses and motor working fine, suction screener
would cavitate oil and make a nasty noise with ice.

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good point russ...i never really have messed with more then solenoids and relays so im kinda useless in the situation hopefully you will get it all figured out soon andy were suppose to get more snow tomorrow

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Russ Jerome

The down function is 100% related to the coil and valve, fed by
12v. No ice is going to freaze that portion of the system.

Lack of voltage.
Bad Coil.
Expanded valve.

I have schematics if you need them, have been to the Western
schools and have the factory repair manuals at work.

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Is there anything you don't know about...LMAO?!?!?1

quit pressing the up lever?

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Originally Posted by Lash

Is there anything you don't know about...LMAO?!?!?1

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I only know about useless stuff, I cant figure out how to
rig the lottery or anything impotant :)

I agree with it being a solenoid valve problem. No voltage, bad coil, or stuck valve.

I got sent on a parts run at work last week and was surprised to see a wireless remote control for the plow. How long have they had that on the market?

Turns out the little toggle switch for down doesn't do shit. (I had no voltage going to S1 solenoid when pressing down).

Unfortunately I back tracked all the way from the plow to the joystick controller where the problem lied.

This little toggle switch is dead
http://crypticvault.com/gallery2/mai...serialNumber=2

The other 3 toggles gave me .6 to .7 Ohms when pressed down. The one for down I had nothing.
http://crypticvault.com/gallery2/mai...serialNumber=2

So I had to get MacGyver on it. I soldered an external switch so I can at least drop the plow. Disregard that scorch mark... that was an accident with the butane soldering iron... It didn't effect anything.
http://crypticvault.com/gallery2/mai...serialNumber=2


Everything works now... I looked up the part "Cherry E61" and I found I can get it locally at Allied Electronics in West Allis for $3.46. Sure beats a new controller for $120 (ebay) or $250 (new)


Ohh and I picked up this Honda HS520 w/electric start for backup
http://crypticvault.com/gallery2/mai...serialNumber=2

Hey, while you have that thing apart could you do me a favor and get really good pictures of all of it, I have been looking for a wiring diagram of the controler for ever and they are non existent from what I can tell. I would like to build my own hand held controler like the cab command but I don't want to take apart my joystick during the snow season unless I have to.

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Originally Posted by Myles

Then get a bigger ******* driveway.

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lmao X2

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Originally Posted by Cryptic

Western Plow wont go down - FIXED!

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you found someone else to give that pet name to???

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Originally Posted by PonyKiller87

Hey, while you have that thing apart could you do me a favor and get really good pictures of all of it, I have been looking for a wiring diagram of the controler for ever and they are non existent from what I can tell. I would like to build my own hand held controler like the cab command but I don't want to take apart my joystick during the snow season unless I have to.

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umm you're looking at it... that's the front and back.. there's not much too it. I guess I can take a few more after I pickup that new switch.

Yeah if you could just zoom in on it with out the tape on it, I just need to be able to trace all the lines on the board. Its not as simple as just up down left right like most people think because some of the functions have multiple things going on to make it work.

My plan for my truck is to put a Lokar floor shifter in and then put a plow control on the top of it so I can shift from forward to reverse and operate the plow at the same time.

just so you know its literally 2 screws to take box apart.. very simple.

Lol, yeah I know, but I can tell something is broken or loose in there already and I figured rather than tempt fate and mess with it Ill just leave it alone, at least until the snow lets up a little and I don't have to worry about missing out on some money. lol

so another words you quit pressing up al the time. right-o-

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Russ Jerome

The down function is 100% related to the coil and valve, fed by
12v. No ice is going to freaze that portion of the system.

Lack of voltage.
Bad Coil.
Expanded valve.

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He was right, 2nd time this year!