Snow Wing Hydraulic Plumbing

[Jake Tigchelaar]

Hey all, first time posting.

Got a 1993 Champion 716A that has run without a wing for a number of years (wing was removed before my father-in-law bought it).

We are putting a wing back on it for this snow season, got the towers mounted and front tower hydraulics working.

Were a bit confused by the rear tower hydraulics. There is a pressure relief valve that we need to plumb into. Do we just tee off of one of the main hydraulic lines going to the solenoids and valves for the rear tower and run a hose off that tee to the pressure relief valve? I meant to take some pictures today but forgot.

Thanks in advance!

Jake

 

[Welder Dave]

The solenoid valves may be after the relief valve. If so you might be able to tee into one of lines. The valves may have their own relief valves too. I can't remember. You might be able to use the far right lever on the antler rack too. It's usually for a ripper or front attachment. I'm guessing your machine is a series III. Do a Google search for Sierra Park 730A. There are manuals for series III on that site that show the hyd. schematics. Not sure if it shows how snow wings are plumbed but it does show the solenoid valves. The aux. valves and articulation valve are the same basic valve but the articulation has some extra features like lock valves. If you need new solenoid coils I found a place in the US that has them for $9.20ea. Brand new, only difference is they use a ring terminal instead of a spade terminal. Jade Equipment wanted $575.00ea. for the coils!

 

[Jake Tigchelaar]

Thanks Dave. We've got another solenoid valve off an older grader which we know works, in case this one doesn't. We've got a one way plow on the front so we have to use the solenoid valves. I'm 99% confident in teeing off one of the hydraulic lines, just hoping to get some confirmation.

 

[Jake Tigchelaar]

Took a look that manual, thanks for referring me there. On the series III there is 2 relief valves attached to the hyd tank. Both of those are present on our machine. We actually have another relief valve (must have been added at some point by someone) mounted below the rear tower mount on the back of the grader. Currently there is a hose going from one of the solenoids to this pressure relief valve (PRV is a Parker RPL - 75) currently one of the solenoids valves is plumbed into this PRV. There is three ports on the PRV one to the tank and two for lines. It's an inline valve. Does that mean it should continue from the solenoid valve through to whatever function of the wing that valve serves? It seems odd that only function would be served by this PRV..

 

[Welder Dave]

I'm not sure. The valves can be stacked together but I'm not sure if you could run a different valve by teeing into the lines or if you need a valve with a power beyond adaptor. You could contact Jade/Elevaan Equipment solutions. They would be the most knowledgeable as far as how to hook up hyd's. for a snow wing.

 

[Jake Tigchelaar]

Thanks Dave. I've talked to one of their sales guys a few times. I'll check with him.

 

[cuttin edge]

Is is a cable lift wing? If not, you have to be sure it can float. Depending on your wing, the front should have up and down, the rear should have up and down, and in and out

 

[Jake Tigchelaar]

Yes good point. It is a cable lift. Up and down on front tower, up and down and in and out on rear tower. That's kind of why I was confused about the PRV that seems to just serve the back tower. The wing is floating on cables. I could see the need for PRV for the in and out cylinder? Maybe that is all it's there for?

 

[cuttin edge]

Yes good point. It is a cable lift. Up and down on front tower, up and down and in and out on rear tower. That's kind of why I was confused about the PRV that seems to just serve the back tower. The wing is floating on cables. I could see the need for PRV for the in and out cylinder? Maybe that is all it's there for?

It could also be for a rear mount scarifier

 

[Jake Tigchelaar]

Good point cuttin edge. Didn't think about that. Not sure what the purpose is. Either way I got it plumbed yesterday, and my brother in law and I got the wing mounted and functional today!
Unfortunately we found out the cable for the one way plow on the front was broken (hoping its just the cable), so gotta replace that now. Here's a Pic of the grader with the wing on. Getting close to snow season here in Southern Ontario. had frost on the windshield a couple of mornings ago. can't wait to get this thing pushing dome snow!

 

[cuttin edge]

Good point cuttin edge. Didn't think about that. Not sure what the purpose is. Either way I got it plumbed yesterday, and my brother in law and I got the wing mounted and functional today!
Unfortunately we found out the cable for the one way plow on the front was broken (hoping its just the cable), so gotta replace that now. Here's a Pic of the grader with the wing on. Getting close to snow season here in Southern Ontario. had frost on the windshield a couple of mornings ago. can't wait to get this thing pushing dome snow!

Clean looking machine. Now our 730 had a diverter valve up front, and the same lever ran the mid scarrifer, as the front lift. I think it looks like you have the same extension for the side shift cylinder that the 730 had as well. It was handy for shouldering roads, but I think it's true purpose was to make sure the actual cylinder never came into contact with the wing. Looking closer, someone must have done some major mods to that machine. I have never seen a single moldboard tilt on a Champion ever.

 

[Welder Dave]

That moldboard tilt is different from anything I've seen as well but maybe was optional? Mind you my 730A has a big 2" thick plate across the bottom of the frame the side shift cylinder mounts to that the circle lifts into. Most other machines don't have it and the circle will lift higher. I also don't have an unlockable differential which is supposed to std. equipment on articulated models. Champion seems to have had a lot of different configurations even after they went to Cummins engines.

 

[Jake Tigchelaar]

It is very possible that mods were done.... I hadn't noticed that before, however just did a quick image search and seen some pictures of 710's with just a single cylinder. Maybe only on the 716s and smaller?
We don't use the moldboard much for plowing (and that is all we use this machine for). Front plow and wing heading down the country roads, lift the front plow and drop the moldboard to turn the corners is about all.

 

[Jake Tigchelaar]

anyone ever replaced the cables from the lever to the manifold? Just getting the old one out was a pain, we tried to tie a rope to it to pull the new one in, but that made it impossible to remove the old one.
im gonna call Jade equipment tomorrow to see about the cable. any other ideas for getting these replacement cables? i tried looking online but havent had much luck.

 

[cuttin edge]

There you go, I did not know that. I can't help you there. Our 730 used to stick, but it was always in the valve. That might be why the cable is broken. Maybe a wire fish, or taping the old and new one together.

 

[Welder Dave]

I think you're right the smaller machines used the single tilt cylinder.

 

[Jake Tigchelaar]

There you go, I did not know that. I can't help you there. Our 730 used to stick, but it was always in the valve. That might be why the cable is broken. Maybe a wire fish, or taping the old and new one together.

I had thought that. The cable was definitely in really rough shape. The mold board slide lever is sticking as well. Almost popped the right front tire a couple days ago because I didn't notice it sliding out on its own. Sprayed some oil down the cable last night, I'll see if that helps.

What's the best way to deal with the sticking valves?

 

[Welder Dave]

Are the valves direct linkage or use cables? If cables lube the cable. If linkage make sure everything moves freely. You might be able to spray a lubricant on the valve spool and work it back and forth. Seafoam spray may work. They have a transmission, hydraulic additive that is supposed to free up sticking valves due to varnish. If the spray has similar additives might help. I think you'd need several of the cans to pour in the hyd. tank.

 

[cuttin edge]

Our 730 was an 1989, but it had the valve bank under the stump guard. They were a linkage to the bottom of the steering wheel pedestal, the n cable. I think there was a cap on both sides of the spool that you could remove and clean an lube inside. Seems to me that it was always the wheel lean that locked up which was odd, considering I used it a lot. Now whatever Volvo changed, I have never had that problem with 940. I run one of these, and the functions are electric over hydraulic, and I have been catching the sideshift sticking on. Not real good running along someone's house when that happens.

 

[Welder Dave]

You could probably get a new cable cheaper at a driveline shop or even a place like Princess Auto than at Jade. Hanging the cable and letting lube run down while working the inner part up and down should help.