by "PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
Published 05/04/2017 at 11:41
by "PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
Published 05/04/2017 at 11:41
No Tags
STARS: 0
I need some educating.
I have a trailer that has a hydraulic pump and can lift the bed to dump and then lower it.
I see dealers selling heavy machinery like dump trucks and other things with hydraulic mechanisms keep their equipment in raised/extended positions.
I keep my trailer in down position. Is that good/bad/indifferent?
My best guess is that it doesn’t matter. Pump activates and pumps fluid from one end into another. Makes the cylinder move.
But then why do dealers keep things in extended state?
"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
05/04/2017 at 11:45, STARS: 9
“Heavy equipment dealers, each and every spring, engage in a millennia-old tradition of ‘presenting,’ a way to flaunt one’s undercarriage in an attempt to find a suitable mate. While these manoeuvers are strenuous, they are yet a necessary part of ensuring the continuation of the species.”
"7:07" (fanbrain001)
05/04/2017 at 11:47, STARS: 1
Must be mating season
"Lokiparts" (lokiparts)
05/04/2017 at 11:47, STARS: 1
Thank you Dr. Hammond for that enlighting explaination.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
05/04/2017 at 11:50, STARS: 0
So that when it rains, the dirt/bark mulch/dead bodies/wood chips in there gets washed out, rather than staying in there wet.
That’s my best guess. When I worked at a place where we drove one of these every day, we never left it up. But we also used it every single day.
"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
05/04/2017 at 11:52, STARS: 2
When I used to work on construction equipment, they left lifts up to prevent people from fucking with the controls overnight...they have redundant controls under a locking panel on the side to get them down.
It seems to be mostly lifts and Lulls they do it on, like you never see excavators with their bucket up in the air.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
05/04/2017 at 11:54, STARS: 1
Also, this. I was thinking, with dump bodies, etc it’s so water doesn’t sit in there and/or when it rains they get cleaned out a little... with the lifts, it’s what you said.
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
05/04/2017 at 11:55, STARS: 2
best I can tell so far is that it’s for presenting ability to potential customers or to prevent unwanted manipulations of equipment.
However, it does not appear to be for any mechanical reason. It actually seems counter to it. Keeping boom extended exposes cylinder and may cause it to rust prematurely.
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
05/04/2017 at 11:59, STARS: 1
I guess it’s in the dealer’s best interest to “put on a show” and get that added benefit of easy rainwater drainage, as has already been pointed out.
But like you, I think I’d prefer to keep the cylinders retracted, so that rust doesn’t form on the rams, nor moisture collect inside the cylinder.
"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
05/04/2017 at 12:08, STARS: 0
Oh totally. About the only mechanical reason I can think of is you would have more seals exposed to hydraulic fluid when it’s extended.
"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
05/04/2017 at 12:11, STARS: 0
Definitely that for dump bodies, I even do that with small landscape trailers.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
05/04/2017 at 12:51, STARS: 0
I always assumed this was the reason.
"Meatcoma" (mastapoof)
05/04/2017 at 13:28, STARS: 1
When I worked construction, we left the beds up so they wouldn’t fill with water. When you put dirt into a wet bed, dirt sticks and becomes mud which dries.. etc.
Most of the cylinders are made of stainless, but the elements can take their tolls on the seals etc. Most do not leave them up 24/7, only when it is supposed to rain.
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
05/04/2017 at 15:00, STARS: 1
I used to turn wrenches for a living as a hydraulic mechanic. There is no mechanical reason to store equipment with cylinders extended. In fact, there is a better reason to not to do. When the bed it lifted the cylinder is extended and the rod is exposed. The exposed chromed rod is susceptible to damage, which will usually be your first source of leaks on the cylinder. Any scratch or defect in the chrome that will catch a finger nail will cut a seal eventually.
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
05/05/2017 at 07:20, STARS: 0
pretty much what I thought. I’ll throw a tarp over the trailer and call it a day.