Help ! Switch and go hydraulic hoist boom won't come down

[4realestate]

I raised it up a little while ago to pick up a box. Winched the box on, went to lower the boom back down and....nothing. Makes noise like its working but no movement. If i push the up swith, the boom goes up a bit again, but no down.
Any suggestions ? I am stuck in a driveway !

Joe

[jesilvas]

Do you have enough battery power to run the pump?

[4realestate]

Truck is running while I am trying this stuff out so I assume that I have enough power. I just raised it up a few minutes before. And If I hit the up button, it goes up for a split second. If I hit down button the pump works again, but nothing moves anywhere.

Joe

Originally Posted by jesilvas

Do you have enough battery power to run the pump?

[jesilvas]

Idk what system you have. Some are trans PTO ran, some are ran off just a hydraulic pump, or a combo of both; PTO runs the pump and 12V controls other things.

[4realestate]

I dont think i have a pto on this truck...there is nothing that makes the idle go higher.
The winch is operated electrically and the hoist has its own pump and fluid reservoir between the frame rails.

[jesilvas]

So it's a 12V pump it sounds like. I'd double check voltages. I've seen hydraulic pumps act strangely, and many other things for that matter, with low voltage. Quick thing to check.

[4realestate]

Should I check it while it is running ?
Do I check it on the terminals of the hydraulic pump ?
It did sound like a slow start earlier today. It would have that effect on the pump ? Up but no down ?
Strange. Any other ideas ? I am kind of weary of working on this thing while the boom is above me. I'm afraid of getting bonked on the head.

Joe

Originally Posted by jesilvas

So it's a 12V pump it sounds like. I'd double check voltages. I've seen hydraulic pumps act strangely, and many other things for that matter, with low voltage. Quick thing to check.

[jesilvas]

Well, if you're running the boom while the motor is running, check voltage at the pump with motor running.

[4realestate]

Checked and voltage was good but..... heres what I found.
There is a cable that has the controls for the box. That cable is plugged into a hole next to the drivers seat. That cable can be removed whenever needed.
I jiggled the cable a bit and then the boom began to come down. Once it started to come down the motor was running with a different sounding pitch. I jiggled it again and the boom stopped working. I jiggled it, and it started working again. So it seems it is either the cable is bad or the connector in the floor next to the seat is bad. I hope, if its the connector, that it can be changed relatively easily.

Joe

Originally Posted by jesilvas

Well, if you're running the boom while the motor is running, check voltage at the pump with motor running.