Bucket Truck Stuck

[Jehinten]

I'd be hesitant to think it was the controls, since this problem occurs with both the pistol grip and the ground controls. Are there any safety switches that come to mind that I should look for? The boom swings a 360° so there shouldn't be a limit switch, and I can hear the engine accelerate and the pump engage. So it seems to me the controls are calling for it to turn.

My thought process (Although uneducated in these matters) tells me it's either to heavy of fluid (although this would only be, if this one function was more sensitive to it than the others) or maybe the hydraulic motor that rotates it is going out.

I have found that if I assist it it will work most the time (push/pull on tree limbs while running controls) otherwise it's sporadic, sometimes it works and others it won't. Or will stop mid swing. Started doing this all of a sudden when I was putting my boom away after working on a removal.

 

[Jehinten]

Thank you for the advice on the fluid, you are probably right, and definitely right about needing a routine of preventative maintenance

 

[Jeff]

Sounds an awful lot like the hydraulic rotation motor. Everything else works fine, but if you give it an assist, it will work. Yeah, rotation motor.

 

[LimbLoppa]

Man, wish I would have seen this post earlier, could have helped you out Royce! Most PTO to pump splines are designed similarly. If you look at the shaft, there is about an inch of splines, a line and another inch of splines. The inner splines go into a splined collar on the pump. If those get stripped out ( due to an operator not fully engaging the PTO or a faulty cable) you can back the bolts holding the pump/PTO together and spread them apart. Place something ( I use two 1/2" wrenches ) as spacers and tighten the bolts back down. Now you are using the outer splines. It will not last forever, but it will get your bucket in the cradle and outriggers up!

 

[ROYCE]

Man, wish I would have seen this post earlier, could have helped you out Royce! Most PTO to pump splines are designed similarly. If you look at the shaft, there is about an inch of splines, a line and another inch of splines. The inner splines go into a splined collar on the pump. If those get stripped out ( due to an operator not fully engaging the PTO or a faulty cable) you can back the bolts holding the pump/PTO together and spread them apart. Place something ( I use two 1/2" wrenches ) as spacers and tighten the bolts back down. Now you are using the outer splines. It will not last forever, but it will get your bucket in the cradle and outriggers up!

Thanks. This was from a few winters ago. That is what I did. I actually split it apart and put a small piece of hack saw blade in and it allowed me to get it cradled. Was a stressful weekend waiting to get it fixed and having to leave my truck up in the air. But, hey. My hydraulics are strong because the lift never sagged!!

 

[Jehinten]

Thank you Tom and Jeff for your help. I will be finding a service shop here to take a look at that motor for me, and deciding if it can be rebuilt, or needs to be replaced. After they confirm that it is the problem.