Blizzard won't go up

windmill · Jan 15, 2012

Hi guys, my problem today is a blizzard that won't raise, angle, or do anything. When I take power direct from the battery to the motor it all works, albeit the motor is somewhat noisy. Snow in the forecast for Wed - Sat. Parts here are like non existent. Ordered cutting edges almost two months ago and was told they might be here this week.

Help?

Pelican · Jan 15, 2012

Is the fuse to the controller good?

The boys · Jan 16, 2012

is the controller turned on and plugged in? is the solinoid clicking when you try a function

windmill · Jan 16, 2012

Not sure where the fuse is in the controller, and think it is OK. The solonoid clicks when toggled.
I think I remember a problem with the plug from some time back (I think Chris (Wyldman) had a fix? Can't find the thread back. If it is the plug power connection, how might I bypass it until i get a fix. I'll have to do some electrical testing tomorrow I guess.

The boys · Jan 16, 2012

Wiggle the plug while some one operates the plow (UP AND DOWN ONLY) If it starts to work pull the plug and spread your pins open take a thin piece of sheet metal and wedge between the prongs on the plug till it fits tight then order a new harness

windmill · Jan 16, 2012

I'm going to try that tomorrow, when I get the truck home (using the spare truck which was at my BIL)
I think it has something to do with the plug, I seem to remember something about a separation of the red or black wire part of the plug. Separation from power wire and plug portion of the plug.
Not sure if I'm making sense.

Pelican · Jan 16, 2012

The controller fuse is in line in the controller harness, the portion that stays in the truck when you remove the controller. If your solenoid is clicking the fuse is OK.

I'd suspect you have an issue in the plug as well, but you could verify the solenoid is supplying voltage to the plug too. A test light or volt meter on the lug of the solenoid the harness is connected to will prove this.

You can do the same test at the plug. If you have voltage in both spots then pull the pump cover off and see if there's voltage on the power lug of the pump motor. If not, the plug is the culprit. If so, your pump motor is toast.

windmill · Jan 17, 2012

Thanks everyone,I had a call in to Jerre who was going to walk me through the potential problems after I got my truck back home. When I picked it up I tried the controller and everything was working. Mentioning this to Jerre he suggested that it was likely due to having bypassed the solenoid when lifting the blade. Apparently doing so can reactivate the solenoid. He suggested changing it out.
I went to my mechanic (warm shop, -11C here) to whom I described the problem, he concurred with Jerre saying that solenoids can carbon up and that by bypassing it the carbon gets "knocked off", allowing it to work again. Of course it might only be temporary. I had another "from Blizzard" solenoid and we switched it with the (hopefully) faulty one.
If this was the problem/cause I should be good to go for tomorrow's event.
Thanks again for the lesson on possible causes, should I have a return problem, I will have my tester with me to check things before everything works again.
I'm happy and less stressed. :grinz

Pelican · Jan 17, 2012

What we laid out here will help you solve most any electrical problem. Trace power from your source through every connection or device and it will lead you to the bad connevction.

Fastjohnny · Jan 20, 2012

windmill said:
Thanks everyone,I had a call in to Jerre who was going to walk me through the potential problems after I got my truck back home. When I picked it up I tried the controller and everything was working. Mentioning this to Jerre he suggested that it was likely due to having bypassed the solenoid when lifting the blade. Apparently doing so can reactivate the solenoid. He suggested changing it out.
I went to my mechanic (warm shop, -11C here) to whom I described the problem, he concurred with Jerre saying that solenoids can carbon up and that by bypassing it the carbon gets "knocked off", allowing it to work again. Of course it might only be temporary. I had another "from Blizzard" solenoid and we switched it with the (hopefully) faulty one.
If this was the problem/cause I should be good to go for tomorrow's event.
Thanks again for the lesson on possible causes, should I have a return problem, I will have my tester with me to check things before everything works again.
I'm happy and less stressed. :grinz

Had a solenoid flake out this AM, I jumped the motor to raise the plow, solenoid then worked long enough to finish the route before failing again. Spare will be swapped in b/f rig goes out again.

windmill · Nov 12, 2012

Just finished my first plow of the season and am still having issues with the plow going up. The wings work reasonably well but I`m not exuberant about their speed either.
So my question is this, what are the symptoms of a weak motor? I do find that it is somewhat noisy, well OK, quite noisy. It works reasonably well at first but slows down over time. My batteries are new.

Jerre Heyer · Nov 12, 2012

Henry, check your email. New motor and some anderson connections with a parallel power and ground. J

Blizzard won't go up

windmill

Pelican

The boys

windmill

The boys

windmill

Pelican

windmill

Pelican

Fastjohnny

windmill

Jerre Heyer

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities