The hydraulic valve is like a traffic control signal at a four-way intersection. It might allow east and westbound traffic lanes to continuously flow until the light changes, which would permit the north or southbound lanes to flow. The east and westbound traffic flow represents circulating hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic valve is representative of the traffic signal. Push the hydraulic valve and circulating fluid is diverted to extend a hydraulic ram. Pull the hydraulic valve and fluid is diverted to contract the same ram. The hydraulic valve is only a small part of the total system. Instructions Operate Hydraulic Valve Bank on a Snow Plow 1) Start the snow plow truck and let it idle until the engine reaches operating temperature. 2)Push the first lever of the hydraulic valve bank in the cab of a snow plow truck. In this case, it diverts fluid to the front-mounted plow ram and raises the snowplow off the ground. 3)Release the first lever and the snow plow remains suspended off the ground. 4)Pull the first lever and the suspended plow will go down and return to the ground ready for the truck to plow snow. 5)Push the second lever in the valve bank and it diverts hydraulic fluid to the connected ram that rotates the plow to the left. Release the lever and the plow remains rotated to the left.This allows the plowed snow to exit the plow blade to the left side of a driveway. 6)Pull the second lever of the valve bank and it diverts hydraulic fluid to the other end of the hydraulic ram connected to rotate the plow, this time toward the right. Any time the lever is released the plow will stop rotating, so it is possible to stop the plow rotating when the plow is perfectly straight. Pull and hold the lever for a longer period of time and the plow will rotate completely to the right to discharge plowed snow to the right side of a driveway. Tips & Warnings The levers of a hydraulic valve bank can be connected to any hydraulically activated device, such as a snow plow ram or a hydraulic motor. There are always two directions of hydraulic fluid flow to every hydraulic device by either pushing or pulling the lever. A ram may expand when the control lever is pushed and contract when the lever is pulled. A hydraulic motor may rotate clockwise when the control lever is pushed or counterclockwise when pulled. Always wear safety glasses when working on and around an active hydraulic system. Hydraulic fluid is under extreme pressure when the pump is rotating, never attempt to repair a hydraulic system when the system is active and running.
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