68 Chevy c 50 Dump question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

abilityonline · 02-07-2009, 08:04 PM

I picked up a 68 C50 dump truck 2 years ago that was abandoned at a foreclosure I bought. I've finally got it to my house and I'm trying to figure how the PTO works so I can see if it works (I don't think it does).

With the truck in neutral and the clutch in, I shift the closest floor shift into gear. This engages the PTO drive shaft (I can see it spinning) I let the clutch out and the bed just stays in place.

a few questions to the wisest of you.
1. How/Where do I find the level of Hydrolic in the system?
2. The second floor shift is loose and easily goes back and forth, is this normal? I'm pretty sure this second shaft is for after the PTO is enganged.

Anybody with comments, I'd love to here from you!

Thanks again

Chad

**kwmech** · 02-07-2009, 08:22 PM

When the PTO is turning it will not lift the bed right away, it turns the hydraulic pump. There is another control/ lever, maybe outside of the cab that will lift and return the bed. There is also a fluid reseroir that may need to be filled. It usually looks like a box with a couple of hoses going to and from it, and a screw cap on top of it

abilityonline · 02-07-2009, 08:50 PM

There is a second floor column that appears should initiate the bed to lift after the drive shaft has been engaged. This second column runs through the floorboards and controls a little piston that is either pushed in or out of the PTO. This linkage is intact and drives the piston. However there is no lift. Above the PTO and under the bed there is a reservoir. I'm assuming this is for hydrolic fluid. it has a drain at the bottom but I haven't located where to fill it. I'd imagine on top but it is difficult to access the top from below.

Thanks again.

Any other suggestions are always welcome

thirdstreettito · 02-07-2009, 10:09 PM

The second floor shifter should move the bed, you may have to hold it for a while beforei t does anything, as it hasnt been used in years.

71swb4x4 · 02-07-2009, 11:32 PM

It sounds to me like that lever only turns your PTO on. You need to find the lever that controls the actual pump for the lift cylinder.

On my dump, I have one lever to turn the PTO on, and a second to lift or lower the bed.

Longhorn Man · 02-08-2009, 10:21 AM

are you able to provide photos of your set up?
Welcome to the board

abilityonline · 02-09-2009, 02:42 PM

Still no luck. Here are the pictures. You'll see a gear shift, hand brake, Red bar (engages PTO), Black Bar (drives a piston in and out).

I'd like to get this truck back going if it's economical but I've never worked on a PTO and don't know where to start. I can see the linkage to the PTO spinning so I know it is good to that point. It may be a matter of hydraulics. I can't even see where to check hydraulic fluid levels.

71swb4x4 · 02-09-2009, 02:51 PM

What a greasy mess! I am guessing you are low on fluid. I would try to jack the bed up, without getting between the bed and frame of course! It should jack up with the piston open I would think???? The tank can easily be checked once the bed is up. Make sure you block the bed so it doesn't fall down!!!

Longhorn Man · 02-09-2009, 04:49 PM

sounds like you have the operation figured out... just need to find out where the fluid goes.
While it is supposed to work at idle, did you try revving the engine as you pushed/pulled the lever?

Skirkpat · 02-09-2009, 05:06 PM

Since you can see fresh hydrolic fluid dripping on the last picture, you will probably have to fill the system, probably not good to run it untill you do.

abilityonline · 02-09-2009, 05:18 PM

Yes it is a mess! HA I will clean it up so I can better trace where a leak may be located at. However those pictures, that's actually water as it was raining at the time.

abilityonline · 02-09-2009, 07:05 PM

Thats all it was hydraulic fluid. I put 5 gallons in and it still didn't fill the tank! I'll need to add another gallon. Thanks a ton for the suggestions they were spot on. Now I need to figure out why there is no brakes (Master Cylinder is full but it the pedal travels to the floor with no resistance, may need to be bleed) and get this ready for the road.

02-07-2009, 08:04 PM	#1
abilityonline Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 57	68 Chevy c 50 Dump question I picked up a 68 C50 dump truck 2 years ago that was abandoned at a foreclosure I bought. I've finally got it to my house and I'm trying to figure how the PTO works so I can see if it works (I don't think it does). With the truck in neutral and the clutch in, I shift the closest floor shift into gear. This engages the PTO drive shaft (I can see it spinning) I let the clutch out and the bed just stays in place. a few questions to the wisest of you. 1. How/Where do I find the level of Hydrolic in the system? 2. The second floor shift is loose and easily goes back and forth, is this normal? I'm pretty sure this second shaft is for after the PTO is enganged. Anybody with comments, I'd love to here from you! Thanks again Chad

02-07-2009, 08:22 PM	#2
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,502	Re: 68 Chevy c 50 Dump question When the PTO is turning it will not lift the bed right away, it turns the hydraulic pump. There is another control/ lever, maybe outside of the cab that will lift and return the bed. There is also a fluid reseroir that may need to be filled. It usually looks like a box with a couple of hoses going to and from it, and a screw cap on top of it

02-07-2009, 08:50 PM	#3
abilityonline Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 57	Re: 68 Chevy c 50 Dump question There is a second floor column that appears should initiate the bed to lift after the drive shaft has been engaged. This second column runs through the floorboards and controls a little piston that is either pushed in or out of the PTO. This linkage is intact and drives the piston. However there is no lift. Above the PTO and under the bed there is a reservoir. I'm assuming this is for hydrolic fluid. it has a drain at the bottom but I haven't located where to fill it. I'd imagine on top but it is difficult to access the top from below. Thanks again. Any other suggestions are always welcome

02-07-2009, 10:09 PM	#4
thirdstreettito Resident of Here Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel, FL, USA Posts: 7,716	Re: 68 Chevy c 50 Dump question The second floor shifter should move the bed, you may have to hold it for a while beforei t does anything, as it hasnt been used in years. __________________ ~Bradley~ 2004 Black GTO LS2/T56 too much to list Miss having a truck Last edited by thirdstreettito; 02-07-2009 at 10:09 PM.

02-07-2009, 11:32 PM	#5
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,497	Re: 68 Chevy c 50 Dump question It sounds to me like that lever only turns your PTO on. You need to find the lever that controls the actual pump for the lift cylinder. On my dump, I have one lever to turn the PTO on, and a second to lift or lower the bed. __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

02-08-2009, 10:21 AM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: 68 Chevy c 50 Dump question are you able to provide photos of your set up? Welcome to the board

02-09-2009, 02:42 PM	#7
abilityonline Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 57	Re: 68 Chevy c 50 Dump question Still no luck. Here are the pictures. You'll see a gear shift, hand brake, Red bar (engages PTO), Black Bar (drives a piston in and out). I'd like to get this truck back going if it's economical but I've never worked on a PTO and don't know where to start. I can see the linkage to the PTO spinning so I know it is good to that point. It may be a matter of hydraulics. I can't even see where to check hydraulic fluid levels.

02-09-2009, 02:51 PM	#8
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,497	Re: 68 Chevy c 50 Dump question What a greasy mess! I am guessing you are low on fluid. I would try to jack the bed up, without getting between the bed and frame of course! It should jack up with the piston open I would think???? The tank can easily be checked once the bed is up. Make sure you block the bed so it doesn't fall down!!! __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

02-09-2009, 04:49 PM	#9
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: 68 Chevy c 50 Dump question sounds like you have the operation figured out... just need to find out where the fluid goes. While it is supposed to work at idle, did you try revving the engine as you pushed/pulled the lever?

02-09-2009, 05:06 PM	#10
Skirkpat Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: K.C. Missouri Posts: 1,024	Re: 68 Chevy c 50 Dump question Since you can see fresh hydrolic fluid dripping on the last picture, you will probably have to fill the system, probably not good to run it untill you do.

02-09-2009, 05:18 PM	#11
abilityonline Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 57	Re: 68 Chevy c 50 Dump question Yes it is a mess! HA I will clean it up so I can better trace where a leak may be located at. However those pictures, that's actually water as it was raining at the time.

02-09-2009, 07:05 PM	#12
abilityonline Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 57	Re: 68 Chevy c 50 Dump question Thats all it was hydraulic fluid. I put 5 gallons in and it still didn't fill the tank! I'll need to add another gallon. Thanks a ton for the suggestions they were spot on. Now I need to figure out why there is no brakes (Master Cylinder is full but it the pedal travels to the floor with no resistance, may need to be bleed) and get this ready for the road.



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