Mission 2.0, 20’ aluminum tilt trailer hydraulics

[Bobacuda]

Anyone here know about servicing the hydraulics on this trailer? It is manually operated. I think it is either low on fluid or the system has air that needs to be bled out, but I do not have a service manual nor can I find one online. I bought the trailer used.

The little I have found online shows a fluid tank and how it is filled and bled. My trailer does not have a tank - it has two cylinders (see photos). Is this a dealer service job?

[kencombs]

Not familiar with that specific model.   But I’ve seen some that use the cylinders as the reservoir.  If yours has them valved so that one is always extended and the other retracted that may be the case.  Draw out a schematic of the hydraulics and valving to see if it is arranged like that.  

 

edit.  to clarify this only works if the cylinders are used one way, like lift and gravity down.  the unused end becomes the reservoir.

Edited March 29 by kencombs

[JBNeal]

@Bobacuda I see the deck lift cylinder, but the cylinder parallel with the axles has me stumped:  its base is pinned to the frame, but I can't quite make out what the rod is doing.  Also, I spy 2 quick disconnects on them hoses, and then I reckon that Parker handle is for the flow control valve, but where is the pump/motor assembly?

[Bobacuda]

JB -

There is no tank, pump or motor.  Watching the cylinders, the bottom retracts as the upper extends and the deck is tilted.  
 

As the deck goes down, the upper cylinder retracts and the lower cylinder extends.  
 

it appears all of the fluid is held in one cylinder or the other.  The valve opens the flow between the cylinders, when open, no resistance. When closed, it shuts off the fluid and causes the deck to have a gentle descent. Right now, it pretty much slams down.  This makes me think the hydraulic fluid is either low or needs to be bled. 
 

Guess I will have to take it to a dealer for service.

[JBNeal]

Back in my aerial lift engineering days, we had to add a restrictor fitting in platform rotation circuits to slow down the hydraulic flow; otherwise the operators would be at risk of getting flung out of the buckets of the larger units or being shook like a British nanny on the smaller units if the operators couldn't let go of the controls fast enough.  If this trailer circuit is low on fluid and high on air pockets, there goes the hydraulic resistance and them cylinder pistons are free to bounce around in their bores.

[Bobacuda]

JB - 

That’s what I’m thinking, but I can’t find any info on how to “reload”  the hydraulic system.  
 

Local mechanic is about to work on someone else’s tilt trailer’s hydraulics. He said after her learns on the other guy’s, he’ll fix mine - if I can wait that long