When I use the aux power to reposition the boom while painting etc. to just move a few feet down or to the side, instead of starting the motor., The aux pump runs continuosly but the up , down, or swing function is real jerky like if you keep moving the stick back and forth . It does move the boom but it will splash the paint out of the bucket within seconds. Is this a problem in the valving , not enough pressure? If I had to use the aux in an emergency , I would be sea sick by time I hit the ground. It did work as it is supposed too about a year ago. Thanks in advance for the help. Mark
What controls at the platform does your machine have; PQ controllers, OEM controllers, or hydraulic controls?
PQ controllers
Ok. First, you shouldn't use Aux (emergency power) in that manner. The Aux pump uses an electric motor that's designed for intermittent (emergency) purposes only. If you use it too often it will wear the electric motor out, not good when you're up in the air and engine dies and you really need that aux system to get you down. A 40H with PQ controllers should have a "Creep" switch at the platform controls. If the PQ controllers are not faulty, you should be able to adjust this "creep" position on your controllers to suit your preference of low speed from either just low movement of a function to barely moving, even if controller is fully stroked.
You are so right to not use the aux in that manner. I'm building a loghome in the middle of no where and if I needed the aux in an emergency , I would be screwed. My dog is with me , but he is by far "Lassie" to the rescue. I'll look into the adjustment for the creep function. Thanks again for your help.
If you've never worked on PQ controllers, there's a method for adjusting them. I find it to be cumbersome to have that upper control panel lid flipped open, operate the lever, and try to make adjustments. I find it easier to remove the 4 screws that mount the controller to the panel, pull the controller out, and hold it in one hand and make adjustments with the other. There should be 4 trim pots on the circuit card of controller with adjustments screws labeled something like Lo, Hi, Mid (or Threshold), and Ramp. It takes a very small flat head screwdriver to adjust trim pots. And always wear an approved safety harness when operating an aerial lift. The first thing you do is back off all trim pot screws by turning them CCW. Those are 32 turn trim screws for full adjustment range, but most likely each trim adjustment will be somewhere in between 0 and 32 turns already. You need to be in a real quite place when backing off screws. Turn each screw CCW until you hear a faint "click click" when rotating each screw. That sound is the adjustment at it's end. Don't continue turning much after hearing those clicks. Do this to each trim pot adjustment and you're ready to adjust controller. Let's start with boom up/dwn controller. Have boom fully retracted, start engine. Depress foot switch and move boom up control lever about 15 degrees, what's called "notch off center", and hold the control lever in that position. Adjust Lo trim pot CW until boom just starts to get a boom up movement, no more. Then, with boom up lever fully stroked, adjust Hi trim pot CW. At a certain point of adjustment, boom operation will speed up as screw is turned. Adjust screw CW until boom speed no longer gets faster, stop there. Now, bring the basket back near ground and extend the boom a good bit, long boom. Flip the creep switch to creep position. Fully stroke boom up control. Adjust Mid (Threshold) screw CW until you get a desired slow boom operation speed for when you're working in tight spots. Lastly, turn off creep switch, fully retract the boom, and turn the Ramp screw in about 10 turns for pre-adjustment. Fully stroke boom up controller to make boom move at full speed, then simply let it go so it returns to center. If boom abruptly stops, adjust Ramp screw a few more turns CW, try again. At some point of adjustment, boom up will no longer stop abruptly, but instead will drift for a moment and come to a slow stop when controller is released. Once you reach that point, adjust Ramp in or out to get desired power down that doesn't cause abrupt stop of boom movement nor does it drift excessively. This adjustment procedure applies to each function controlled by PQ controllers. If the adjustments won't work out, PQ controller is likely faulty and needs replacement.