The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Dump hoist questions

So I've got the truck running well enough to move about my property, and I'm wanting to load it up with a lot of doug fir and hemlock limbs. I figure I should make sure the dump bed is up to snuff before I get too far.

After cleaning it out, I was able to attempt raising it to full extension for the first time. It stalled at the second stage for a bit, but the sticky plungers broke loose OK and started raising. It was a bit herky-jerky, so I know there's a decent amount of air in there. I've cycled it a few times, but it doesn't seem to change much.

It looks like my telescopic cylinders are bleederless, so I'm not sure what I can do. I suppose I ought to check the fluid level, but I have TWO fill plugs on the reservoir. What gives? Can anyone enlighten me?

Thanks,

Cylinder top
Reservoir
Reservoir tag

Are the plugs at different levels? If so, those are "minimum" and "maximum" level plugs. Fill the reservoir to the level of the lower plug, cycle the hoist up and down a few times, and when you're sure you've purged all the air out of the cylinders, screw the lower plug in and add some more fluid until the level in the reservoir is close to the top plug.
Jerry

Thanks for the response, but I'm not sure it applies. Can you see the pics in the first post? If not, the two plugs are both on top of the reservoir, at the same height.

The plug off​ to the left almost looks like it's part of some auxiliary or reserve tank. I don't know if that makes sense.

OK- - - -didn't notice the pic links before! I'd suggest raising the bed to its highest point, then supporting it with a piece of heavy pipe or some other strong prop to the ground (NOT the frame!) and checking to see how much fluid remains in the reservoir with a dipstick of some sort. If it's very low with the bed raised, add some fluid, leave the plug out, and lower the bed. If you've overfilled the tank, the excess will overflow. Don't do anything that requires you to lean over the frame without a safety device in place. A sudden failure of a hose could get deadly in an instant!
Jerry

Ditto on the safety part. I knew a guy who got killed when a truck bed fell on him. Don't let that happen to you!

Got some better pictures of the Hoist? There was a hoist on my truck at some time but it was removed. I would like the re-install one. So any pics on how it was made would be welcome!

Thanks

Could the one plug actually supposed to have a vent? Tank has to have one somewhere.