Rob

I've had four trucks with stuck racks from sitting. I always remove the pump and side cover(s), governor cover, and front end rack cover, (if present) and delivery valves, then submerge the complete pump in clean diesel fuel. After a coupld days of dwell time in the fuel. I then pop the rack, and plunger springs with a small hammer and screwdriver. I've never had to take a pump further apart than this to free them up. Only critical tip I can give you is use clean fuel, and container. You don't want any garbage left inside the pump when you put it back on the engine to foul the injectors. Rob

Hi Trent, yes "portions" of that "A" model were saved. I didn't need the whole truck and it really was rough. Rob

Can anybody in the area store this truck for me till spring? I don't have room inside the shop at this point, but would be interested in picking it up next spring. Be sad to see it be exposed to an Illinois winter. Rob

I've had two separate incidents on my cars with Fram brand filters coming apart at the crimp at different times. I don't use the brand any longer due to this. Both were Chrysler products, (340V8, and 426 V8) several years ago. Rob

Try Dawson Truck Parts out of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. They used to carry them reasonable. Rob

Put some new lamp capsules in the truck and you'll prolly be able to see far enough to miss the next one. Rob

If you look at the skid pattern in the rocks from the rear axles, it appears to have been dragged sideways to it's current position. Such a shame. Owner/moron probably settled with the insurance carrier, kept the truck due to age, and is trying to "double dip" into the pot. Rob

It could have "Momma's" parking spot in the garage. More on those results later. Rob

I had them on my watch list for days but already had a spare set in the cabinet so let them go. Rob

Global Facts About Sex At Any Given Moment: FACT:79,000,000 people are engaged in sex - right now. FACT:58,000,000 are kissing. FACT:37,000,000 are relaxing after having sex. FACT:1 old person is reading posts on bigmacktrucks.com. You hang in there, Sunshine .......

Good thing the internet helps me keep my sanity eh??? Rob

Yes but they typically don't do that if the joint is exercised occasionally. Let a truck sit a few months without use and the soaps that thicken oil to make grease start to harden. Rob

Is old reefer smokeless due to being exceptionally dry? Does reefer get better with age like fine wine? Rob

That'll make you you gag and choke faster. Rob

And what about atrocious breath???? Rob

On a dual steering setup you do not need exactly double flow rate as a single gear but about 70% additional is adequate. Couldn't make contact with either of my heros so hopefully I'm correct in my analogy. Rob

You do not have enough flow for the job you are asking of it. 2200psi is your relief valve setting and is adequate. However, the flow rate at the relief setting is considerably less than operating as some fluid is bypassed to keep the system from blowing itself apart. I would go with a larger pump with 1/8" longer gears, or vanes internally. Most power steering pumps are Vickers V20 series and are easily acquired aftermarket. This again has nothing to do with pressure, nor will increased flow detract from normal driving habits. The steering wheel will be a bit easier to turn rapidly no matter the loading. I had to consult Other Dog only as Randyp was indisposed at the time to ensure I was accurate in my information relay. That Other Dog, he's my hero you know. Rob

Don't think I've ever seen one either. Can't say I frequent their habitat however. Just yesterday while mowing at the shop on the tractor I rode through a big spider nest entangling my face and skull. Damned hard to get that sticky, clingy web off of oneself too. Glad I was almost done cause had to take a shower to quit itching. Rob

They don't bother me at all. They got a life to live as do I. Usually, and it's like a hornet's nest, they don't want anything to do with you unless you disturb them. Rob

What you experienced there is typical of air in a hydraulic system. From basic physics it is understood a liquid cannot be compressed yet a gas can. This is what makes hydraulic systems work by the movement of fluid under pressure. The steering gear didn't actually "bind" in your scenario but rather the air in the system compressed until such a time as the pressure build was satisfactory enough to push the fluid though the rotary spool valve allowing the gear to have hydraulic assist. Almost always a power steering system is open to atmosphere someplace above fluid level which is usually in the storage reservoir. This is where you add fluid and the there should be a vent in the cap, or lid. Typically when the system is first filled, the engine is started with fluid circulated by a positive displacement pump. The circulated fluid contains entrained air bubbles which eventualy dissapate through the reservoir vent. Foaming fluid is indicative of air entrainment in a hydraulic medium, and is not good due to shock loading of parts it can cause. Most large applications enlist a hydraulic accumulator to control and limit the damage this can cause, but most automotive applications do not. Binding steering gear assemblies can be a multitude of things. Often overlooked in a system that is consistently ran low, or out of fluid is the wear on the internal valves, balls, rotary screw, (worm) or sector gear, (attached to pitman shaft). When these are run without lubrication they wear quickly internally and gall easily. This is especially true with TRW/Ross steering gear designs. The gear loading is tremendous is these gears. Double steering gears lessen the load each gear must carry, but they are usually incorporated only in heavy spec chassis. However, there should be no difference in the way the truck drives or behaves given one, or two steering gears. They are both actually actuated by the hydraulic medium of fluid. The mechanical effect serves to start the process by opening ports in the spool valve internal to the steering gear which then assists and reduces the effort needed to turn the wheels. The best way to bleed a difficult steeing system is to leave the return lines from each steering gear slightly loose while allowing it to bleed at idle into a bucket. After the gear is satisfactorily bled, then move to the return of the reservoir. Usually it is a high spot in the hose routing that makes it difficult to bleed hydraulic systems as is the cause with hydraulic brakes also. If you steering is slow it is either a function of fluid flow, or steering gear ratio. Hydraulic pressure has nothing to do with the speed at which you can turn the wheels; hydraulic flow does this. Hydraulic pressure is what factors in on how easy it is to turn the wheel. For instance a 27:1 steering gear ratio will turn the wheels much easier than say a 14:1 ratio, but it will take many more turns of the steering wheel to turn the tires through this reduction. Most hydraulic steering sytems operate at about 5-6.6 gallons per minute flow rate. The pressures vary by application with 900-2000psi relief pressure being common. Of course the higher the expected weight rating, the higher the pressure. It also takes less pressure to accomplish the task of turning the wheels with greater gear reduction through the steering gear. Learned everything I know from Other Dog, with Randp's assist. Rob

Rob

1-877--fix-axle. www.axlesurgeons.com Rob

You did and should be ashamed. Rob

That is the emergency derate function. Rob

Prolly not. Been listed three other times I remember and was over $15,000 one time and did not sell. Rob