| Author | Message | ||
| Nick Morris (Nick3751) (69.69.46.226)
Rating: N/A |
What the advantages and disavantages for each. I can see the air might be easier to do than hydro but I have had very little dealing with either. Help me out | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (67.136.241.58)
Rating: N/A |
Believe you are asking about the types of power steering setups. Far as I know, there are about four basic kinds... First is the old fashioned Armstrong manual steering. You know...your arms eventually get really strong... ...because YOU are the power source. Advantages are there is less to go wrong with few parts. Disadvantages are that strength disadvantaged/ weak individuals... ...have a real problem turning the steering wheel for slow speed turning and stuff. At speed however it usually is not a problem. MY first Crown school bus I drove way back in 1969 or soosss had manual steering. Once the bus was rolling, steering was not a problem. However, for tight slow stuff, the steering was a real bear. However, one got used to it The second major type of steering is the air assist kind. Advantages included easier tight turning and parking. At speed, it felt the same as manual steering. A power steering pump was not used. Air came from the air brake system provided for by the air compressor. This saved space on/near the engine. Disadvantages of the air assist steering was/is that in some applications (such as off road logging) one could quickly run out of air spotting... ...a vehicle back and forth on tight roads. Once you ran out of air (and it takes a lot) you were literally stuck until you aired up again. Air assist systems however work great for coach applications. The third type of steering is the hydralic ASSISTED steering. This is the type I have on my '74 Crown Super Coach ex-school bus. A super system... ...powered by a Victors VT-42 hydralic pump driven by two belts of the crankshaft of the mill. I can literally pull the front wheels out of the mud... ...using only one finger on the wheel! Yeah...super powerful steering. Once up to speed it only takes a quarter inch turn on the wheel to change lanes. Advantages included a super powerful system. Slow speed lock to lock turns on the wheel are very easy. Another advantage is that if you should lose the belts... ...or the pump, the system still works safely, only you are back to the Armstrong manual type. A disadvantage is that you need a power steering pump, with the necessary belts and stuff to run it. If you need the belt spaces for other things like AC compressors... ...you have a problem. I am considering relocating my pump on the Cummins front PTO like the air compressor. Then I cam mount a second alternator or AC compressor. The forth type of steering system is the full intergal power type. I have no experience with this type of system. Imagine it is like that in a car. Sorry to be so longwinded. Also I may have some of this stuff wrong. Maybe others will log on to add to what I said. Good luck. | ||
| John Bessette (170.215.80.202)
Rating: N/A |
Henry is right on all counts. I have driven all 4 of then in the order that Henry said and one was a lot better then the frist. the last one makes my 4106 drive like a car it is "great" you can put the pump on the back end on a 8V71. John 4106 | ||
| Nick Morris (Nick3751) (69.69.46.226)
Rating: N/A |
I've got a silversides with a 6-71. I concerned about running lines from one end of the coach to the other. Seems like a lot of space to get a rub or other leak of some type over time. The best way to run it would be through the "tunnel" and none of that is real easy to get to and some is near impossible. How bout cost and install at the front? I figure the biggest difference else where would be mounting the pump and longer lines to run so I'm guessing the difference in the hydro and air would be how they attach to the steering mechanism at the front. Also how much of my original steering boxes would I have to change? | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905) (69.162.21.219)
Rating: N/A |
You can run the hydraulic lines from front to rear using pipe ( which is installed in the deep grooves on underside of baggage compartments with short hoses from ends to pump and box ). Or if no grooves, attach to underside of body with clamps. | ||
| TWO DOGS (65.177.145.6) Rating: N/A |
I have manual steering on my Eagle,had to learn to 'push/pull' from the bottom of the steering wheel...cost for air assist is 1500 plus instalation...think it will stay manual... | ||
| Nick Morris (Nick3751) (65.117.139.135)
Rating: N/A |
I have to agree that Armstrong steering is much preferd if it was just me. It make it much easier to not let family use the coach when it doesn't have power steering. However, my wife can't drive it like it is so I'm going to have to do something I think. Ya'll are traveling more than I am now how much manuvering does it take these days to get a 35 footer in the average camp ground? Also those that travel with the wife do you find her driveing where power steering is needed or do you swap back in those spots, i.e. how offten it power needed/nice? | ||
| TWO DOGS (63.185.97.181) Rating: N/A |
to each his own I guess...."IF" I had a wife,I wouldn't let her drive....parking in a r.v. park is hard in a 40 footer...but... easy if ya' have somebody outside spotting ya'...just remember to have the front tires moving before you attempt to steer...even 1/10 mile an hour is all you need.. | ||
| John Feld (Deacon) (204.184.224.26)
Rating: N/A |
Nick, I have an air-o-matic that is off a 4104 I bought off another busnut that took it off to go all hydro last spring. I never got around to putting it on mine and it is 'as-is' the way I recieved it. If interested I would sell for $300.00 plus shipping. Click my name above for email address. BTW, I now have a 4106 and don't need the air-o-matic. | ||
| TWO DOGS (63.185.81.96) Rating: N/A |
that's a good price | ||
| Nick Morris (Nick3751) (65.117.139.135)
Rating: N/A |
Hey guys, does anyone know if the system John has will bolt up to my axle? He said it will bolt to an 04 so I guess the question is does the 04 and my silversides have the same front axel? | ||
| FAST FRED (63.234.20.35) Rating: N/A |
The air o matic seems fine for folks who only need a bit of assistance parking in tight places who havent mastered the better technique. The full time hyd steering is necessary for really old fellows that have a hard time holding the wheel straight on the slab with two fingers, or spend an extrime amount of time backing & filling to get great campsites with the view at Flying J or the truck stop.. The usual story is so the "Wife can drive", ever see it happen? The coach is very easy to rock , just letting off the clutch , not to move much , just to roll a bit,requires no throttle , as the gov will pick up the load. See the shifting article by Mr Long on DTS , dead throttle starts. By allowing the coach to rock back & forth , the load to turn the front tires is very EZ to overcome and the slop of "power " steering while driving the other 99.99% of the time never needs to be bothered with. Works for me , FAST FRED | ||
| DonTX/KS (66.82.9.66)
Rating: N/A |
I have driven manual, air, and hydraulic steering. I found the silversides original setup with the "air assist on demand" to be very satisfying. I have also driven an Eagle 01 with no power steering, no problem there really, and I far prefer the solid road feel of the manual. My 4905 had full time hydraulic, it was fine, but on the level highw3ays, where you are most of the time, the manual only gives you a far better feel of the road. | ||
| TWO DOGS (65.179.201.195) Rating: N/A |
good to see ya' back online Don...hey...the TWO DOGS bus is #4 on the main page... | ||
| Nick Morris (Nick3751) (65.117.139.135)
Rating: N/A |
Any ideas on whether that system will work for me? | ||
| DonTX/KS (66.82.9.71)
Rating: N/A |
For me Nick, I would keep the original air assist deal, I don't know if it was standard on all 3751 or not, but have seen several with it on. That could be simply because it was the easiest to install or for other reasons. You simply flipped the switch when you were in a tight bus garage for power, flip it off when on the road again. | ||
| John Feld (Deacon) (150.199.209.23)
Rating: N/A |
Hi Don, good to see you online again! I hope all is going well for you. Nicks does not have air assist on his 3751. I do have an air-o-matic unit off a 4104, complete with all brackets, hoses, drag link, and fittings. Do your know if the 4104 setup will fit on the 3751? John 4104 & 4106 | ||
| Nick Morris (Nick3751) (65.117.139.135)
Rating: N/A |
I only wish it came on with it. As far as I can see it must be after market since Da book makes no metion of any kind of power steering. Glad to see you back online as well Don. Does that mean your back kickin or board cause the Doc won't let you out of the house?  | ||
| Lyle Jensen (48gmc) (216.16.4.200)
Rating: N/A |
I would be Very intressed in the power steering if it dosen't work for Nick | ||
| DonTX/KS (66.82.9.23)
Rating: N/A |
Well, live and learn. I just looked at the original ad material for the 3751, and cannot find any reference to it as an option. I had come to believe that it was standard on them. Though I do not know for sure, the air assist is a sort of easy to install universal fit unit, and would ASSUME that the one from a 4104 would bolt up with very little modification. Yeah, I can't do much else these days, weak as a baby it seems. You know Nick, I think that 3751 parts bus I rounded up for you has air assist, we need to check that out. | ||
| Nick Morris (Nick3751) (65.117.139.135)
Rating: N/A |
Yes we do Don. I was going to give you a few more days to get back on your feet before I hit you up about it again but since you brought it up give me a shout off board if you've got more info. |