| Author | Message | ||
| Austin Scott Davis (Zimtok)
Registered Member Username: Zimtok Post Number: 475 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 173.166.209.1  Rating: N/A |
On my 4104 I have the Power Assist Steering with the Hydraulic cylinder. I have been noticing lately that the bus wants to steer slightly to the right. So I decided to check out what was happening. With the front of the bus blocked up front wheels not touching the ground I started the engine and the Power Assist slowly turned the wheels all the way to the right. I'm thinking that the directional valve may be leaking internally... What are your thoughts??? . | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 1546 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 76.4.118.199  Rating: N/A |
Austin chek DA BOOK for adjustment on the actuator valves and maybe the clearance is out just a little. If that doesnt work DA BOOK will give you a guide to follow Gomer | ||
| Austin Scott Davis (Zimtok)
Registered Member Username: Zimtok Post Number: 476 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 173.166.209.1 Rating: N/A |
Got it... Page 252 of my maint manual... That's a bit of disassembly just to get to a adjustment screw...  | ||
| Kevin Baxter (Bus_boy)
Registered Member Username: Bus_boy Post Number: 35 Registered: 10-2009 Posted From: 173.55.131.34  Rating: N/A |
Hey Zim, Had the exact same problem with my coach... took it to an alignment shop to no avail. It is in need of the adjustment that you are looking at. I cannot remember what all had to be disassembled, but it seems that the ram had to be separated in order to get to the adjustment done. I remember having the front wheels off the ground - and with engine running at a fast idle - fiddling with the adjustment (with tires going right and left) until finally getting it nice and straight ahead! It made a big difference and no longer pulls to the right.... now it just wanders all over the #$%^&*@ place! lol! Seriously, it is better, but I have since purchased a Sheppard steering set-up that I hope will tighten things up a bit. I've not yet installed it. I've heard lots of folks on these forums say that it helps a great deal, and a few that say they couldn't tell the difference (talking about integral vs power assist) in steering. One gentleman in particular owns (or owned) two 4104s - one with power assist, and one with integral power steering and said he couldn't tell much difference. Don't know about yours, but the steering on my Ol' Mare is pretty vague. After eleven years of continuous use I'm pretty accustomed to how it behaves, but I am hopeful that the integral power steering will improve things a bit... less wander, less effort turning the wheel, quicker steering, etc. Good luck. I just followed the book as you are. Kevin | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 702 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 184.0.13.120  Rating: N/A |
Mine "prefers" the right side as well. I thought something was bent but couldn't see anything. When I get it back to NC next spring, I'll jack the front wheels up & try that trick. Thanks for telling us & let us know how the adjustment procedure goes. | ||
| Dal Farnworth (Dallas)
Registered Member Username: Dallas Post Number: 723 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 75.91.206.80  Rating: N/A |
Here's a stupid thought that I learned decades ago. If you set the front end perfectly straight you'll have problems when you are on the road with it pulling to the right. This is because the crown on the road will pull the steering tires to the low side. If I were you, I would find an old guy that has worked on heavy vehicles for years and years and years. Newer buses and trucks have the steering crown difference built into the system, so the techs don't have to think. Good Luck! | ||
| Austin Scott Davis (Zimtok)
Registered Member Username: Zimtok Post Number: 477 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 173.166.209.1 Rating: N/A |
I crawled under the bus this morning to get a good start and cannot get the drag link off at the cylinder end... But During inspection before working I did notice that when I turn the steering shaft the cylinder ball did not seem to move side to side very much to activate the valve. After trying to remove the drag link (prying,pounding and such)I gave up on that and noticed that the cylinder ball now moves side to side better... I think that the cylinder ball may have been stuck to one side. This may have happened when I made and replaced the Extension end. That is when I first noticed the pulling to the right. I will be checking to see if it pulls to the right soon. I also noticed that the steering shaft has one U-Joint that is a little sloppy... (A job for another day) While I was under the bus I hit every grease fitting with a few squirts of grease. I hadn't done that since I first got the bus 5 years ago. . | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 1376 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 75.121.202.216  Rating: N/A |
Austin, I believe the system is designed to be manual up to a certain number of degrees before the assist kicks in, feels to me like 5-10 degrees. That is the way mine works and it has almost all the slop taken out of it. Maybe 1" at the most at the steering wheel rim. That is one reason I bought the 4107 with Sheppard integrated, the 4104 was wearing me out on long trips on straight roads!! I am an old wimp and couldn't take it! It sure is nice in close quarters at low speeds though, I can't even imagine doing without it. The other reason is the Allison! | ||
| Austin Scott Davis (Zimtok)
Registered Member Username: Zimtok Post Number: 478 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 173.166.209.1 Rating: N/A |
Gus, I would guess your right about the 10 degrees of steering wheel travel before the ball pushes the valve to activate the power assist. with the one U-Joint being loose it is more like 15-20degrees on my bus... At slow speeds, tight turns, my bus steers easier then my 65 GTO (no power steering on the GTO) I get better "feel" from the steering on the GTO though. .. | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 705 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 184.0.13.120 Rating: N/A |
I have the ram assisted steering on ours. I got air bound one time & had no power assist for about 200 miles. The bus was fine to drive down the highway. No problem unless you were either really turning tight through a parking lot or standing still trying to turn the wheels. A monster then even with the big stock wheel. | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 1380 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 173.202.20.114 Rating: N/A |
Jim, As I said before, you are strictly manual driving down a straight road and the feel is good even though tiring for an old guy like me. |