i'm about ready to install my "cylinder"and get some lines made and still am not sure if i need a larger capacity reservior.

i've seen posts saying you need more volume, but AGR don't sell anything for thiers. (correct?)

i believe a cooler is alway a good idea,
but, i'm thinking about getting a second power steering reservior (remote style) and just mounting it in the return line at the same height at the factory one, (seems to me this will work) BUT is it really need?

thanks

I run a 20 oz aluminum remote reservoir mounted slightly lower than the pump mount reservoir, so that it will self bleed. A tranny cooler is used downline form the remote, to further reduce heat, befor returning to the pump.
The extra volume of the reservoir, plus the heat radiating characteristics of the aluminum, just helps to keep the fluid from overheating, when overworking the steering gear.
My system hold close to a gallon of fluid, with all the lines, tranny cooler, the ram and both reservoirs. It hasnt overheated since the system has been in place.

I would think that the pressure generated in the hydraulic ram would heat the fluid, but Matt Hodges told me it wouldn't be that bad. He said the reason people put in coolers is to add extra capacity. Think about the ram. When it extends, you fill that whole body with fluid and when it contracts all the fluid goes back to the reservoir. You just don't want the reservoir to get close to empty when the ram is at full extension.

Originally posted by H8monday
I run a 20 oz aluminum remote reservoir mounted slightly lower than the pump mount reservoir, so that it will self bleed. A tranny cooler is used downline form the remote, to further reduce heat, befor returning to the pump.
The extra volume of the reservoir, plus the heat radiating characteristics of the aluminum, just helps to keep the fluid from overheating, when overworking the steering gear.
My system hold close to a gallon of fluid, with all the lines, tranny cooler, the ram and both reservoirs. It hasnt overheated since the system has been in place.

The fluid level should stay relitivley the same, regardles of ram position. You will have fluid on both sides of the piston. That will offset each other.

Originally posted by HeyBeerMan


The fluid level should stay relitivley the same, regardles of ram position. You will have fluid on both sides of the piston. That will offset each other.


Yes exactly, I did not post the response about the fluid going down when the piston is stroked out.
Also whoever doesnt think their fluid is getting hot running the ram or not, well you can come on over and place a digit on that aluminum reservoir after about 10 minutes of rock crawling with 4 psi in 38.50 SX tires. I think you will have a different opinion.
The reason I run the extra fluid and reservoir, is because it allows the steering fluid to cool down rapidly durring any idle time, between strenouse steering.
The self bleeding that I mentioned is referring to any time you need to work on the steering lines, or you go upside down, it allows any air bubbles to accumulate at the top of the reservoir where they vent upwards to the the pump, and bleed off.

So do you run the cooler before or after the ram?

Originally posted by brector
So do you run the cooler before or after the ram?


After the ram, I just pick up the low pressure line out of the steering box, and re-route it into the top of the remote rerservoir, then the line out of the bottom of the rr runs to the cooler and then to the low pressure side of the pump.

in my experience
aluminum reservoirs are not good
aluminum seems to create condensation worse then a steel res.
you end up with water contaminated hyd fluid
I dont understand why it is worse just that the trucks with steel have less water in the oil
you desert dwellers most likely dont need to be concerned with condensation though EH!

I've had my AGR box and ram on for a while now. I still haven't put on the AGR pump - it's still sitting in the garage. I am still running a NAPA reman. I am running a NAPA auto tranny cooler, and this setup has NEVER overheated, or made a SINGLE noise. Works great.

Count your lucky stars then!! I've been running the agr stuff (ram and all) now for over a year(ok, maybe right at a year) and I cant keep a pump on the SOB!!! I dont know what it is I'm doing wrong, but the d60 and 38's are a bitch on the power steering in my junk!

I'm sure some of yall heard some of my horror stories about AGR.
But anyhow, after many months of dealing with a hot box and pump, I decided to put on a remote reservoir as well. I then switched from the puny "perm-a-cool" brand cooler to a 15,000 GVW tranny cooler. That along with the remote Aluminum finned "can" (as the remote reservoir), I haven't had a heating issue since :). Email me if you're interested in pics.
Boss

Originally posted by HeyBeerMan


The fluid level should stay relitivley the same, regardles of ram position. You will have fluid on both sides of the piston. That will offset each other.

However you have a rod on one side of the piston, and not on the other, and a 1" rod takes up a fair volume that you then have on the other side...

Originally posted by Lance
I've had my AGR box and ram on for a while now. I still haven't put on the AGR pump - it's still sitting in the garage. I am still running a NAPA reman. I am running a NAPA auto tranny cooler, and this setup has NEVER overheated, or made a SINGLE noise. Works great.

put on your high pressure, high volume pump and i bet you will start to over heat the fluid unless you further increase the capicity. it is not the ram that creats the heat but the pump.

stock pump = stock heat
high preasure pump= higher heat.

just like in a engine, the more HP you make the more heat it generates.

Originally posted by CrazyHorse


However you have a rod on one side of the piston, and not on the other, and a 1" rod takes up a fair volume that you then have on the other side...
That is true so with a 1" shaft and a 8" stroke that = 6.28oz. of fluid is the difference. My ram has a 1.125" shaft so that = 7.95oz. so that is nearly a pint of difference. Camo makes a good point and that the creation of pressure makes heat but also the expantion so to speak does also. So when the fluid moves from the resrticted line to the open area of the box or ram that also creates heat unlike a gas that would cool if in the same circumstance.

Let's see how many of thes I can answer.
Easy way to get more resivior volume is to cut and extend the fill neck either with a piece of pipe welded in or wih a piece of hose and some hose clamps. This is not required but wil always help. Because the fluid level will change depending on the position of the ram.
Next, the cooler needs to put inline between the box and the pump on the return (low pressure) line. It also needs to be below the level of your resivior so that it self bleeds and doesn't keep air bubbles.
Also the Ram isn't what creates the heat. The pump does and like what was said earlier. Higher pressure more heat. That's why I don't reccomend bumping up pressure on my Hydro assist kits, just the flow volume.

Originally posted by TheLakeRat
Let's see how many of thes I can answer.

the cooler needs to put inline between the box and the pump on the return (low pressure) line. It also needs to be below the level of your resivior so that it self bleeds and doesn't keep air bubbles.



Hey, thats kinda what I was thinking.:rolleyes:

-snip-That's why I don't reccomend bumping up pressure on my Hydro assist kits, just the flow volume.-snip-

Matt, as you just increase the pumps volume doesn't the pressure drop?

Originally posted by TheLakeRat
cut and extend the fill neck either with a piece of pipe welded in or wih a piece of hose and some hose clamps. This is not required but wil always help.

:idea: thats a much better idea than any i'd came up with.

i've not modified my pump at all, i'm planning on seeing how everything works with the factory pump first, i'm using a 1 1/2" bore, 7 3/4" stroke cylinder with 3/4 diameter rod. (on a Dana 44)

so i don't think my reservior changes will be as much as those running bigger rams.

Originally posted by PYRO
-snip-That's why I don't reccomend bumping up pressure on my Hydro assist kits, just the flow volume.-snip-

Matt, as you just increase the pumps volume doesn't the pressure drop?
Only if you exceed the capacity of the pump then the pressure will drop off. Most of the time you pump can pump more than you need so the rest goes through the bypass.

Thanks Dean,
So as you increase the flow volume, less flow is going through the bypass, Right?

Originally posted by 3/4tonYJ



...i'm using a 1 1/2" bore, 7 3/4" stroke cylinder with 3/4 diameter rod. (on a Dana 44)


Hey - Where did you get your cylinder:question:

Paul

Originally posted by nasvik


Hey - Where did you get your cylinder:question:

Paul

i got mine from a local hydraulic shop (Used/Rebuild with a guarantee) there are a couple pics here http://www.geocities.com/yj3qtr_ton/steering.html i don't have any idea of the original manufacture

Originally posted by 3/4tonYJ


i got mine from a local hydraulic shop (Used/Rebuild with a guarantee) there are a couple pics here http://www.geocities.com/yj3qtr_ton/steering.html i don't have any idea of the original manufacture

Thanks!!!

Paul

Pyro, 66cjdean is right. The pressure will drop slightly while the ram is in moving but once it comes into resistanceand and the ram slows the pressure will immediatly build back up. This way you get the speed you need and can still keep the power.

How are you increasing the volume of the pump? I'm having complete hell with my AGR pump right now. I took it up there and had it rebuilt the other day and it still doesnt work ON the jeep. I've bleed it till the fluid doesnt move up and down, so I dont believe air is in it. It'll turn just fine on jack stands, but as soon as I put it on the floor it just whines like the bypass is popped without being at full lock!! I took off the ram last night to see what that would do and it got worse. I even went so far as to completly take the pump apart to see what I could find....(nothing wrong from my point of view) and put it back together...Same thing. Reckon my box is trashed and is binding enough to stall the pump?I'm at a loss as to what to try next, I've had the pump off 4 times this week messing with damn thing!!