Building a full hydro steering from scratch

[colbyhunt]

I am going to build a full hydro steering. I want to build it from scratch. I having troulble finding a place to start. I want to do a double ended ram but from there im not sure where to go. The requirments is I want to build from parts from something. Like forklift tractor combine etc. I just was wondering if there is one of these that is better than other.

[mj]

surplus center sells everything you need
it is cheaper to just buy a kit from the 'names' on this site.
whatever Station company is called would be very high on my list, or rockstomper as I like the ram they use.

[colbyhunt]

I been looking at those what are people running and are some of them set up to self center

[Loganwildman]

I just put full hydro steering on my pulling truck. My application is a little different than a rock buggy, but I used an Char-Lynn orbital valve from a forklift, an electric hyd. pump/resoviour from Force America and a 2"x8" cylinder from the local Tractor supply store. I made a new tie rod from 1-1/2" .25 wall DOM tubing and Heims endsand fabricated the tabs to weld to the axle and tie rod for the cylinder.

I do have to agree with the other post above though, It would be easier for you to buy a kit from a supplier though as I had to do a lot of fab work that was only possible because I have access to a fully equippped tool and die shop. Also the orbital was FREE, so that made it easier when I had to fabricate the steering shaft cuz I couldn't find one to fit the orbital I had.

Alan

[HOT_DAMN]

I got my orbital out of a forklift at a scrap yard for $25. Orbital came with a steering colum that a modified to fit on to my truck. If you do your research you can find out the flow rate and the other numbers that you need to determine wich ram to buy. As far as pumps, I plan on running my stock saginaw pump with a remote resivor. If you do your homework you can design a good setup on the cheap, just takes a little more time than buying a whole set up, some of us dont have 1200 to droop on a steering system.

Try sercing, and read the tech section on this website, there is a good write up in there about full hydro.

[colbyhunt]

Thats what Im wanting to do is get a orbital form a forlift and fit the right ram. I was just looking at surplus center and thought that i could do it pretty cheap from there. I didnt know if there is a forklift or some equipment that was better than others

[lil-bronc]

I bought from PSC when they had a sale...

A friend, went to forklift yard. Kind of like pick'n'pull, and he put a full hydro steering for about half the price. But, he was patient and waited for what he needed.

just a few cents of mine.

[zdaily]

performanceoff-road.com is a great company to work with.

[wheelin66bronco]

I built my whole steering system from surplus center parts, everything accept the Howe pump.
If you want the info, I can look at my reciept for the part #'s.

[wyldstallyn73]

I notice you are from Illinois, so you should also consider a steering valve from a combine or other agricultural application. Massey combine valves seem to be a popular choice in the group I wheel with here in Iowa.

[colbyhunt]

a massey combine would be a great choice for me. I know I can get one from something like that I just dont know which one would be the best. I thought it would be cool to do it that way.