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Power steering locked up bad, in a race so real bad!

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Power steering locked up bad, in a race so real bad!

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Old 02-18-2019 | 10:40 PM
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Default Power steering locked up bad, in a race so real bad!

Guys can I have some advice please on power steering fluid, My fluid foamed up in a race and the steering locked up bad, (had a pretty good spin actually and my 6"2 co driver ended up in the fetal position in my lap..........)

Seemed to get worse the harder we ran, Just cruised in the second race and was better, any ideas??
Dont think it was real hot, couldn't smell it, was a bit foamy, possible there was some air in it, maybe..
I am using normal ATF at present...Jas
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Old 02-18-2019 | 10:43 PM
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Do you have a cooler? Pump going bad? Those would be the first 2 places I’d look.
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Old 02-18-2019 | 10:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Crude Intentions
Do you have a cooler? Pump going bad? Those would be the first 2 places I’d look.
yep got a cooler and a new pump..Jas
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Old 02-19-2019 | 07:29 AM
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I would make sure that your pump isnt over rated for you steering , I know automotive pumps have too much pressure for
hydraulic steering and will foam the crap out of the oil. Because the pump is always on the bypass.
I use HyTran fluid in all the Steering i put in. It is what they use in tractors and construction equipment for hydraulic and trans fluid together.
That **** can take some heat and abuse and not foam like ATF.
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Old 02-19-2019 | 12:43 PM
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There is an OEM pressure tool to measure PSI and merc list all the spec pressures for testing. I would make sure all is within

A too small of a pwr steering cooler can cause your issues as well

Try a syn pwr steering oil -- Driven Racing oil or NEO or something with more anti foam additives in it
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Old 02-19-2019 | 04:08 PM
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I don't think it's the fluid I would look at hoses filter or something else. In the system. Does it have remot reservoir ? And how many pumps?
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Old 02-19-2019 | 04:20 PM
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What kind of pump? And does it ever squeal the belt? The power steering won't make any big pressure till you turn the helm. Most of the time on the twin pumps I use a drill to bleed systems and it free spins till you turn the helm. Maybe try a drill to see what you got going on.

Last edited by 14 apache; 02-19-2019 at 04:23 PM.
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Old 02-19-2019 | 04:47 PM
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Back in my dirt track racing days I had a huge issue with the foaming PS fluid at high rpm's I tried everything without resolve. I ended up changing the fluid to B&M trick shift ATF and never had another problem. You may also need to look at the pulley size. Let us know what happens.
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Old 02-19-2019 | 08:12 PM
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Not to hijack but sounds similar to ripping a stbd (ps side) drive off with twins in rough seas over 80 mph. Dead heads can be deadly. I think post 8 would be a good solution with a second opinion and also pulley size vs rpm.
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Old 02-19-2019 | 08:16 PM
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Originally Posted by dunnitagain
I would make sure that your pump isnt over rated for you steering , I know automotive pumps have too much pressure for
hydraulic steering and will foam the crap out of the oil. Because the pump is always on the bypass.
I use HyTran fluid in all the Steering i put in. It is what they use in tractors and construction equipment for hydraulic and trans fluid together.
That **** can take some heat and abuse and not foam like ATF.
To strange. Just did that on a case 580 this past weekend after having to rebuild a couple cylinders. Yes they take some major abuse.
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