Another power steering leak question.

[davidkerryedwards]

As I mentioned earlier, I have drips of fluid under the coach and had
determined that the drip under the power steering pump was a leak from
the reservoir hose to pump attachment. There are further drips to the
left under the battery tray. I had assumed these were also power
steering fluid (definitely not engine oil and it looked the same as
the other drips) and were probably coming from the return hose to
steering box connection. After much crawling, squinting and aiming
with a flashlight I was able to see where the high pressure hose and
return line attached to the steering box and there are no leaks at
that point. There is a flat steel plate to the left of the back left
battery and the leak is above that plate but so far I haven't been
able to visually inspect it. Anyone have any idea what it might be?
It is dripping onto the plate and migrating from there. It's not the
high pressure hose (I think) because I can see most of it and it looks
dry. PO said he thought it was jack leveling fluid but I've only used
the jacks once and it drips everytime I drive it. Is there some other
place on the left side of the steering box that might be leaking?

Kerry
82 FC 35
Denver

[Stephen Birtles]

you may want to look at some other sources for power steering resevoir
every once in a while they come up on ebay look for a power steering
resevoir for a mc5 bus comes with vent dipstick filter even the mount
Stephen 77fc35


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"
wrote:
>
> As I mentioned earlier, I have drips of fluid under the coach and had
> determined that the drip under the power steering pump was a leak from
> the reservoir hose to pump attachment. There are further drips to the
> left under the battery tray. I had assumed these were also power
> steering fluid (definitely not engine oil and it looked the same as
> the other drips) and were probably coming from the return hose to
> steering box connection. After much crawling, squinting and aiming
> with a flashlight I was able to see where the high pressure hose and
> return line attached to the steering box and there are no leaks at
> that point. There is a flat steel plate to the left of the back left
> battery and the leak is above that plate but so far I haven't been
> able to visually inspect it. Anyone have any idea what it might be?
> It is dripping onto the plate and migrating from there. It's not the
> high pressure hose (I think) because I can see most of it and it looks
> dry. PO said he thought it was jack leveling fluid but I've only used
> the jacks once and it drips everytime I drive it. Is there some other
> place on the left side of the steering box that might be leaking?
>
> Kerry
> 82 FC 35
> Denver
>

[Tom Warner]

The power steering reservoirs for the FC and PTs are not alike, the
FC model being a stand alone unit and the PT supplying the fluid for
both the radiator fan and the power steering unit. The power steering
reservoir on my former 1982 FC35 is a Purolator P-776-28 and uses a
NAPA 1430 or fleetguard HF6195 filter. It does not need to be vented
as some have suggested. If you properly install new hoses (just
regular premium radiator hose) covered with 1 inch asphalt cloth wire
loom which you can get from Bluebird it will work fine. The input and
output of the reservoir has barbed connectors that will not leak if
you take a little extra care in installing the hoses. After I cut
both hoses to length I installed the asphalt loom over the hose and
installed a 3 inch piece of heavy wall shrink tubing on each end to
bind the loom to the hose so it wont fray. Before installing the hose
to the barbed fitting I wiped a small amount of black silicone sealer
to the inside of the hose and pushed it on and secure with a
stainless steel hose clamp. I found that any leaks that I had were
caused by the swivel fittings at the power steering unit itself.

You can get the power steering unit rebuilt at Power
steeringSpecialists at 1-800-235-3076 for $150.

Tom Warner
Vernon Center,NY
1985 PT 40


At 07:44 AM 7/31/2006, you wrote:

>you may want to look at some other sources for power steering resevoir
>every once in a while they come up on ebay look for a power steering
>resevoir for a mc5 bus comes with vent dipstick filter even the mount
>Stephen 77fc35
>
>--- In
>WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com,
>"davidkerryedwards"
> wrote:
> >
> > As I mentioned earlier, I have drips of fluid under the coach and had
> > determined that the drip under the power steering pump was a leak from
> > the reservoir hose to pump attachment. There are further drips to the
> > left under the battery tray. I had assumed these were also power
> > steering fluid (definitely not engine oil and it looked the same as
> > the other drips) and were probably coming from the return hose to
> > steering box connection. After much crawling, squinting and aiming
> > with a flashlight I was able to see where the high pressure hose and
> > return line attached to the steering box and there are no leaks at
> > that point. There is a flat steel plate to the left of the back left
> > battery and the leak is above that plate but so far I haven't been
> > able to visually inspect it. Anyone have any idea what it might be?
> > It is dripping onto the plate and migrating from there. It's not the
> > high pressure hose (I think) because I can see most of it and it looks
> > dry. PO said he thought it was jack leveling fluid but I've only used
> > the jacks once and it drips everytime I drive it. Is there some other
> > place on the left side of the steering box that might be leaking?
> >
> > Kerry
> > 82 FC 35
> > Denver
> >
>
>

[Gregory OConnor]

But Tom, the venting trick works to stop the leak as it reduces the
pressure caused by hot fluid. Venting is a benifit and since it is a
filtered system, non venting was an engineers oversight. I would
however put the silicone on the metal fitting as not to be pushed
into the hose and mixed with the ps fluid. Thanks for the shrink
tube trick,
Gregory O'Connor
94ptRomolandCa
venting

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Tom Warner
wrote:
>
> The power steering reservoirs for the FC and PTs are not alike, the
> FC model being a stand alone unit and the PT supplying the fluid
for
> both the radiator fan and the power steering unit. The power
steering
> reservoir on my former 1982 FC35 is a Purolator P-776-28 and uses a
> NAPA 1430 or fleetguard HF6195 filter. It does not need to be
vented
> as some have suggested. If you properly install new hoses (just
> regular premium radiator hose) covered with 1 inch asphalt cloth
wire
> loom which you can get from Bluebird it will work fine. The input
and
> output of the reservoir has barbed connectors that will not leak if
> you take a little extra care in installing the hoses. After I cut
> both hoses to length I installed the asphalt loom over the hose and
> installed a 3 inch piece of heavy wall shrink tubing on each end to
> bind the loom to the hose so it wont fray. Before installing the
hose
> to the barbed fitting I wiped a small amount of black silicone
sealer
> to the inside of the hose and pushed it on and secure with a
> stainless steel hose clamp. I found that any leaks that I had were
> caused by the swivel fittings at the power steering unit itself.
>
> You can get the power steering unit rebuilt at Power
> steeringSpecialists at 1-800-235-3076 for $150.
>
> Tom Warner
> Vernon Center,NY
> 1985 PT 40
>
>
> At 07:44 AM 7/31/2006, you wrote:
>
> >you may want to look at some other sources for power steering
resevoir
> >every once in a while they come up on ebay look for a power
steering
> >resevoir for a mc5 bus comes with vent dipstick filter even the
mount
> >Stephen 77fc35
> >
> >--- In
> > 40yahoogroups.com>WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com,
> >"davidkerryedwards"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > As I mentioned earlier, I have drips of fluid under the coach
and had
> > > determined that the drip under the power steering pump was a
leak from
> > > the reservoir hose to pump attachment. There are further drips
to the
> > > left under the battery tray. I had assumed these were also power
> > > steering fluid (definitely not engine oil and it looked the
same as
> > > the other drips) and were probably coming from the return hose
to
> > > steering box connection. After much crawling, squinting and
aiming
> > > with a flashlight I was able to see where the high pressure
hose and
> > > return line attached to the steering box and there are no leaks
at
> > > that point. There is a flat steel plate to the left of the back
left
> > > battery and the leak is above that plate but so far I haven't
been
> > > able to visually inspect it. Anyone have any idea what it might
be?
> > > It is dripping onto the plate and migrating from there. It's
not the
> > > high pressure hose (I think) because I can see most of it and
it looks
> > > dry. PO said he thought it was jack leveling fluid but I've
only used
> > > the jacks once and it drips everytime I drive it. Is there some
other
> > > place on the left side of the steering box that might be
leaking?
> > >
> > > Kerry
> > > 82 FC 35
> > > Denver
> > >
> >
> >
>

[Jeff Miller]

If I'm reading your post correctly, it sounds like you might have a
leak from the leveling valves beside the pilot's seat.

It is a bit of a pain to R&R, but not bad to rebuild, just a bunch of
o-rings and a dentist's pick.

- Jeff Miller
in Holland, MI


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"
wrote:
>
> As I mentioned earlier, I have drips of fluid under the coach and
had
> determined that the drip under the power steering pump was a leak
from
> the reservoir hose to pump attachment. There are further drips to
the
> left under the battery tray. I had assumed these were also power
> steering fluid (definitely not engine oil and it looked the same as
> the other drips) and were probably coming from the return hose to
> steering box connection. After much crawling, squinting and aiming
> with a flashlight I was able to see where the high pressure hose and
> return line attached to the steering box and there are no leaks at
> that point. There is a flat steel plate to the left of the back
left
> battery and the leak is above that plate but so far I haven't been
> able to visually inspect it. Anyone have any idea what it might
be?
> It is dripping onto the plate and migrating from there. It's not
the
> high pressure hose (I think) because I can see most of it and it
looks
> dry. PO said he thought it was jack leveling fluid but I've only
used
> the jacks once and it drips everytime I drive it. Is there some
other
> place on the left side of the steering box that might be leaking?
>
> Kerry
> 82 FC 35
> Denver
>

[davidkerryedwards]

Yes, that's what the PO thought. But I think it is too far inboard
and forward to be the leveling jacks. The fluid is definitely red. Is
the leveling fluid red? I got a different flashlight and peered in
every opening I could again today. I'm now thinking again it might
possibly be the return hose from the power steering box. When the
light was just right, it looked like there was red discoloration
around the insulation around the return hose indicating a possible leak.
I rigged up a vent for the reservoir today, using 1/8 plumbing
fittings on the dipstick hole so I'll give that a try and see what
happens. It doesn't leak when its sitting, just after it's been
running a while so I think the pressure from a non-vented system could
be a major issue.

Kerry

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Miller"
wrote:
>
> If I'm reading your post correctly, it sounds like you might have a
> leak from the leveling valves beside the pilot's seat.
>
> It is a bit of a pain to R&R, but not bad to rebuild, just a bunch of
> o-rings and a dentist's pick.
>
> - Jeff Miller
> in Holland, MI
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"
> wrote:
> >
> > As I mentioned earlier, I have drips of fluid under the coach and
> had
> > determined that the drip under the power steering pump was a leak
> from
> > the reservoir hose to pump attachment. There are further drips to
> the
> > left under the battery tray. I had assumed these were also power
> > steering fluid (definitely not engine oil and it looked the same as
> > the other drips) and were probably coming from the return hose to
> > steering box connection. After much crawling, squinting and aiming
> > with a flashlight I was able to see where the high pressure hose and
> > return line attached to the steering box and there are no leaks at
> > that point. There is a flat steel plate to the left of the back
> left
> > battery and the leak is above that plate but so far I haven't been
> > able to visually inspect it. Anyone have any idea what it might
> be?
> > It is dripping onto the plate and migrating from there. It's not
> the
> > high pressure hose (I think) because I can see most of it and it
> looks
> > dry. PO said he thought it was jack leveling fluid but I've only
> used
> > the jacks once and it drips everytime I drive it. Is there some
> other
> > place on the left side of the steering box that might be leaking?
> >
> > Kerry
> > 82 FC 35
> > Denver
> >
>

[freewill2008]

Kerry - The power steering hoses were all shot when we got our '84
FC. I changed them out as part of a project to replace all the hoses
around the engine and transmission. You must drain the PS system to
change any one hose, so best to just change them all. Also vented
the system at the same time. Good insurance, and no fluid problems
since.

BobG '84 FC31 WLII WA

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"
wrote:
>
> Yes, that's what the PO thought. But I think it is too far inboard
> and forward to be the leveling jacks. The fluid is definitely red.
Is
> the leveling fluid red? I got a different flashlight and peered in
> every opening I could again today. I'm now thinking again it might
> possibly be the return hose from the power steering box. When the
> light was just right, it looked like there was red discoloration
> around the insulation around the return hose indicating a possible
leak.
> I rigged up a vent for the reservoir today, using 1/8 plumbing
> fittings on the dipstick hole so I'll give that a try and see what
> happens. It doesn't leak when its sitting, just after it's been
> running a while so I think the pressure from a non-vented system
could
> be a major issue.
>
> Kerry
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Miller"
> wrote:
> >
> > If I'm reading your post correctly, it sounds like you might have
a
> > leak from the leveling valves beside the pilot's seat.
> >
> > It is a bit of a pain to R&R, but not bad to rebuild, just a
bunch of
> > o-rings and a dentist's pick.
> >
> > - Jeff Miller
> > in Holland, MI
> >
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > As I mentioned earlier, I have drips of fluid under the coach
and
> > had
> > > determined that the drip under the power steering pump was a
leak
> > from
> > > the reservoir hose to pump attachment. There are further drips
to
> > the
> > > left under the battery tray. I had assumed these were also
power
> > > steering fluid (definitely not engine oil and it looked the
same as
> > > the other drips) and were probably coming from the return hose
to
> > > steering box connection. After much crawling, squinting and
aiming
> > > with a flashlight I was able to see where the high pressure
hose and
> > > return line attached to the steering box and there are no leaks
at
> > > that point. There is a flat steel plate to the left of the
back
> > left
> > > battery and the leak is above that plate but so far I haven't
been
> > > able to visually inspect it. Anyone have any idea what it
might
> > be?
> > > It is dripping onto the plate and migrating from there. It's
not
> > the
> > > high pressure hose (I think) because I can see most of it and
it
> > looks
> > > dry. PO said he thought it was jack leveling fluid but I've
only
> > used
> > > the jacks once and it drips everytime I drive it. Is there
some
> > other
> > > place on the left side of the steering box that might be
leaking?
> > >
> > > Kerry
> > > 82 FC 35
> > > Denver
> > >
> >
>

[davidkerryedwards]

Bob:
Did you tackle the job thru the floor by the driver? How long did it
take? I'm thinking of switching to a synthetic power steering fluid to
handle the heat better. Does anyone know at what temperature the
power steering system should be running? I'm planning to use an
infrared thermometer to see what mine is running at.
I think I'm going to drive mine for a short while and see if venting
the reservoir makes any difference. The original owner complained of
power steering leaks right from the start.

Kerry
82 FC 35
Denver

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "freewill2008"
wrote:
>
> Kerry - The power steering hoses were all shot when we got our '84
> FC. I changed them out as part of a project to replace all the hoses
> around the engine and transmission. You must drain the PS system to
> change any one hose, so best to just change them all. Also vented
> the system at the same time. Good insurance, and no fluid problems
> since.
>
> BobG '84 FC31 WLII WA
>
>