Power steering pump disaster

[Gardner Yeaw]

WOW!!!What pleasant a surprise when the power steering quits on a
narrow winding country road.

I was bringing the coach home to install tank heaters for a trip
north next weekend. I felt a little unfamiliar twitch in the steering
followed shortly by another as I was entering a bend in the road. I
suddenly felt the wheel fighting me and pushing back. It felt like
the front end was locking up or falling apart. I hit the brakes and
pulled wheel with all my might to keep it on the road.

After stopping I couldn't see what was wrong so I assumed the power
steering pump just quit. I managed to disconnect the toad and make a
very difficult three point turn, reconnect the toad and return to the
storage facility very slowly. After I opened up the front end and
swung out the radiator I could see the belt was off the pulley. I
reached in to see if the pump was frozen and the pulley fell off in
my hand. The hub had disintegrated and only the three spokes were
left. Fluid was dripping from the front pump bearing and the shaft
was scraped up. The bolt was still tight in the front of the shaft.

So I am perusing the forum data to locate pump suppliers. I assume
the pump will be easier than the pulley. Does anyone know where I
might find the pulley before I start calling the likley candidates?


So much for this weekend's trip.

Gardner
78FC33