The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts info for a hercules hoist

i have a hercules steel products from Galion Ohio
hoist serial number 52077 model number KB on my 49 dump. does anyone have any parts list or exploded parts views or any other printed information on this particular hoist and bed? It is all working fine for the time being, but you know how that goes.

The Hercules brand underwent many changes in ownership what with mergers and buyouts. Hercules first merged with Galion and became Hercules Galion. Then it became plain Galion, then Peabody Galion, then Galion again with another new owner and now is owned by Godwin of North Carolina and is a mere shadow of it's former self.
I doubt you'll find any parts for anything made by Hercules in 1949. If you need hoist piston seals they are availabe from most any industrial seal supplier. The newer neoprene seals have virtually replaced the old cast iron piston rings used on those old cylinders. Same for pumps, new seals are avaiable in generic sizes. If you need castings then your SOL. Incidently the S/N is pretty much meaningless by this time but a model number might have some significance.
The pressure of these old models didn't exceed 1000 psi or whatever was needed to lift as they would recirculate at the end of the stroke. If 1000 wouldn't get it started then it would just sit there and shudder. However any thing it would start to lift it would cycle as the initial thrust was the hardest part of the cycle. Never try to stop a load that is coming down with the valve as that is where frames got bent on old F*#ds and Chebbies.

GREAT! thanks for the great info. as yet there are no leaks and everything is working fine. it dumps very well even with a full load of slightly damp fill dirt. i love this truck. this is truley a WORKING BOLT.
thanks again.

53moneypit,

Being an inquisitive soul, how is it that you seem to be so knowledgeable on the Hercules subject? I love the little history lesson you have just shared.

Stuart

Just call it 40 years of experience in the truck equipment industry as a salesman, engineering liason, plant manager, designer, business owner, mechanic and installer/repairman. Throw in a engineering degree and there you are. The only parts I have little or no experience with are garbage packers (phew!)and arial equipment (personnel buckets) but have worked on both of them.

I am putting a Hercules Steep products, Gallon, OH Hoist on a chopped frame to tow behind. The current cylinder and hydraulic pump are in good shape, but it might be cheaper in the long run to get a new 12V setup. Looking at the 12V DC MTE Hydraulic Unit - 250-742, my question is what GPM rate is acceptable for an original cylinder? The one I am considering is 1000 psi, and 2.0 gpm.

Make that Hercules STEEL products. Long gone, was incorporated into the Galion body company in the early 60's. I'll venture that you have an old 7" underbody design
with about a 15" stroke. You don't describe the hoist except for the psi required but if I'm correct in my assumption then you'd have approx 580 cu. in. and 38k of cylinder force. At 2/gpm it's going to be S L O W, i.e, molasses in January. If it's a larger piston then things only get worse for a DC pump. Not advisable. The performance will depend largely upon the battery condition, wire size, load, etc. Also you should know that pumps are generally rated at free flow and the actual GPM will be less as the resistance increases. The original gear pump was about 12-15 GPM so take it from there.