The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Can I mount a PS gearbox upside down?

First of all, sorry to be here only when I need something...Life is so busy that I seem to just post a question about every 6 mos. Hopefully life will slow and I can socialize with you guys on this forum more often. So anyway, without discussion of the fabrication and physics of this task, will a PS gearbox work mounted upside down, just strictly from a hydraulic standpoint of view? I want to mount a Isuzu NPR ps box in a COE and it seems it will work if upside will distribute the fluid properly. When fabricated in place, the PS lines would screw UP into the BOTTOM of the unit when mounted as I need it to. As always, thank you guys for information. All my best. Tom

PM sent.

Yes, strictly from a hydraulic point of view. I see no reason why it would not work. From a fluid power standpoint it is working as a hydraulic motor and position makes no difference. However there may be other mitigating factors you haven't shared with us.

Though you say it may not be worth the discussion I can see some serious installation problems IF you intend to use it to steer the truck. Maybe you have some other use in mind for it such as a rotation device for some mounted equipment, etc. Doubtful.

Just for clarity's sake why not tell us why?

Dave, I don't know much about steering boxes, but what kinds of issues could you have with installation?

Also, if this were mounted upside down, would the power steering lines be open to snagging things and likely to break?

And Tom, you should be ashamed of yourself to just ask for help. Isn't that what we all do!

Jeff

Sounds good to me, only issue I can possibly see is burping the air out of it but that shouldn't be hard.

Make sure after you flip it that when you turn the steering wheel right the truck steers right...

Absolutely Grigg. It would require some kind of bellcrank and at that point it all becomes very, very iffy.

Toncoe: can you say unsafe?

As far as I have seen gravity does not play a role in anything in a PS gearbox, so it's orientation should not matter. I would think that there should be enough pressure and flow from the pump the get the air our regardless of it's orientation.

Just don't mount the PS pump upside down.....I don't think that would work out very well.

As others have said....please do let us know what you are looking to do. If you ignore the people who say don't do anything different ever or we'll all die you might just get a couple good suggestions..... or give someone else an idea or two

Tad

I looked at this thread a couple times and I am wondering what "upside down" is. The NPR box is verticle with the lines coming in from the back of the box. I had to lay my box back and my lines come from the under side now. I have not seen any issues with it so far. I have yard driven my truck and the steering works fine. It did take a few times working the srteering back and forth to get the air out. I think this may be what he is refering to as "upside down"

Hey everyone, thanks for all the chat so far....see? this is what I mean...I've been dying to get back to see what was said and I'm just now able to get back to SB! So for discussion sakes...I did a google search and honestly couldn't find a good 'original' mounting of the box in an NPR, but it looks like if I were to mount it the original way, lines up, that places the steering arm on the motor side of the frame. In my 41 COE, I need the steering arm to be on the wheel side of the frame, which would result in lines down. There will be no clearance problems, no snagged lines,and the steering coupler will be in the same place so I don't see any danger to speak of. And unless I held my tongue wrong, it appears that the steering will be correct.... right turn = right. So maybe I'm mounting it the way it was intended...or it was a right hand drive box..I don't know. I just know that lines up, steering arm on the motor side of the frame won't work. My fab skills are fine, so if the hydraulics part will work, I will probably give it a try. I'll double check that the steering will be correct, but I did think of that and the first time I looked it seemed to be right. That part is worth checking 4 times . Thanks again everyone!

PS, the reason I believe what I'm doing is 'upside' down is because the lettering in the casting....maybe when mounted in the NPR's the lettering is upside down... SO that is all i'm basing it on.

Tomcoe,
original mounting of the box is with the lines coming strait out the back with the steering arm to the outside .... here are some pictures. First is how it was original and second is how it is layed back in my truck. I used the gmc/npr chassis for my truck. Let me know if you need any more pictures and I could get some for you.
URL=http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2291731830102329435owYbAX][IMG]http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/48634/2291731830102329435S500x500Q85.jpg[/IMG][/URL][IMG]http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/49588/2818264210102329435S500x500Q85.jpg[/IMG]

Here's one in the truck
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2436693320080251109WnhCjy
model of the truck
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2165186070080251109hnpzmq
About how it'll fit an AD conventional truck (haven't done it yet to know for sure)
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2440021110080251109pKSXoz

Grigg

Grigg,
Looks like yours will be layed back about the same as I did.

Griggs example is not truly upside down. It appears be the a stock Izuzu in it's standard position. That is noy what I envisioned a "upside down" or truly inverted. If this is all you mean then why ask as you can look at any small COE and see them in action.

Thanks, especially for the pictures...well good to know. I've always seen them with lines out the top, and casting numbers right reading when installed....but so be it, and great!

As always, thank you for all of the help and in this case, peace of mind.

Best,
Tom