Pickup's Power Steering Operates Hydraulics

Pickup's power steering operates hydraulics PICKUPS Modifications 9-3-8 Illinois farmer John Hutchings, of Paris, made his 1975 Chevrolet truck do double duty by modifying its power steering system to power implement hydraulics. "I can now use the truck's power steering system to open and close the door of my bottom-dump wagons, and to raise my disc for transport. You could also use it for running augers, log splitters and to fold spray booms," says Hutchings. He installed a 2¢-gal. reservoir for the power steering pump to hold extra oil. Since he uses the same oil for his truck's power steering and his tractors' hydraulics, he's unsure if there'd be problems with running power-steering fluid through hydraulic cylinders or hydraulic fluid through the power steering pump. In his modification, Hutchings installed a valve along the fender well. One hose runs from the power steering pump to the valve and a second hose runs from the valve to the coupler at the back of the truck. A third hose runs from the second coupler back to the valve and a fourth hose connects the valve to the pump. Hutchings used an electric valve but says a mechanical valve would also work. A button inside the truck cab controls the hydraulics. He notes that he only uses the truck's power steering to power hydraulics while the truck is stopped and idling. He speculates that, if you used the system while driving, the truck would be hard to steer. He made the modification out of salvage parts and is putting together plans telling how he made the conversion. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, John Hutchings, 304 Rozelle, Paris, Ill. 61944 (ph 217 465-4201).

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