Power Steering Pump

[John M.]

Last night we fired up the 67 427 for cam break-in. The power steering pump was installed and filled and the piston was detached from the frame. All went well for a few minutes when a strange noise and some smoke came from the front of the engine. The pump was REALLY hot, the paint was bubbling on it. It still had fluid in it. I just did the same thing to my 67 earlier this year without any problems. Any ideas what caused this? The pump is a rebuilt original.

[Roger Legge]

Re: Power Steering Pump

The centering adjustment? Even with the ram detached, the centering would still come into play, correct? Is the pump new, existing or rebuilt? There's a sleeve in the pump and I rebuilt a pump one time and replaced that sleeve. I'll never do that again as I had one heck of a hard time getting a proper clearance between the pump shaft and that sleeve - it was very tight.

Roger

[John M.]

Re: Power Steering Pump

Thanks, Roger. The last time I did this I did the centering after the engine break-in. The pump is a rebuilt original. Do you suppose that the centering, as delivered, could be so far off that the piston went to one extreme and then the pump was pumping against a dead end? There must be a bypass for such a situation, like when the wheels are turned all the way in one direction?

[Joe L.]

Re: Power Steering Pump

John-----

First thing: check for misattached hoses to ANY of the P/S system components.

[Gary S.]

Re: Power Steering Pump

Your AIM will show you the correct routing and attachment of your hoses. Doing this from memory can be a big mistake.
Gary

[John M.]

Re: Power Steering Pump

Thanks guys. The hoses were on when the car was arrived but it's never been run and we didn't check them. I'll be kicking myself if that was the problem when we check tonight..

[Rob A.]

Re: Power Steering Pump

John,

Try not having the slave cylinder connected to the frame bracket when you start the car. This is the easiest (and safest) way to adjust the control valve. Adjust the nut on the valve until you can both pull and push the shaft of the cylinder with equal pressure. This is the recommended procedure for control valve adjustment that came with my rebuilt assembly, and it makes sense.