Hydraulic winch install - new power steering issues

['63GENIII]

OK, if anyone can chime in here, I would greatly appreciate it.
So yesterday I installed a Mile Marker hydraulic winch in the '63 that runs off of the power steering pump. I had new high pressure hoses made at a local hydraulic place, with the correct fittings. I installed the winch last night, topped off the power steering reservoir with StaLube power steering fluid, ran the engine, topped it off again. This morning, I went to purge the air out of the system. I put the front axle on jack stands with the wheels off of the ground, started the engine and did the 10 - 12 times lock to lock with the wheel - engine speed around 1500 rpm.
The steering felt a little stiffer than I though it would with the wheels off of the ground, but I took it for a drive anyway. What I found was that the effortless steering that I used to have (even with 35"s was great) was gone. Now I have to get the rpm's to about 2200 - 2500 while moving for the truck to be able to get around a corner. Not the safest way of driving, thankfully I was able to push in the clutch and get the rpm's up. Still a little busier than I call safe.
My questions are these:
Can the power steering fluid make that much of a difference in the effort required to steer? I can't remember what ps fluid I used before or if I may have used ATF.
Could I have possibly trashed the pump or the box somehow? The box was on the truck when I got it. The pump is a 1997 Hydroboost with the serpentine drive. I'm still running vacuum brakes.
The PS effort was so minimal before the winch install that it was really surprising for having the 35"s. I used to be able to easily turn the wheels lock to lock at idle. Now I can barely do that while it's moving without fear of breaking the steering wheel.
Any advise would be a huge help.

['63GENIII]

And yes lol, I snuck out of the house to triple check the hose connections after my wife suggested it this morning. "Did you hook it up right". Would have never heard the end of it if she was right!

[jeffahart]

Did you run the winch? I would be tempted to do a sanity check by bypassing the solenoid, go from pump to box then burp it and check the steering again. Then you will know if its the solenoid or not.

I've installed a couple of these in the past and had no problems.

[undertaker72]

I wouldn't think a stock power steering pump would have enough pressure to run both power steer and a hyd winch , as usally they require some better pressure and volume , even the snow plow type pumps wont run a winch , just a thought though

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by jeffahart

Did you run the winch? I would be tempted to do a sanity check by bypassing the solenoid, go from pump to box then burp it and check the steering again. Then you will know if its the solenoid or not.

I've installed a couple of these in the past and had no problems.

Hey Jeff, yes I ran the winch later and found that I really needed to have the rpm's up for it to spool. Kind of the same as the power steering. In retracing my steps, I did notice that when the hoses were cut, they used a chop saw - lots of sparks and ground up rubber. I didn't think to clean them before I installed them. I may have burned up my pump with debris left in the hoses? Either way, I just picked up a new one. Im going to open the reservoir of the old one first to see whats in it.

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by undertaker72

I wouldn't think a stock power steering pump would have enough pressure to run both power steer and a hyd winch , as usally they require some better pressure and volume , even the snow plow type pumps wont run a winch , just a thought though

The Mile Markers are set up to run off of a PS pump. This one was on an early F Ranger before I got it. Maybe thats the problem. Transplanting between species, LOL

[jeffahart]

I never ran a filter and never had any trouble, so once u get it cleaned up u should be good.

[ryanroo]

You can tweak the flow and pressure of the pump a bit to get more out of it. It sounds more like air bubbles to me. It can be a real pia to bleed them especially if there are any high spots that can trap air. You will want to cycle the motor on the winch, the steering and both at the same time with no load, let it sit, do it again, and again. And again. Depending on the routing of the plumbing it can be extra fun. Adding the winch should have no effect on the steering if the winch is not activated. That makes me think trapped air. If you want to up the pressure and flow out of the pump I can point you towards that info, but I am not in the u.s. right now so I cant post the pics.

['63GENIII]

Quick update because I hate when people ask questions, people reply and the OP doesn't post any kind of solution.
So I did replace the pump with an Oreilly's unit (bc the guy at Napa said that '97 C3500's did not come with Hydroboost) that has a lifetime warranty. I removed the old high pressure fitting, drilled the port to 5/32" and lengthened the spring on the pressure valve from 1-3/4 to 2-1/4. I saw these mods on another internet search and figured I'd try 'em. I re-installed everything and filled the reservoir with new fluid (I think that the first stuff I used was recycled trans fluid that I never recycled). I then started the engine, let it run for a minute then cycled the steering from lock to lock. The difference was amazing. At idle, the steering was faster and with less effort than before (which was awesome considering the 35" BFG's). With the old pump, the winch wouldn't even spin at idle. Now it can pull my 50 lb, 8 y.o. daughter up the driveway in high speed LOL. All in all, I think it may have been a combination of age and getting some garbage in the system that made the old pump take a powder. The new pump has surprisingly better performance than the old one.
As far as the Mile Marker hydro winch, I think I'm going to really like it. You can hear the pump load the engine when it runs, there's no heat, battery draw or duty cycle to worry about. Not getting rid of the 8274 yet but it's probably not going back on the front of the '63.
Thanks for all the help yet again. This is the best forum for shade trees like myself!

[61K10]

glad you got is fixed, and I'm with you about not posting a fix. I put a new P/S box on mine and could not get it to work--no power steering, the old one worked and this was a big $$ box. finally hit the box on the side with a BFH and all of a sudden i had P/S. just funny things when you work on these tk's lol!

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by 61K10

glad you got is fixed, and I'm with you about not posting a fix. I put a new P/S box on mine and could not get it to work--no power steering, the old one worked and this was a big $$ box. finally hit the box on the side with a BFH and all of a sudden i had P/S. just funny things when you work on these tk's lol!

Thats funny, my BFH is called "plan B". Pound to fit - paint to match! As far as the "solution post", I have read countless threads (in other forums of course ) that the title looks exactly like what might help you. Then at page 20, PSYCH! the thread just ends like a continued episode of Walking Dead. LOL. That's my motivation for trying harder to close out the story. Thanks again for all who helped!

[Wrecked1982]

do you a picture of how you connected the hydrolic hoses on the winch and at the pump?i find this interesting.

[Wrecked1982]

have--

[jeffahart]

And now you will probably not have another ounce of trouble with the winch. But if you use it alot you can wear the remote connection a bit ragged. But in my opinion the mile marker hydraulic is best you can buy. I'm going to buy one for my K20 and I will build my bumper with install of 12000 as the winch. I love heavy duty.

['63GENIII]

Yeah I would have liked a 10.5 or 12 but this one was a great deal. I thought I was just getting the winch but it came with a spare steel hawse fairlead, a roller FL, the aluminum Hawse FL for the new synthetic rope, 1 wireless remote set up, 1 wired (4 wire) and 1 wired (3 wire) remote. The guy also threw in the original steel cable which still had the packing oil on it and a 50' 3" wide recovery strap. Gonna keep an eye out for the bigger one for the back of the truck behind the bumper. .

[jeffahart]

I always carry a block and ropes anyway. Just remember for every line that gets shorter you double your advantage. And overloading a hydraulic is no big deal, just like turning your steering wheel all the way right or left until it stops. So if you overload just use blocks to add advantage.

['63GENIII]

Good idea on the blocks Jeff. Been wanting to get at least one.

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by jeffahart

And now you will probably not have another ounce of trouble with the winch. But if you use it alot you can wear the remote connection a bit ragged. But in my opinion the mile marker hydraulic is best you can buy. I'm going to buy one for my K20 and I will build my bumper with install of 12000 as the winch. I love heavy duty.

Just picked up another one over the weekend. Another smoking deal that I couldn't pass on. 10,500#. Im thinking of this one on the rear hidden behind the stock rear bumper. Man I just can't seem to finish this truck. Always finding something else to do to it.

[argonaut]

Originally Posted by '63GENIII

Man I just can't seem to finish this truck. Always finding something else to do to it.

There never was a statement more true!

['63GENIII]

No doubt Jason. To top it all off, my kid brother asked me if I wanted a Chelsea PTO off of a NP205. Of course I said "sure". Have no idea what I'm going to use that for but couldn't let it pass me by because I had never seen one!
I'm sure there's a bunch of us out there that are like this. Lol

[dieseldude4bt]

I have three PTO'S and winches, just can't pass one up.

['63GENIII]

Hey dieseldude, have you ever run one off of the T case?

[dieseldude4bt]

I have PTO on my transmission with forward and reverse so no.
But I have been around them on the transfer case.
With them you put your t-case in neutral and select the speeds from the transmission, 4th for direct, 1st for super slow and reverse for power out.
I will be putting one on the 205 of another project I have, it's a 1941 Dodge WC26 Carryall with a MU2 PTO winch on it.

['63GENIII]

Nice Carryall! Yeah, Ive had transmission mounted PTOs before but never a T case driven unit. Not sure what Im going to use it for since the PS pump is going to be driving both winches right now. Maybe a compressor? generator?