electric power steering-154 lo-boy

[tbear]

Just got a Saturn Vue electric power steering unit to put on my 154 Lo-Boy. Any one done this? Just looking for any tips. Thanks.

[Bob McCarty]

I have one that's down on the list. Did you get one of the wiring harnesses off eBay from the guy in Portugal?

[tbear]

Nope. Auto salvage yard.

[Bob McCarty]

Installed on a car, it's computer controlled. The Portugese guy has wiring so you turn a knob to increase or decrease the amount of steering assist you get. I don't know how you'd do it without that.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

I wonder if that could be adopted to a standard cub with a loader. That would be enough to convince me to change it to a 12 volt electrical system.

[Bob McCarty]

John, That's why I bought it. There are u-joints on both ends and it would just require some bracketing to mount the unit. It will stick out from the hood and might also require some kind of sheet metal/plastic shell for weather protection.

[outdoors4evr]

Now you have me curious... I'd love to have power steering on my tractor!
Anyone have a link? Wiring diagram?

[Bob McCarty]

Anyone have a link? Wiring diagram?

On eBay do a search for Saturn Vue electric assist steering and you'll see the units. About half way down is the wiring harness (from Portugal).

[Pompiere]

On the day this thread showed up, I got a "Farm Show" magazine in the mail with a Farmall B on the cover that has the same modification. Not many details in the article, but there is contact information.

[BigBill]

Why not use a power steering pump and steering box from a car? If we machine a extra crank pulley then bolt it to the orginal crank pulley it can drive the power steering pump.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

Why not use a power steering pump and steering box from a car? If we machine a extra crank pulley then bolt it to the orginal crank pulley it can drive the power steering pump.

Or if you can find oen from the cub engine on a combine I believe many of them already had a double groove pulley.

[outdoors4evr]

I don't know how much HP would be consumed by a hydraulic power steering (1-2hp???), but if you have a 6V system and want to stick with it, this is an option. For the numbered series, (especially those with an alternator) utilizing 12V power is a very good idea. I suppose that the additional power consumption would also consume some hp through the alternator, but GM wouldn't have gone with this solution on most all of their cars without a benefit (cost or fuel savings).

The turf tires on the front with a blade (or even worse with a snowthrower) on the front make them very difficult to steer. You can forget using a speed-knob while plowing snow.

If someone is doing or has done this modification, I would be VERY interested in seeing pictures of the project.

[tbear]

Well, it sounds like nobody has installed an electric power unit, but thanks anyway. I have the steering unit and the controller from Portugal now. I have a total of $75.00 in the two parts. All that's left is to cut the steering shaft, make a way of hooking the unit to the shaft and mounting it, installing the steering wheel, hook up 3 wires and I'm good to go. Why would I go through the trouble of a hydraulic pump, pulley, belt, hoses and hydraulic steering column when this is so simple ? Be back when it's done.

[BigBill]

I been thinking about using the orginal steering box and drag link connected to a hydraulic spool valve then hosed to a double ended cylinder on the tie rods. Maybe run off the orginal Hyd pump.

Why not connect three wires, with a electric linear to have electric power steering?

Good question, bury the front wheels in mud then try to turn the wheels. Example will it hold up to the abuse off road, if you do it, it must be tested. Need to test the forces at the tie rods with and without obstructions on the tires.

[BigBill]

Why not use a power steering pump and steering box from a car? If we machine a extra crank pulley then bolt it to the orginal crank pulley it can drive the power steering pump.

Or if you can find oen from the cub engine on a combine I believe many of them already had a double groove pulley.

On the 154 cutting the cone shape off one crank pulley so it fits inside another crank pulley so we can have dual pulleys. If we bolt and pin the pulled together.