Heres my Question.
REplaced the motor in my 83 TD with one from a sedan so no provision for the SLS pump. SWapping the head seemed a bit much and I didn't want to open up a perfect running motor with 112K on it. SO my thought is, What else could be used to pump the hydraulic fluid?. I was thinking a 12v pump like the ones used to work the convertable top systems in the early Chevys etc. How much pressure does the system need? ANy suggestions?
Thanks MIke

At 800-100 RPM, the SLS pump generates about 130 bar (~1800 psi) and the system's pressure relief valve opens at 185 bar (~2600 psi). So, if you could find a 12VDC hydraulic pump capable of generating those pressures, you might just have it made.

Source 123 chassis FSM Vol #1 pg 32.3-530/1

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Where is the pressure relief valve normally located?. Is it part of the pump or the the leveling valve located in the rear of the wagon.? On Ebay there is a 12v pump rated at 2000psi. What do you think? Thanks Mike

Any 12v pump you find that can make 1800+psi is going to take alot of power to run. You might want to look into a new alternator to provide the omph to prevent draining the battery.

How about a belt driven pump and run it as an accessory on the front of the engine....or, one step further, take an MBZ pump off of a wagon head and adapt it to run as a belt driven accessory?

All this sounds like a huge PITA and, gives me a lot of respect for the design of the leveling system in these cars

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Is the pump powered by a sprocket on the timing chain or a second chain like the oil pump? Since the pump uses the hydro fluid as lube, couldent you convert the old pump to belt drive with a scratch built bracket and pully?

Lance,
It's driven by the timing chain.

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

On my '90 300TD turbo the power steering pump and the SLS pump are putt together in ONE houssing. Wouldn't that be a solution (belt driven) ?

Danny

Do they share a common reservoir or a common hydraulic fluid?

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

No ! Only the housing and the shaft is shared.
Everything else is apart !

Danny

a 12v pump with a small resovoir and a pressure relief valve
will probably work fine. the leveling system requires only
a small volume of fluid per minute. it is the volume of fluid
that the pump pumps that determine it size and power
requirements. pressure is a minor consideration.
i have no numbers, but i bet you wouldnt need more than
1-3 gallons per minute flow.

you could take your car to a tractor shop. they usually
do lots of "custom" hydraulic work. the easiest and maybe
cheapest way might be to run a second circuit off the power
steering pump as is done with hydraulic wenches.

don

Check with your local lowriders. Those guys know a lot about hydraulics. http://www.layitlow.com/

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL