Power steering question
 

Does anyone know how much pressure and volume a typical automotive power steering pump puts out?
I am thinking of using one as the power for some "other" hydraulic applications. Do most auto PS pumps have similar specs?
Does direction of rotation affect the performance?
Should any valves in such a system be of the "open center" type?

Most Automotive PS pumps are a fairly useful little hydraulic pump... What are you planning to use/do with the system you're thinking about? More info would be helpful.

I do believe open center would be the way to go, that would keep you from spending all your time against the pressure relief valve in the pump, of course depending on how you plumb into the system, most of your fluid might well be going through your existing steering, which wouldn't do you any good. I guess I'm going to fall back onto my earlier... "More info needed"

MV

Not sure of the exact pressures involved, but you would definately want an "open center" valve. Running any hydraulic pump against it's relief valve continuously will overheat both the fluid and the pump very quickly.

I have recently been biten by the Cub Cadet bug. I have one that I have added a blade to, and a loader bucket would be very nice. Hydraulics are better than manual power for such applications.

Are we to take it then that the PS pump would be used to add hydraulics to a lawn and garden tractor not already equipped? If thats the case, I'm guessing we're talking an older model for which the manufacturer offers no hydraulics? Normally if they offer hydraulic implements they offer a pump kit to power them... that would be my first bet, barring that I would sit down for a long hard think about what I"d be getting into adding hydraulics and things like bucket lifts to equipment never designed for them. After that I would probably wind up buying the equipment that I truely wanted, rather than trying to create something that might(not) work as well or as safely.

But all that aside, if Cub Cadet does recommend you adding hydraulics, they probably offer plenty of recommendations on pump size and mounting options. Direction of rotation does usually matter, and while many pumps/motors are interchangable, most true pumps are not, based on the sizing of intake and output ports. If you'll be going automotive, stay away from Ford, they're noisey. GM had good general duty pumps, I'd be reading up on those used in mid duty GM pickups with Hydraboost brakes (often diesel), they may be a heavier duty unit. I believe I've also seen them used to power things like dump beds. GM units should be relatively cheap and easily availible.

Please feel free to elaborate on your plans, as they sound interesting.

MV

Cub offered hydraulics on many models. Thats one of the advantages of a garden tractor over a lawn mower. Cubs were built for "ground contact" equipment, meaning to pull plows and such. The chief reason I became interested in Cubs was my dissatisfaction with the durability of the typical riding lawn mower. I have 2 Cubs, an Origianl from 1962, and a slightly newer, hydrostatic model from the '70s. The machines are rugged enough; its simply a matter of cost, and creativity.
Thanks for the word on the GM PS pumps.
For what its worth, I have seen some original IH/Cub equipment that used a pump that looked like the pre- 1965 FoMoCo unit.