apbloom
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We now sell hubs by Ouverson Engineering, which have extra O-rings in them by design.
Arthur
M35products.com
Arthur
M35products.com
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Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!
Air O Matic Power Steering Kit Update
- Thread starter aboonski
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tshields
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Got my new Air O Matic Powering Steering unit today, what a nice looking system!!! Can't wait to put it on!
Thanks Arthur!
Terry
Thanks Arthur!
Terry
bottleworks
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Could you post some pictures of the parts and perhaps pictures of the install?tshields said:
motorpool37
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Just a tip on affordable air o matic kits,they where also a popular upgrade on over the road tractors in the 60s and early 70s. I went to a local truck salvage yard and purchased a kit for 50.00 off old mack.I had to rebuild the cylnder and replace the drag link ends with the deuces ends.A little fab/welding and wow this thing steers like a dream.All the o rings where obtained locally and the packing or puck that goes on the piston was purchased from air o matics supplier.I do have 5 more of theese pucs that i had to purchase to make their min order amount if any of you guys go this route.not counting my time <cuz>I may have 250.total into this kit with new airlines included.
Darin
Darin
That is very interesting Darin. I wish I knew of a some good OTR junkyards in my area. I found this interesting comment on the history of the AOM system by Arthur at m35products.com, and D. Doyle.
Dr. David D. Doyle, of the Virtually-Virus-free Virtual Clinic wrote:
...HOWEVER, I have steered dead five tons with hydraulic power steering
(both original style and 800-style) and it is not fun without the engine
turning over (think clutched...or drive shaft out)......if you think a deuce
steers hard stock, try an M328 with its huge tires.
I suspect that is the reason the M35A3 has air assist steering...because
with air, there is a reserve (this can been done in hydraulics as well with
an accumulator, but I am not aware of anyone supplying such a system.) other
than the driver's brute strength. Perhaps it was felt this was an
improvement over the hydraulic power assist used on the larger trucks...
-----------------------
David, and All:
Happy Fathers Day, and "A little history of the Air-O-Matic products:"
In 1947, (approx) the AOM power steer company was formed with its new
product, the air-assisted power steering add-on kit. Not being a trucking
historian, I cannot attest to what the hydraulic steering situation was at
the time, but the AOM seemed to be a welcomed improvement over armstrong
steering then in vogue. The old sales literature points out the obvious
benefits of PS, and does not mention hydraulic as an alternative. Perhaps
someone more conversant with trucking history can illucidate us on its
(hydraulic steering) history?
AOM sells (or used to sell) conversion kits for practically any large truck,
assuming, of course, that the truck in question had an air supply. I have an
application guide here that lists the major truck brands and models, and the
applicable AOM conversion kits available. In addition, there has always been
available a so-called universal kit, which contains the basic parts, and a
generic mounting bracket, but final assembly is left to the intuitive
mechanic for completion.
The product has been in continuous use since 1947 to the present. It was the
OEM choice on Mack, and other big rigs; Bluebird, and other bus (coach)
models; and on American LaFrance fire apparatus. Unfortunately the new
owners of the AOM line have seen fit to dispose of all the inventory of
brackets for the various applications. This act of corporate vandalism
threatens to deprive us of the opportunity to continue the use of this
simple yet effective product. I heard about the disposal (of several
container-loads of steel) just a few weeks too late, or I would have
purchased the entire inventory. The good news is that the bean counters
were not allowed to get their paws on the original blueprints, so an
occasional customer with the odd 1953 Greyhound coach can still get a kit,
assuming I can get MY paws on the drawings, and an iron shop can build a new
bracket.
It may be interesting to note that up until just a few years ago, Roadway,
one of the country's largest delivery services, would, each year, buy a few
hundred over-the-road tractors, with sleeper cabs, highway gearing, and NO
power steering, and dispatch these rigs over the interstates. (Why no PS?
It was figured that they would be basically going straight ahead, with
little need for tight turns, and hydraulic systems place a parasitic load on
the drivetrain, reducing fuel economy.) When the tractors had accrued
1,000,000 miles or so, they would be re-shopped, and the sleepers would be
removed, the wheelbases shortened, larger radiators installed, and
Air-O-Matic power steering installed, and they would be sent out as
intra-city delivery tractors, in which environment power steering would be
beneficial. The tractors would then be run another million or so miles, and
the AOM PS units would perform perfectly.
Your astute observation regarding the reserve air capability is one of the
benefits that sells the system. AOM P/S has been the only mil-spec kit for
the 2.5-ton Reo since the 1950's. It was specified as an enhancement for
rear echelon and National Guard trucks, at first. Its ease of installation
and simple reliability were the selling points back then. Aggressive
marketing (and I suspect, golf and cocktails) resulted in the choice, by AM
General and TACOM, to select the AOM as the P/S of choice for the Extended
Service Program of the 1980's when the M35A3 series was being out-shopped.
Apparently the choice was either to reinvent the entire steering system
based on hydraulic components, or simply to apply the AOM to the stock
steering systems on the trucks. The choice was made, and it was a good and
economically prudent one. Air, it may be added, is free, at least under the
Republicans, but hydraulic oil is not.
Recent laughable assertions in a magazine, which shall, from now on, go
nameless in my writings, claim that one can deplete the air supply quickly,
rendering the AOM P/S less than the best choice. Since, in the event that
air IS depleted, the truck reverts to manual steering, and since a
hydraulically-operated system reverts to, well... no steering at all...the
benefits of AOM can easily be seen.
An M35 with a dead engine can be steered easily, as long as there is air
available. An M35 with a dead air system can still be steered (not easily)
because the AOM is an ASSIST, not a full-time system.
Arthur PS Bloom, Pres.
Dr. David D. Doyle, of the Virtually-Virus-free Virtual Clinic wrote:
...HOWEVER, I have steered dead five tons with hydraulic power steering
(both original style and 800-style) and it is not fun without the engine
turning over (think clutched...or drive shaft out)......if you think a deuce
steers hard stock, try an M328 with its huge tires.
I suspect that is the reason the M35A3 has air assist steering...because
with air, there is a reserve (this can been done in hydraulics as well with
an accumulator, but I am not aware of anyone supplying such a system.) other
than the driver's brute strength. Perhaps it was felt this was an
improvement over the hydraulic power assist used on the larger trucks...
-----------------------
David, and All:
Happy Fathers Day, and "A little history of the Air-O-Matic products:"
In 1947, (approx) the AOM power steer company was formed with its new
product, the air-assisted power steering add-on kit. Not being a trucking
historian, I cannot attest to what the hydraulic steering situation was at
the time, but the AOM seemed to be a welcomed improvement over armstrong
steering then in vogue. The old sales literature points out the obvious
benefits of PS, and does not mention hydraulic as an alternative. Perhaps
someone more conversant with trucking history can illucidate us on its
(hydraulic steering) history?
AOM sells (or used to sell) conversion kits for practically any large truck,
assuming, of course, that the truck in question had an air supply. I have an
application guide here that lists the major truck brands and models, and the
applicable AOM conversion kits available. In addition, there has always been
available a so-called universal kit, which contains the basic parts, and a
generic mounting bracket, but final assembly is left to the intuitive
mechanic for completion.
The product has been in continuous use since 1947 to the present. It was the
OEM choice on Mack, and other big rigs; Bluebird, and other bus (coach)
models; and on American LaFrance fire apparatus. Unfortunately the new
owners of the AOM line have seen fit to dispose of all the inventory of
brackets for the various applications. This act of corporate vandalism
threatens to deprive us of the opportunity to continue the use of this
simple yet effective product. I heard about the disposal (of several
container-loads of steel) just a few weeks too late, or I would have
purchased the entire inventory. The good news is that the bean counters
were not allowed to get their paws on the original blueprints, so an
occasional customer with the odd 1953 Greyhound coach can still get a kit,
assuming I can get MY paws on the drawings, and an iron shop can build a new
bracket.
It may be interesting to note that up until just a few years ago, Roadway,
one of the country's largest delivery services, would, each year, buy a few
hundred over-the-road tractors, with sleeper cabs, highway gearing, and NO
power steering, and dispatch these rigs over the interstates. (Why no PS?
It was figured that they would be basically going straight ahead, with
little need for tight turns, and hydraulic systems place a parasitic load on
the drivetrain, reducing fuel economy.) When the tractors had accrued
1,000,000 miles or so, they would be re-shopped, and the sleepers would be
removed, the wheelbases shortened, larger radiators installed, and
Air-O-Matic power steering installed, and they would be sent out as
intra-city delivery tractors, in which environment power steering would be
beneficial. The tractors would then be run another million or so miles, and
the AOM PS units would perform perfectly.
Your astute observation regarding the reserve air capability is one of the
benefits that sells the system. AOM P/S has been the only mil-spec kit for
the 2.5-ton Reo since the 1950's. It was specified as an enhancement for
rear echelon and National Guard trucks, at first. Its ease of installation
and simple reliability were the selling points back then. Aggressive
marketing (and I suspect, golf and cocktails) resulted in the choice, by AM
General and TACOM, to select the AOM as the P/S of choice for the Extended
Service Program of the 1980's when the M35A3 series was being out-shopped.
Apparently the choice was either to reinvent the entire steering system
based on hydraulic components, or simply to apply the AOM to the stock
steering systems on the trucks. The choice was made, and it was a good and
economically prudent one. Air, it may be added, is free, at least under the
Republicans, but hydraulic oil is not.
Recent laughable assertions in a magazine, which shall, from now on, go
nameless in my writings, claim that one can deplete the air supply quickly,
rendering the AOM P/S less than the best choice. Since, in the event that
air IS depleted, the truck reverts to manual steering, and since a
hydraulically-operated system reverts to, well... no steering at all...the
benefits of AOM can easily be seen.
An M35 with a dead engine can be steered easily, as long as there is air
available. An M35 with a dead air system can still be steered (not easily)
because the AOM is an ASSIST, not a full-time system.
Arthur PS Bloom, Pres.
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pic
Great service.Thanks Arthur.JimK
p.s. All the freight co. I have worked for ,(now one absorbed by the one mentioned), never much cared about providing p.s (and never did). The NMFA (national master freight agreement) now mandates p.s.
Article 16, sec.6, paragraph (s): "all new manufactured vehicles regularly assigned to pick-up and delivery operation after July 1 1991 shall be equipped with power steering..."
Great service.Thanks Arthur.JimK
p.s. All the freight co. I have worked for ,(now one absorbed by the one mentioned), never much cared about providing p.s (and never did). The NMFA (national master freight agreement) now mandates p.s.
Article 16, sec.6, paragraph (s): "all new manufactured vehicles regularly assigned to pick-up and delivery operation after July 1 1991 shall be equipped with power steering..."
Attachments
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My military issued kit has like 15 small packages of nuts/bolts/hardware stuff with it... I wonder what the difference is...
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some of that hardware has been placed on parts in photo.U bolt nuts/washers not shown because left in a diff box.JimK
apbloom
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There is no AOM #88902 kit that is NOT military. All the kits are the same. Every kit has the same set of parts and hardware.
billymac61
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Installed mine last sat. Took about 3 hrs. It is really sweet. Used a wafer wheel on a 4 inch grinder to cut off the old u bolts. Clean and quick. Had the duece in a tight spot where I did the work, real nice backing out. Only differance I noticed driving is when you turn a corner you cant just let go of the wheel and the wheels come back straight, you have to steer them back, which is no big deal just have to get used to it. Hope this helps if anyones interested.
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One could probably build a shim to add positiive caster. That will help the wheel return for sure but you will notice the difference if you ever switch back to manual steering.
apbloom
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"Just when I talk myself into taking the plunge I hear something like this."
If you accelerate through the turn, the wheel has a tendency to stay where you put it. If, however, you feather the pedal slightly, the wheel will return almost like the manual condition. It is more pronounced on a truck that has worn gears or out-of-adjustment gears in the steering box.
The advantages of the system (not having thumbs, elbows, and other appendages ripped off) outweigh the necessity of learning to deal with the slight changes in how the truck handles. (In our humble opinion.)
Speaking of taking the plunge, you'd better act quickly. There are about 15 kits left in inventory. The next run will be in 2008 and the price will go up significantly.
If you accelerate through the turn, the wheel has a tendency to stay where you put it. If, however, you feather the pedal slightly, the wheel will return almost like the manual condition. It is more pronounced on a truck that has worn gears or out-of-adjustment gears in the steering box.
The advantages of the system (not having thumbs, elbows, and other appendages ripped off) outweigh the necessity of learning to deal with the slight changes in how the truck handles. (In our humble opinion.)
Speaking of taking the plunge, you'd better act quickly. There are about 15 kits left in inventory. The next run will be in 2008 and the price will go up significantly.
rizzo
Active member
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I have driven a truck with the air assist and did not notice much difference. I may have ben subconsiously turn the wheel back. not sure. I enjoyed it. seemed to work good.
- 34,014
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FWIW. most vehicles with manual steering run very little positive caster. This assists with being able to steer with arm power. Adding caster would be a wise move if you add the PS. Although I don't have it and can't afford it, the PS advantages far outweigh any other issues with it. Trust me, once you have it you won't want to switch back, especially once you back a trailer.
jatonka
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On the topic of the steering wheel not returning to straight after taking a turn, the poster definitely has a problem with his truck, I own 4 deuces equipped with Air-o-matic steering units and they ALL return to straight after a turn. Always.
On the topic of all kits being the same, Arthur, not so. I have two trucks with air-o-matic steering from the army and I have one new in the box and they are equipped with many more parts including a regulator valve on the frame rail in addition to the valve we all get on the firewall. and they use copper tube plumbing where applicable and bulk head fitting to get throught the frame and on and on. I have no kits for sale but I dop have fuel and oil filter adaptors to spin-on and canvas products and many more deuce related new manufactured American parts. John Tennis
On the topic of all kits being the same, Arthur, not so. I have two trucks with air-o-matic steering from the army and I have one new in the box and they are equipped with many more parts including a regulator valve on the frame rail in addition to the valve we all get on the firewall. and they use copper tube plumbing where applicable and bulk head fitting to get throught the frame and on and on. I have no kits for sale but I dop have fuel and oil filter adaptors to spin-on and canvas products and many more deuce related new manufactured American parts. John Tennis
apbloom
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John, you are correct about kits that were sold in the past having slightly more (different) parts, but now, they are all the same. I have seen the bulkhead hardware that you mention, but they are no longer included in the military kits, either.
The air regulator (the black one with the knob) is NOT currently specified as a standard item in the kits. The manufacturer removed that part from the kit inventory a few years ago. The regulator is required on commercial aplications, but I am not sure why. Maybe commercial trucks produce a higher pressure than the military ones?
Since you are one of my best customers, I should let the rest of the guys know about the products you sell, too:
John sells a beautifully engineered fiberglass hardtop, and several other gadgets that greatly enhance the operation and maintenance of the M35.
See, for example: http://www.m35products.com/hardtop.htm
Arthur P. Bloom
www.M35products.com
The air regulator (the black one with the knob) is NOT currently specified as a standard item in the kits. The manufacturer removed that part from the kit inventory a few years ago. The regulator is required on commercial aplications, but I am not sure why. Maybe commercial trucks produce a higher pressure than the military ones?
Since you are one of my best customers, I should let the rest of the guys know about the products you sell, too:
John sells a beautifully engineered fiberglass hardtop, and several other gadgets that greatly enhance the operation and maintenance of the M35.
See, for example: http://www.m35products.com/hardtop.htm
Arthur P. Bloom
www.M35products.com
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I look over the Kit and it is nice.
I have one now and soon to install it to on my bobber.
I have one now and soon to install it to on my bobber.
yolner
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Holy post from 2007 batman! 