Winch Valve ?

ovrszd · Jan 28, 2008

Your stock Power Steering Pump will run your winch satisfactorily. I run a 10.5K Mile Marker Hydraulic with my stock Jeep pump. Hydraulic winches are known for slowness but they are strong. The best part about them is they have no adverse affect on the vehicle. By that I mean you can pull and pull and pull and pull, however long your vehicle will sit and idle, with no side affects. I incorporated a cooler because I was afraid of the fluid heating up but that's not a problem at all. After many minutes of pulling I can still lay my hand on the hydraulic motor and lines.

As for plumbing, I run the output of my pump to the winch control block fastened on the winch. The output of the winch control block goes to the input of my Jeep steering box. The output of the steering box goes to the input of the cooler. The output of the cooler goes to the return of the pump. Very simple. My controller is mounted directly to the winch motor. It uses two solenoids to push/pull an internal valve inside the controller. I can use a remote lead control switch or an in-cab switch.

I can be on a hard pull and still have power steering.

In your case, your valve assembly will be isolated so you are adding a set of hoses between the valve and the winch motor.

As for the valve, I sure can't help you there. Hopefully someone will come along that has an answer for you.

The hydraulic versus electric debate is pointless. I have four electrics and one hydraulic. They all have their place to shine.

Here's a couple pics of my Jeep's setup. Sorry i don't have better closeups of the plumbing.

WildWest · Jan 28, 2008

I plan on running a B&M Slimline Trans Cooler and A Hydraulic Filter For Added Precaution

I hear alot of people running tractor hydraulic fluid in their power steering setups especially when they are running Assist steering

Farmerford · Jan 28, 2008

Thanks, Moss Road. Civility brings more help than rudeness.

Wayne County Hose is partly correct (he is usually right on).

My 10 year old Mile Marker winch uses a separate control solenoid that mounts on the fender well of my 1977 Bronco. Those solenoids were furnished with the earlier style winches. That suits me because the winch is on the rear bumper, and gets lots of spray, mud, and dust. I much more often than not want to get out of a hole rather than pull myself further in it. If I do want to cross the mud, I pull myself back out, and then use the winch to pull the Bronco backwards across the swamp. A solenoid valve on the winch motor (like the current design) might not last very long.

These winches were designed for relatively low pressure and low volume power steering systems (1200 psi and 3-5gpm). They used large displacement motors to make up for the low pressure, and as a result were very slow, although powerful. Newer models have two speeds to help this problem.

A power steering pump will not adequately drive my logging winch, which is designed for 10gpm at 3000 psi. So a winch designed for low pressue and volume is needed for satisfactory performance with the typical power steering pump.

I think Mile Marker still makes the stand alone solenoid. Look at Index of /milemarker/adapter_kits
That appears to be the type I have.

Wayne County Hose · Jan 28, 2008

My apologies. I guess they do make these to run off the power steering. I personally would just install an auxiliary pump as I don't like that idea at all.

I don't know what these Mile a marker winches are like, but these guys Bailey Hydraulic Cylinders Manufacturer have 3 hyd winches from 9k to 15k lb pull. On page 51 of their online catalog.
They also have the 12v solenoids and manifold blocks on p 61.

WildWest · Jan 28, 2008

Here is the specs on my setup its the ramsey H200

I had been wanting to buy a valve from surpluscenter.com if possible i just dont know what to get i assume it would be an open center 3 way 4 port?

I have hoses and dont want to go the 350$ milemarker install setup route unless i have to

From what i just read i need about 15GPM at 1500-1600 PSI Im going to have to look into what a modded pump yields

bjcsc · Jan 29, 2008

I am also running a 2 speed Milemarker Hydraulic winch on my Jeep, powered by an AGR Super Pump. You can see the lines routing under the fender under the left turn signal. The remote connection is inside. Let me know if you need any pics/routing info...

WildWest · Jan 29, 2008

I was looking in summit racing last night at the agr superpump rated at 3.5 gpm it was in the Heep section but im sure they offer it for a gm setup its more than likley the same saginaw pump

I was going to try modifying a stepvan pump at first always keep that 350$ aftermarket pump in mind as an upgrade

I am also going with the stepvan style pump due to its remote resivor i will build a resivoir out of some 4" alum tubing i have im aiming for around a gallon capacity

If you dont mind send me some pics of your setup it would be greatly aprcaited

ovrszd · Jan 29, 2008

WildWest said:
Here is the specs on my setup its the ramsey H200

I had been wanting to buy a valve from surpluscenter.com if possible i just dont know what to get i assume it would be an open center 3 way 4 port?

I have hoses and dont want to go the 350$ milemarker install setup route unless i have to

From what i just read i need about 15GPM at 1500-1600 PSI Im going to have to look into what a modded pump yields

I didn't see a link to your Ramsey specs?? Wow,,,,, 15 GPM??? That sounds very high?? If your winch specs call for that much volume, you aren't going to get it from a factory power steering pump or from AGR's pump. The MM winches that bjcsc and I are running don't need anywhere near that much volume.

I can't swear to the gain between a factory pump and the AGR pump. If my old memory serves me correctly, my factory pump is rated at 3.2 gpm and 1400 psi. It can be tweaked for more but all my Jeep Freak friends say I'll just create a failing pump somewhere down the line. So I've left mine alone. If my pump ever fails me I will consider an AGR pump.

I think the MM hydraulic winch is the most dependable winch you can buy. It only comes up short in speed. For my uses that is important.

bjcsc · Jan 29, 2008

ovrszd said:
I can't swear to the gain between a factory pump and the AGR pump. If my old memory serves me correctly, my factory pump is rated at 3.2 gpm and 1400 psi. It can be tweaked for more but all my Jeep Freak friends say I'll just create a failing pump somewhere down the line. So I've left mine alone. If my pump ever fails me I will consider an AGR pump.

I'll agree with that. When I frame-off restored my CJ-7, my stock steering box had been weeping for years and my pump was original. I replaced it with a Super Box and got a good deal on getting the pump at the same time. With all the work I was doing at that time, I had decided that anything that wasn't 100% either was made 100% or replaced. Basically, I'm not running the AGR pump out of necessity. I'll snap some pics for you as soon as I can...it's dark now and supposed to be raining in the morning...

WildWest · Jan 30, 2008

Yea im realizing my industrial winch is too much for the power steering/

I guess i am going to get a pto mounted pump and build a resivoir have some quick connects for other hydraulics

Here is the link to my winch specs i could have swore i posted it?

http://www.ramseypdfs.com/owners_search_pdfs/912405-0106-U.pdf