Any issues with Steering valve INSIDE cab?

Glen1978 · Jul 23, 2014

Im gona be cramped for space outside my firewall in my Yota truggy (gona have to run over the frame rail and outside of frame with exhaust). Ive always been leary of having that steering valve inside and busting a hose or something and getting that hotness poured all over me. Ive never personally seen anything but a hose bust down on the ram end due to rock or it get pinched up in the suspension. thanks guys!

civicmindedex79 · Jul 23, 2014

You pretty much covered all the concerns but there is ALOT of people that run the steering valve right on the column. Not a problem (in my opinion) as long as nothing goes wrong.

TacomaJD · Jul 23, 2014

Fab some sort of a shield around it, to minimize getting sprayed provided something did happen. It should also help run a little cooler being in the cab than the engine compartment too. My steering valve is mounted on top of frame rail right beside my header. :dunno:

85toyo · Jul 23, 2014

I plan on building a small shield for mine even though I doubt I'll ever have a hose failure. I've been hit in the face with 2000psi of hot hydraulic oil before so it makes me a little paranoid sometimes.

Glen1978 · Jul 23, 2014

Ok guys thanks. Just gona be so tight on my drivers side. Got brake booster and a small gap to get my headers up and over frame rails. The only way I could figure it would be having the steering valve above headers and that would be a sure fire.....literally if something let loose there.

jmh78 · Jul 23, 2014

Had a discussion about this with someone I consider pretty smart. He has a theory that by having it inside it most of the time means it is the high point of the system and that leads to air going through the orbital and a lot of hydraulic growling noise / sucky steering. His opinion was that the ideal location is below the pump level. I am thinking about moving mine bc of this.

TacomaJD · Jul 23, 2014

jmh78 said:
Had a discussion about this with someone I consider pretty smart. He has a theory that by having it inside it most of the time means it is the high point of the system and that leads to air going through the orbital and a lot of hydraulic growling noise / sucky steering. His opinion was that the ideal location is below the pump level. I am thinking about moving mine bc of this.

I would like to discuss this more to further my own knowledge. I'm still learning about how all the steering components work internally, but isn't the steering valve a completely sealed system, how could it have any effect on air getting into it? Or is it something to do with cavitation?

pachary · Jul 23, 2014

Mine is in the "cab". I can reach under and check the temp with my hand!

Haven't had any problems after two years.

wannabe · Jul 23, 2014

For the lines inside you coul always get a little bigger rubber or braided hose to keep it from spraying if a high pressure line burst

John Galbreath Jr. · Jul 23, 2014

It is a lot safer to have the orbital outside the cab. If there is a leak, it is possible for it to penetrate the skin. The results are very bad.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/general-4x4-discussion/749136-major-safety-fault-im-seeing-many-builds.html

Quote from Billavista:

This last one – risk of fluid injection injury – is the one that concerns me most.

Fluid injection occurs when a loose connection or hose/tube defect produces a fine, high pressure stream of fluid that comes into contact with body tissues.Pressure as low as 100psi can produce a fluid stream capable of penetrating the skin. The results are devastating. Because the fluid is under pressure, it cuts throgh the skin as if it were a hypodermic needle and fluid is driven deep into the body tissues. Fluid injected directly into a blood vessel can spread rapidly through your circulatory system. The human body has little ability to purge these types of fluid. A fluid injection injury can become very serious or even fatal if not dealt with promptly and properly.Many fluids often contain biocides, alkaline anti corrosion inhibitors and other components, which can have a toxic effect. If not treated immediately, there is a very real risk of gangarene, amputation, and even death. A fluid injection injury constitutes a medical and surgical emergency, requiring access to appropriate specialist surgical expertise as soon as possible. A medical doctor familiar with the treatment of this type of injury must surgically remove the fluid within a few hours. The longer the delay in getting professional medical aid, the further the tissue damage can spread. To make matters worse, it may be that some medical practitioners or hospital services will not be alert to the severity of an injury of this type. And if that weren't enough, The injury sustained in a high pressure injection incident is usually worse than it will first appear. Initially an accidental fluid injection beneath the skin may only produce a slight stinging sensation - leading to false sense that the injury is not severe. But all fluid injection injuries are severe medical and surgical emergencies. Within a very short time the wound may begin to throb painfully, indicating that tissue damage has already begun. Remember, if left untreated, the injury could result in disfigurement or amputation of the affected part.

zukimaster · Jul 23, 2014

^^^^^^ Does this apply to fake limbs?

TacomaJD · Jul 23, 2014

BUT, if there is a shield fabricated dividing steering valve and occupants, fluid injection will not be an issue. Still could leak and cause a mess, but direct hit from high pressure fluid would be virtually eliminated. Good read on just how bad it could be, though.

TacomaJD · Jul 23, 2014

zukimaster said:
^^^^^^ Does this apply to fake limbs?

A little lubin' fluid would prolly do one some good :flipoff1:

hokie_yj · Jul 24, 2014

Mine is in the cab, right between my legs. Definitely not ideal but it was the only option. I plan to build a shield around mine as well.

Nuts · Jul 24, 2014

You can get a sleeve that slides over Hydro lines to keep the high pressure fluid in if there is a puncture in the line. or you can make a leather sleeve that snaps around the lines instead of fabbing up a steel guard.

http://machinedesign.com/fea-and-simulation/body-armor-hydraulic-hose

Glen1978 · Jul 24, 2014

I was hoping somebody would bring up fluid injections....I was hem hawin around about it cause I figured all you pervs on here would derail this thread too quick....lmao!

paradisepwoffrd · Jul 24, 2014

Re:

Could also run hard line outside the cab if the valve isn't adjustable

jmh78 · Jul 24, 2014

TacomaJD said:
I would like to discuss this more to further my own knowledge. I'm still learning about how all the steering components work internally, but isn't the steering valve a completely sealed system, how could it have any effect on air getting into it? Or is it something to do with cavitation?

There are several threads also on the not so pleasent but very popular site. I guess the theory is that if any air gets into the system at all then it will go to the high point and get trapped. It takes a lot of fluid velocity to sweep it out and most of the time becomes entrained in the fluid and results in a froth. PSC has some recommendations on orentation in regards to hoses also. At a minimum I would un bolt the orbital and lay it lower than the resivor for initial fill and cycle. Then once that is done bolt it back in place.

TacomaJD · Jul 24, 2014

That makes sense. :dblthumb:

billstoy · Jul 26, 2014

i've got 2 toyota buggies . both at the column . no problems yet. air has never been a issue. a small shield and hose covers seem like a safe simple idea.
my fluid never gets to hot to touch. but I'm rock bouncin/crawlin. not long dist. racing ..