[InfiLights]

   
Hello all,

Turning my attention to the Howard Power Center - Steering stabilizer.

As I bough the coach, the system is inoperable. On the inside, the light is On on the switch but no air on the gauge.
I believe it is shut down from below. I do not see any hydraulic fluid in the sight tube, has a little in the reservoir. Don't hear any air leak around it.

I know that the company is defunct and nobody services them. There must be a reason the system was shut down and no air is coming to it. They are known to leak. If there was an old leak, I do not see it anymore so I would start blind.....

The question.....worth trying to revive it, see what is wrong, spend money finding out it needs parts that are no longer available ?... Or remove it completely from the coach ?

The "dead" cylinder is attached to the steering and I am thinking that it can not be a good thing to have something there that just adds to the effort of steering and wear to it....

I have driven many miles on different coaches with tag. The Newell tracks well with the Howard inoperable. If it were to work, I am sure it would be a good thing and an improvement.

So either fix it or remove it.....Any advice ?

[Fulltiming]

I had the Howard Power Steering on a Safari motorhome. I found that it was worthwhile on that rig for two situations: 1) compensating for roads with a significant crown and 2) dealing with strong cross winds in wide open areas. Cross winds in hilly areas were actually exacerbated by the system. Your Newell really should not need the system when the front end is set up properly but it could be useful on roads with a significant crown.

[Erniee]

I had one on my old Bluebird. Never used it as the coach was very heavy and winds didn't really phase it. I suspect that your Newells would be the same.

[RussWhite]

Well I fixed mine. Maybe it's just because it was on the coach and I am driven to see that everything just works as it should.

I now own almost a complete set of spares as I purchased a system from a Prevost.

I have had the experience of driving the coach with and without it for considerable time. I like it.

One press on the big button and the steering is centered at that position. Nice for a crowned roads and nice in winds. Sure, I get where I am going with or without it.
One possible advantage not mentioned, but one that figures highly in the documentation, is the resistance to sudden steering movements that could be generated by an exploding steer tire. Yeah, I don't want to test that one!

I had my steering cylinder rebuild by a company that does them regularly. No leaks and no problems since. The cylinder from the Prevost may be okay, who knows. Just collecting dust in the basement right now. Just my experience. As they say YMMV

Russ

[Fasteddie]

I was able to use the Howard Power Centering for about 1 year after purchasing my 98 Newell 490
The cylinder starting leaking and running into the plastic container and out the bottom onto the floor.

I had my unit repaired by

Lake Tool & Hydraulics, Inc.
2801 E Napoleon St
Sulphur LA 70663

attn.. Jess Harper

337 625-5737
Email [email protected]

I did experience a slight leak in the cylinder after re-installing, I contacted Jess and told and said I
would drive it for a while to see if it improved and it has after 2k Miles. He said he would repair it at
no charge if it did not stop leaking.

I do have a pdf of the manual and some documentation on removal and installation instructions if you need them.  
 I tried to attached the PDF file 28 pages and said the file was to large so had to retype all this again.

[RussWhite]

Oh that brings back memories.

Jess at Lake Tools rebuilt mine as well. But, it was a bit more challenging that normal as UPS managed to lose it and then run over it with a fork lift. I was pretty stressed out over the entire situation, but it has never leaked since the rebuild.
Russ

[InfiLights]

Thank you Ed.
I am seeing hydraulic fluid in the plastic bottle which should be empty.....which means that the air vent has sucked the oil from the boot into the bottle because it was leaking......That would make sense why there is no hydraulic fluid in the system....

Any guidance as to how much it costs to rebuild the cylinder ?

[Fasteddie]

Thank you Ed.
I am seeing hydraulic fluid in the plastic bottle which should be empty.....which means that the air vent has sucked the oil from the boot into the bottle because it was leaking......That would make sense why there is no hydraulic fluid in the system....

Any guidance as to how much it costs to rebuild the cylinder ?

$1200. For mine, I think this his standard charge as was quoted up front.

[InfiLights]

He is up to 1350 plus shipping both ways....

I think that I am taking it off and sell on ebay for parts.

[InfiLights]

Still pondering what to do about the Howard Power Center.
The cylinder must be rebuilt and now I found out that the sight glass for oil level has a crack on the back side. Will need a new one.
Anybody know of a source ?
Waste of time and money to rebuild the cylinder if I can not find the oil level sight glass....

On a different note, I have been in contact and exchanging emails with the engineers at BlueOx regarding their TruCenter Steering control TC35270. They do not list an application for the Newell with IFS but.....because the Howard cylinder is already there maybe I can find a way to use the Howard rear frame bracket and tierod to make a TruCenter system work.
As it turns out, their Cylinder is 35" long vs 36" for the Howard. I can get them to put a 3/4" hole busing in the rear bearing and match the size of the Howard tierod. The geometry is the same. May need a new/custom bracket for the front of the cylinder with 3/4" mounting tierod/bolt and use 2" Ubolts to clamp the front bracket onto the steering arm.....

Could be a solution to replace the Howard with an electric steering stabilizer that seems to have reviews and potentially do a good job. This Dana Kirkstall IFS84 does not have a lot of room to add brackets and play with things down below......

Any thoughts on the Blue Ox TruCenter ?