By Mike on Tuesday, April 17, 2001 - 12:27 pm: Edit

I just bought a 9000lb. Milemarker winch for my 97 Disco SE7. I was told that the stock power steering pump doesn't have enough output to get the full 9000lbs of power. Does anyone know of a replacement power steering pump for the Disco that will do the trick?
Does anyone have 1st-hand experience with a Milemarker winch on their Disco?

By marty on Tuesday, April 17, 2001 - 01:56 pm: Edit

There are two companies that sell power steering pumps that will run your Mile Marker winch. They are Alfred Murray in the UK, they sell ZF brand pumps, http://www.4x4winches.com/, and then there's AGR, I think they're in Texas, http://www.agrsteering.com/index.htm

The main problem your going to have, is that the power steering box in your truck will not hold up to the pressure of these pumps. I believe the stock unit is only designed for 800 - 900 psi.

The only way to get the full benifit of the hydraulic winch is to buy one these pumps and dedicate it to the winch and the only way to do that is to replace the AC compressor with the new pump. If you know of another way to install one of these units, I'd be interested to hear about it.

Marty

By Michel on Tuesday, April 17, 2001 - 03:07 pm: Edit

For starters, the stock steering will power the milemarker. It will be slow, and you will need the pulley block on hard stucks. The up side is it will alway's work, day in, day out without maintenance, deep wading, whatever.

The other way of doing it, the right way is to get a PTO unit to drive a hydraulic pump dedicated to the winch. Up side is obvious, real power, speed (milemarker has a new valve that will handle 8GPM instead of 3.5GPM and the stock pump only gives 1GPM if you increase the revs), variable control of that speed, etc.

The down side is cost, installation and cost. The whole setup is broken down like so, PTO and Pump GBR sell them not far from 1K, then you need a control valve to limit the flow and pressure, about $175, hoses, fittings, a cable push/pull actuator (cheap) and a reservoir for the oil. Installation is a tricky, but when you know what needs to be done, straight forward.

I'm getting mine installed Thursday, so I'll let you know how it goes.

Michel

By Mike on Friday, April 27, 2001 - 10:11 am: Edit

Michel - did you get the new pump system installed yet? If so, did you have to remove the ac compressor?

By michel on Friday, April 27, 2001 - 10:35 am: Edit

Oh boy,

The system I installed has nothing to do with the ac compressor. The system I installed is a PTO setup that attaches to the transfer case, then drives a hydraulic pump wich in turn powers the winch.

Yes I have it installed and it's brilliant, (awesome for the rednecks hehe). There is no doubt this is the way to go, but a warning, the whole experiance is expensive. Will try to write a detailed install with pics soon.

Michel

By SG on Friday, April 27, 2001 - 11:25 am: Edit

The Milemarker system - especially the two stage winch - would be a sweet set-up, were it not for the output of the stock pump. The 9000# winch can only develop about 7000# stock. While the pressure of the stock pump is low (I think the winch wants about 1,400# or so) it is the volume or GPM flow that is more important.

AFAIK, you can take an after-market pump of proper output and then put a restrictor valve in the line to the PS box. Not that knowledgeable about hydraulics, but the MileMarker folks should know.

By mongo on Wednesday, May 02, 2001 - 12:04 am: Edit

Lookin' for info on your set-up...

frank

By mrbieler on Wednesday, May 02, 2001 - 03:20 pm: Edit

My only real gripe with the Milemarker is that if the engine is out, you have no winch.

If you're stalled in a mud hole/river/etc, you can't self extract.

By Ron on Wednesday, May 02, 2001 - 03:46 pm: Edit

Does the PTO assembly hang down much? I thought that was another knock on it.

Curious but I need another winch like I need another hole in my head

Ron

By michel on Wednesday, May 02, 2001 - 03:56 pm: Edit

The PTO assembly is way up there, and the only way to get to it is to rip off the transfer case. it truly is well located. As for drowning the engine, if you look on my galery you'll see a few "mud holes" i've self extracted from. If you are the extremely paranoid type, you can get a manual pump and still use the winch with no engine.

Michel