Behlen steering pump

[fixerupper]

I am working on a Behlen power steering pump mounted on a 60. I need the shim gasket between the two halves of the pump and I have not come up with anything yet. Do you guys have any idea where I can find this shim gasket? Do you have a part number? This pump has a Behlen 201 casting number. I was told they are all the same except for rotation direction?

 

[Pete in MD]

Do you have any shim stock that you could make the shim gasket from?

 

[fixerupper]

I do not. I looked on the McMaster website for shim stock and found about anything I would want in metal but no paper like the original. As a last resort I can make one out of metal.

 

[wore out]

You mentioned before you thought one gear might be a little wider than the other, have you "mic'ed" them to check for sure? If there's a difference it would get the thicker gear "surface ground" as required to make them EXACTLY the same thickness, or no way can you shime the side plate(s) correctly.

As to the gasket thickness and "play" between the gears and the sideplate(s) you want a pretty close fit (perhaps one to three thousandths) or the pump isn't going to work, that can be checked with "Plastigage".

Some hydraulic pumps have used "gaskets" cut from sheet "Mylar" plastic, that might be an option to look for in various thicknesses.

I have actually made similar gaskets from Mylar notebook dividers.

McMaster or other on-line sources may offer Mylar sheets in various thicknesses, as well.

On the other hand, if the tips of the gear teeth or the machined area in the center plate where they run are worn due to debris going though the pump, or worn "bearings" letting the shafts move off of center and allow the gears to wear into the metal the pump will NOT work well even if you get the "side clearance" of the gears properly fitted.

 

[fixerupper]

I have not miced the gears yet. McMaster has PTFE, PETG, Polyester, ABS, Polyimide, and Polystyrene plastics. every one of them is a foreign word to me. These plastics come in up to .006 thickness. I am all for making one out of plastic if I know what kind of plastic to use.

 

[TDJD]

Im doing the same thing to the Behlen pump on my A. In the picture
are the part number for the pump. I havent been able to find any of
the shims. If you find some, let me know. Were you able to find the
seals for the pump (I havent been able to find them)?