MF 178 Power Steering

Pharaoh1

Looking at a 178 in decent condition but the steering is very dodgy. Seller says he can fix but naturally he is not keen on spending big money.

I see on http://www.agrilineproducts.ie/partscatalogue/mf165.html that the power steering kit is 450 euro plus vat.

I've heard bad reports on the power steering on these (difficult to adjust,doesn't work right etc..) Are they a bad design and should I stay away or can they be set up to work properly?

Ideas/opinions anyone?

yossor

Scraped all the junk MF power steering junk on a 188 a few ago and fitted an orbital unit and mounted a new ram on the front axle with the rod comming out each end. Never a problem with the steering afterwards.

Sorry now I did not take a load of picts.

The massey system is very ahard to set and keep right

If you can do it yourself would likely cost around the same using a second hand orbital from the breakers and a new cylindar and piping

Pharaoh1

Thanks yossor,
I did hear about this modification - I think I remember someone telling me they used an orbital setup from a combine harvester.

yossor

the orbital unit I used was from an International. Got it in Conatys

4odh4n

we have an agriline power steering fitted to a MF148 (think its the system for the 135) for about two years now. The tractor runs with about 250kg of weight on the front most of the time and the power steering makes a world of difference, would admit its not the most refined system in the world but still works well. Did have an issues after a few months when the arm that connects from the steering box to the front axle bent (its is only a hollow pipe ) but we straightened it and strengthened it and its been fine since.
We did have to reduce the front wheels to the narrowest setting to get it to work correctly tho.

marlyman

Pharaoh1 wrote: »

Looking at a 178 in decent condition but the steering is very dodgy. Seller says he can fix but naturally he is not keen on spending big money.

I see on http://www.agrilineproducts.ie/partscatalogue/mf165.html that the power steering kit is 450 euro plus vat.

I've heard bad reports on the power steering on these (difficult to adjust,doesn't work right etc..) Are they a bad design and should I stay away or can they be set up to work properly?

Ideas/opinions anyone?

1. There was nothing wrong with the power steering syetem on these tractors, all that was needed was a little grease and some adjustment when needed. All that happened is that lads didnt bother with either and the whole system broke down as a result

2. if you are going to put on one of those non origonal type aftermarket kits beware, they are made of light material, parts cannot be got for them and thay should be supplied with a welding rod and a grinding disc. This is what i tell all lads when buying them.

3. the design was too complicated but it did work with a little servicing. i have 3 tractors with this setup and have not had any problems for the 10 - 15 years that im using them.

Just recondition the system thats on it. If you want to go the orbital unit route, that works too but you are fundamentally using all the same steering components and ideas so the argument that one is better than the other is a bit defunct. I have a 550, 565 and 265 on an orbital system and it wors equally as well as the mf power steering system.

if you need any help reconing the origonal system pm me. its not hard to do once you have a few pointers. Its not as expensive either.

marly

yossor

marlyman wrote: »

1. There was nothing wrong with the power steering syetem on these tractors, all that was needed was a little grease and some adjustment when needed. All that happened is that lads didnt bother with either and the whole system broke down as a result

2. if you are going to put on one of those non origonal type aftermarket kits beware, they are made of light material, parts cannot be got for them and thay should be supplied with a welding rod and a grinding disc. This is what i tell all lads when buying them.

3. the design was too complicated but it did work with a little servicing. i have 3 tractors with this setup and have not had any problems for the 10 - 15 years that im using them.

Just recondition the system thats on it. If you want to go the orbital unit route, that works too but you are fundamentally using all the same steering components and ideas so the argument that one is better than the other is a bit defunct. I have a 550, 565 and 265 on an orbital system and it wors equally as well as the mf power steering system.

if you need any help reconing the origonal system pm me. its not hard to do once you have a few pointers. Its not as expensive either.

marly

Would have to disagree about using all the old steering components
When I converted our 188 to an orbital system i scraped everything except the track rod links and the power steering pump. The steering box and all the gear in front of the radiator and even the ferguson steering wheel got the bin.

I have seen other conversions to an orbital unit that retained a lot of the old steering system and these had a lot of play in the steering

marlyman

yossor wrote: »

Would have to disagree about using all the old steering components
When I converted our 188 to an orbital system i scraped everything except the track rod links and the power steering pump. The steering box and all the gear in front of the radiator and even the ferguson steering wheel got the bin.

I have seen other conversions to an orbital unit that retained a lot of the old steering system and these had a lot of play in the steering

do you mean you put the all the power from the ram directly onto the track rod ends? ie the orbital unit - two pipes to the ram - weld tre's onto ram - jobs done?

yossor

Flow and return from power steering pump to Orbital unit then two pipes to new steering ram.

The ram I used had rods comming out each end and the cylindar in the centre. I mounted the ram on the front axle. Made up two brackets and welded these to the axle that held the rods at each end. This means that the cylindar can move left or right. where the track rod end are mounted to the link arm under the front casting was cut off and welded to the cylindar. Note cylinder was dismantled for welding. Connect all up and drive away

h_orse

Well lads,

I am putting on a power steering unit on a 165 for a friend of mine

a few points/questions:

the power steering unit is from a 590 massey.
a good few adjustemnts had to be made to make it fit into place.
the unit on the end of the steering column has four connections for pipes.
I am thinking that 2 pipes go to the steering ram at the front like a complete circle and 2 pipes to the cylinder to create another loop..
any way of knowing which pipes connect which way before i start connecting in the pipes...

with this unit now taking up the place of the battery, the battery will now have to go up front on top of the power steering ram, is this ok..??

hould on hey

Good tractor but The pump probably needs To be done by The sounds of it ,I had similar problems with a 188 ten years ago took off The pump got it done put it back on And never looked back.

I heard a story from a friemd of mine he put power steering on his 35 ,so he bought The kit And done it hi self it cost around 250 incl vat, so in The local motor factors a few weeks later he spots The same kit that he previously purchased up The country for 250 ,so he asks The man behind The counter that he knows all his life how Much for The powersteering kit? The man behind The counter replied 'im not sure. He goes To a young lad working in The shop And asks 'is The powersteering kit 550 or 650 plus The vat? On hearing this My Friend turned on his heel And shut The door for The last time on his way out!

iverjohnston

Article on overhauling the original system in this months Classic Tractor magazine. If your original steering box is worn, you will have to address that problem first.