MF180 Steering problems

[stoneman]

Hi I have posted about my MF180 steering problems and this is what has been done so far, I still need some advice. I have checked the needle bearings in the steering column, seem OK the steering wheel turns, changed filter in pump, bled lines by front axle, looked for a grease nipple in front and could not find it, replaced a steering line because as you could guess...bent and broke it. What happens now is it turns hard to the left but barely to the right. When the engine is put up to speed the wheel turns by itself to the left and man is it hard to turn back. The tractor was damaged in the front axle, the owner hit a pig wallow with a load of hay and broke the axle. It has since been fixed. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks to all who so far have given me suggestions.
 

[DavidP, South Wales]

Hi Stoneman,
First of all your steering system should look like the one shown in the photo. Have you adjusted the end float in the cross-shaft of the steering box? If so, there is a 'high spot' in the straight ahead position. It should be adjusted so that it just passes this freely. Have you refitted the pipes correctly? The top pipe from the pump goes to the front port on the spool valve.
With the engine stopped have an assistant turn the steering wheel in the play created by correct adjustment of the tapered screw that has the big nut on top. Observe the spool actuation. From a central (neutral) position the spool should move equally in either direction. If you do not have sufficient and equal movement of the spool in both directions you will not have any assistance. Check for any reluctance to return to the neutral position. Its possible that the adjustment might be incorrect and allowing some pressure to reach the cylinder. By revving the engine you may just create enough flow to turn the steering.
To adjust the steering the adjustable barrel should be disconnected at one end. Screw the tapered screw down until the two arms are locked together. Adjust the barrel so that the pins can just be fitted. Unscrew the tapered pin SEVEN turns. That is the initial adjustment. Nip the lock nut. Have your assistant turn the wheel back and forth and observe the movement. Look for any play in the pins/spool yoke/steering arm/vertical shaft bushes/shaft/cylinder rod anchor point in the axle casting. You are unlikely to have any axial play in the rod but 'up and down' in the casting will destroy the efficiency. The vertical shaft grease nipple should be visible from the left hand side on the front side of the axle and about 4 inches directly above the clamping bolt for the bottom steering arm.
If you don't get anywhere disconnect the outer ball joints and jack the front up. Make sure that each wheel steers freely.
Please let us know what you find.
DavidP, South Wales

 

[Phil Tibbetts]

Not sure if all 180 steering boxes are the same but my 1965 model had a different box than this.
 

[stoneman]

Thanks for the information unfortunately my box is a square with two lines on each end and a single one in the back on the right side. I only replaced 1 line so that went fairly well. Here is a few pics I took in a hurry.


 

[Tom Dold]

Stoneman:

The 180 should h ave Hydrostatic power steering, not the style pictured. It appears to me that the inlet and outlet hoses are reversed, if not at the pump at the Hydrostatic motor under the dash. If the hoses are crossed it will act as you described.

Tom Dold
Dold Implement
201 S. Main St.
PO Box 70
Howard, SD 57349
605-772-4541
dold@alliancecom.net