135 steering issues

[arcdancer]

I recently purchased a 72 Massey 135 diesel that has steering issues. The power assist steering is basically non extant, with only Armstrong steering at this time, I noticed that the left hand cylinder had a bad leak and the fluid level way very low. I replaced the bad cylinder, installed new hoses to the cylinders, and topped off the fluid. After performing the bleeding procedure, I found no difference in the way it steers. Does it make a difference the way the hoses are connected? I thought I may have switched the hose connections around.

I have it set up with the pressure lines from both cylinders connected to a splinter and the line from splitter going back to a connection on the right side of the steering box. the return side is basically the same with the line from the splitter going to the left side of the steering box. If it makes no difference how the hoses are connected than I'm thinking on having the pump tested.

It's hard to tell what has gone wrong when I never had proper steering to begin with. what do you think my next steps should be?

Any Ideas welcome.

Arcdancer

 

[Stan Coryell]

I recently purchased a 72 Massey 135 diesel that has steering issues. The power assist steering is basically non extant, with only Armstrong steering at this time, I noticed that the left hand cylinder had a bad leak and the fluid level way very low. I replaced the bad cylinder, installed new hoses to the cylinders, and topped off the fluid. After performing the bleeding procedure, I found no difference in the way it steers. Does it make a difference the way the hoses are connected? I thought I may have switched the hose connections around.

I have it set up with the pressure lines from both cylinders connected to a splinter and the line from splitter going back to a connection on the right side of the steering box. the return side is basically the same with the line from the splitter going to the left side of the steering box. If it makes no difference how the hoses are connected than I'm thinking on having the pump tested.

It's hard to tell what has gone wrong when I never had proper steering to begin with. what do you think my next steps should be?

Any Ideas welcome.

Arcdancer

Does it steer any better with the front wheels off the ground?

 

[arcdancer]

There is no difference with the front wheels jacked up

 

[tldnc]

I recently purchased a 72 Massey 135 diesel that has steering issues. The power assist steering is basically non extant, with only Armstrong steering at this time, I noticed that the left hand cylinder had a bad leak and the fluid level way very low. I replaced the bad cylinder, installed new hoses to the cylinders, and topped off the fluid. After performing the bleeding procedure, I found no difference in the way it steers. Does it make a difference the way the hoses are connected? I thought I may have switched the hose connections around.

I have it set up with the pressure lines from both cylinders connected to a splinter and the line from splitter going back to a connection on the right side of the steering box. the return side is basically the same with the line from the splitter going to the left side of the steering box. If it makes no difference how the hoses are connected than I'm thinking on having the pump tested.

It's hard to tell what has gone wrong when I never had proper steering to begin with. what do you think my next steps should be?

Any Ideas welcome.

Arcdancer

Have you pulled the cover on the steering houseing to see if either the power steering rack, pin, or rod are broken?

 

[arcdancer]

I spent the day switching the hose connections on the rams. It made NO difference I thought I would deal with the pump next: check for clogged filter, maybe try to get some idea regarding pressure, so I can rule that out. That leaves the steering box which I'm not looking forward to tackling.

I appreciate the help and maybe I can solve this problem.

Arcdancer

 

[Stan Coryell]

I spent the day switching the hose connections on the rams. It made NO difference I thought I would deal with the pump next: check for clogged filter, maybe try to get some idea regarding pressure, so I can rule that out. That leaves the steering box which I'm not looking forward to tackling.

I appreciate the help and maybe I can solve this problem.

Arcdancer

Disconnect the cylinders and loosen the hoses to the steering valve to take the hydraulic system out of the picture. With the front wheels off the ground, it should steer easily.

 

[arcdancer]

That's a great idea. I will do that this morning.

Thanks

 

[arcdancer]

I did as suggested and took the hydraulics out of the stem and the steering worked great so I removed the pump and found it was full of mud. The filter looked like it was original, never changed so you can imagine what it looked like. Rather than rebuild it, I'm just going to purchase a new one.
I am somewhat concerned about the damage that may have been done by the contaminated fluid so I will try and flush the system and hope that will get me back to doing my tractor chores.

Thanks again for all the great help.

Arcdancer

 

[Stan Coryell]

I did as suggested and took the hydraulics out of the stem and the steering worked great so I removed the pump and found it was full of mud. The filter looked like it was original, never changed so you can imagine what it looked like. Rather than rebuild it, I'm just going to purchase a new one.
I am somewhat concerned about the damage that may have been done by the contaminated fluid so I will try and flush the system and hope that will get me back to doing my tractor chores.

Thanks again for all the great help.

Arcdancer

I would clean the pump out, visually check the gears, and see if it works with the return disconnected.

 

[arcdancer]

I am still trying to get the steering to work correctly. As a recap on what I have done so far, I replaced the front steering cylinders and hoses. Next I replaced the pump and the control valve assembly in the steering column. The steering shaft has been cleaned up and machined to factory specs but still no joy. How can a person tell if the control valve is working correctly? The valve is new but I still suspect that is not working correctly and the seals kept blowing (used 10 so far). I am running out of ideas.

 

[Stan Coryell]

What does this mean: The steering shaft has been cleaned up and machined to factory specs but still no joy.

Was it spray welded and then ground and polished? Why not replace it? Was the ball cage measured? It should have been replaced with new. Was the gear box set up correctly? Was the backlash set correctly in the new shuttle valve?

 

[arcdancer]

I can't really answer your question regarding the steering shaft. I took the tractor to a local repair shop that specializes in working on Massey Ferguson tractors. The have been specializing for 50 years and are recognized as being very knowledgeable on all things Massey. They told me that they turned the steering shaft so I'm not sure what that entailed but I don't believe that there was any welding involved.. I know that they torn down the complete steering box and checked all the gears and made sure everything was correct, all lashing was adjusted correctly, all the correct gears and other parts are setup correctly.

 

[Jim.ME]

It sounds like you have the system with two cylinders. Do you have the rod end of one hooked to the same hose as the barrel end of the other? The hoses have to cross and go to the opposite end of the second cylinder, otherwise they are both trying to move the same direction and will stop moving.

 

[Stan Coryell]

Jim brings up a good point. Are the hoses between the pump and the valve hooked up correctly? The valve ports are marked. Looking at the side of the valve: the hose on the left is pressure the one on the right is return.

 

[arcdancer]

The hoses are routed correctly

 

[arcdancer]

Is there way to test the power steering valve assembly (1755047m91)?0

 

[Stan Coryell]

Is there way to test the power steering valve assembly (1755047m91)?0

Yes, but you need to test the pump first.

You said that the steering shaft seal keeps blowing out, either the valve is shot, or the steering shaft is.

Follow the procedure in the service manual to check the pump pressure and report back.

 

[arcdancer]

Bo0th the pump and valve are new. I will get some pressure readings hopefully this weekend.