MF135 PS losing fluid - long

[Steve IA]

Well, I successfully replaced the steering column seal and the o-ring underneath it. Feeling pretty smug, I put it all back together and it seemed to work. Then I noticed massive amounts of PS fluid coming out from behind the column. Looking closer I see it's coming from the gear box breather.
Consulting the archives and the I&T manual and Big Deans Disc, I believe that the Piston Polish seal is bad and leaking fluid into the gear box. G-whiz, I didn't think I went any deeper than the shaft seal and now I got this! Looking at the diagrams I don't see anything called a piston polish seal and not really familiar with it, don't feel confident just to tear into it and see what's what. My closest MF dealer is 50 miles away. I'm really frustrated now as I can usually fix my own stuff, but feel I'm getting in W A Y over my head on this one. Thanks for listening (reading).
Off to do more research and maybe some phone calls.
Steve IA

 

[Anonymous-0]

In my parts book, page 198, parts 44 and 45 a seal and an o-ring come as a kit 43 with the piston o-ring (46).

Kit number 835 682 M91. I bought one of those once when I had to replace the piston and piston rod.

The seal is 1 751 701 M1.

The O-ring at the seal is 1 751 677 M1.

Massey wanted $472 for the cylinder assembly. Randall Machine removed the broken piston from the cylinder, carved a new one from a cast iron axle shaft stub and made a new piston rod from stress proof and its run fine ever since. Oh, and also fixed the top seal on the steering column were I knocked a piece of metal out with the seal, and charged me $125 plus the seal kit. I put it all together again.

Gerald J.

 

[Steve IA]

Gerald,
Thanks for the reply. It appears that if I am to attempt the repairs, I'm going to need a Parts manual and a Service manual. All I have now is a I&T manual and Big Dean's disk.
Which manuals do you use/recommend? The numbers on different sites appear to be different, some indicating a MF part number and some something else.
I've found from different sources:
MF 135 G&D Service Manual, 392 pages
MF 135 G&D Upgraded Service Manual, 520 pages
MF 135 G&D Parts Manual, 496 pages

MF Form 651 199 M97. 421 pages. Issued 8-73 Parts.

MF 135 Gas and Dsl (Has Wiring Diagram) Service Manual 355 Pages (Part No: MH-S-MF135,150)
MF 135 Gas and Dsl Parts Manual 504 Pages (Part No: MH-P-MF135)

JenSales Service Service manual g/d 355 pages.
JenSales Parts Manual g/d 363 pages.

How concise are the manuals. I've been able to keep a couple Fords running with manuals and instructions, but PS if new to me and I'll need pictures and diagrams to get through it.

Your information and comments are appreciated.
Steve

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have the I&T manual, the MF owner's manual that fits my '68 tractor, and the MF parts catalog. I bought the I&T manual before I bought the tractor. It let me know some details the seller didn't know, but the owner's manual would have been better for that. There is much tuneup and lubrication information in the owner's manual that is no where else. I bought the owner's manual and parts book from MF Racine. The parts book is Form No. 1449 106 M1. It says on the back. On the front it says Form No. 651 199 M97 and that number is on the pages. The back cover says printed 2/84, the inside front cover says printed 8/73 which is probably the last time it was officially printed and what I have is an official xerox copy. Some pages say 10/75 issue 2.

The owners manual that I have was xeroxed by Racine to my order, Form no 690 677 M3 dated 6/74. I bought these about 1990 the day my local MF dealer had his going out of business sale and they cost me less than his books went for at auction.

I have noted that the number at Racine was 414-636-8222. That was a long enough time ago that I doubt its the right numbeer now. In those days MF HQ was in Des Moines. Your Agco MF dealer ought to have a source for official manuals but I've not checked lately.

The parts book has the best exploded diagrams, better than the official shop manual that I've seen.

The I&T manual presumes you know a great deal about tractors in general and sometimes proposes techniques that the tractor maker would dislike or laugh at.

I've never dealt with Jen Sales, but I know its worth being careful to get the manual that covers your tractor. There were at least three eras in US MF-135 manufacture, early Z-145 gas, middle Perkins gas, and late Z-145 gas and the books and parts don't interchange perfectly. The owners manual with Continental gas gives no information on the Perkins gas and that for the Perkins gas gives no Continental informationn. The parts book and the official shop manual may be better in that. At least the parts book covers two gas engines and one diesel engine and about 6 transsmission variations.

So far, for the things I've had to work on, the I&T manual plus parts book have worked for me. I hope to not have to do much work on it because the nearest MF dealer is about two hours round trip and I lack confidence they actually have parts, but I've not tested them.

Gerald J.

 

[Steve IA]

Thanks again for the information. The more I read (and understand) the I&T manual, the less I want to believe that the problem is the polish shaft seal on the cylinder. I was no where near the cylinder, only working above the valve on the steering shaft. Seems too coincidental that the seal would go just as I reassembled from putting the shaft seal on. Wishfully thinking, I'm trying to figure out what I could have done wrong with reassembly that would put fluid in the gear box other than blowing past the seal on the polish shaft.
Steve