MF 135 steering stuck

willor · May 14, 2022

i have a MF 135 (1972) diesel - while mowing today the steering locked up to the left - I couldn't turn it back from a left turn and
went in circles. eventually I was able to get it back to center and headed to the barn - still wouldn't turn past center to the right, Iad went inside and when I came out it worked fine - went back to field to mow and immediately stuck turning left. backed up a few times and it unstuck and finished mowing. i went out agon today (1 week later) to mow and it keeps doing the same thing - sticks turning left and wom't turn right past center. I checked power steering pump and it has fluid. Any ideas?

willor · May 14, 2022

Update - there isnt power steering on the tractor- I mis-spoke
earlier - I think it is power assist- it seems like it is just locking
up and not allow me to turn right

willor · May 14, 2022

It seems like it is binding somewhere - I did occasionally hear a
click by the right front side when turning that direction

RM-MN · May 15, 2022

I too think you have power assist steering. While I have not yet taken mine apart I believe the control is likely to be similar to my Ford 3600 which had the same symptoms. It was due to a broken Belleville washer (wavey washer) that had broken. The steering needs that washer to keep pressure on the control and when it breaks that pressure is relieved and the power assist wants to always turn left. I'm hoping someone with more experience with that system will come to your rescue. The adjustment of the system is quite critical too.

willor · May 15, 2022

Thank you - where is that washer in the steering system? The pump or the steering column or the drag links to the front wheels?

RM-MN · May 15, 2022

If the MF135 has it, the washer is located in the steering column just above where the power assist steering attaches. If not, that is still where the adjustment would be done.

RM-MN · May 18, 2022

Massey Ferguson figured out a different arrangement with no Belleville washers but instead uses standard compression springs which occasionally break. You will have to take the power assist control apart to see if that is the case. It also appears that, from my reading, the adjustment of the nut above the control is critical. The steering wheel should rise a bit when turned one way, and go down the same amount turned the other way. The adjustment nut controls when the two movements are equal. When it is finally in adjustment it is staked so it no longer turns.

willor · May 18, 2022

Thanks - I saw the compression spriongs in my parts manual and can check that out.

I am trying to figure out if we are talking about the same nut on the steering column - See picture attached - would the adjustment nut be number 3 in the picture?

Thanks for the continued help

RM-MN · May 19, 2022

From what I have been able to dig out that is the nut that needs adjustment. It seems that the adjustment is very critical.

MF 135 steering stuck

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