MF 35 (Detroit model) Steering Wheel play

Hey Folks...Happy Easter out there! Ive owned a 1963 MF 35 Diesel Deluxe for about 3 months. Second tractor I've ever owned and I really like it...it gets lots of looks as Im going down the road in it. Mechanically, I can change oil and fluids and install a starter/generator and I primed the fuel system on a MF 3165 once, but that's all Ive ever done. When I first got it, It had about 1/4 turn of play in steering wheel and while I was out bush hogging yesterday, the steering went out (steering wheel just spins and lifts up about an inch as it turns then back down the other way). I read a post from 10 years ago by DavidP about steering the tractor back home with my feet...and it worked like a charm! I think the lower gearbox is fine because it actually steered quite easily even with a Fred Cain 6' bush hog behind me. I have read and re-read the older posts on this topic and looked at the diagrams of the steering wheel column and assorted components. Does my steering problems sound like its in the upper bearing just under the steering wheel or does sound like the bottom end funny looking nut with those two bearing ball channel holders? Also, are there two bearings on the upper end just under the steering wheel? The diagram posted by DavidP in the older post is great with the numbers for each part but I dont see a legend showing what each numbered part is. Can anyone offer me some help on this and how to get started? Thanks in advance and I appreciate the members on this site and plan to buy whatever parts needed from yt.

Sounds like the lower bearing either came off the shaft, or the balls shelled out and let it pull up.

The steering gear will need to come apart to repair it.

It fairly complicated but doable with a shop manual in hand. Shop manuals are not that expensive, will easily pay for itself in mistakes not made.

It may already be too late, but try not to screw the steering shaft out of the gear rack too far. The balls will fall out of the gear rack and are difficult to get back in. If they are already out, be careful not to loose any when taking the gear apart.

Try this link to AGCO parts online and see if it looks like yours.
Also, try posting your question on the Massey board from the pull down menu at the top of this board, you may get more responses. Sorry but I've not been inside of a 35 steering column. Good Luck with it!
Link

Info may assist you.

Bob...

I bought a TO-35 with sloppy steering as you describe. See Steve@Advance explanation below. I pulled
the steering housing apart and found the lower thrust bearing had disintegrated. I ordered a new one on
this site. To get the old bearing race out, I carefully knocked out the sheet metal plug on the bottom of
the steering housing then drove out the race. Use your phone to take pictures of everything you
disassemble as new parts may take some days to order and deliver. The manual explains everything
that needs to come off or apart. The entire dashboard, linkage, wiring, steering links, etc. I took off the
housing too. Not hard but takes many hours. Good luck.

Thanks to everyone who has responded! Hey Northvale...when you say the lower thrust bearing, are you referring to part #2 in this steering column image?

Hey [email protected] I turn the steering wheel CCW, the shaft lifts up with each turn. I really think that it would completely come out of the steering column if kept spinning the wheel CCW. Does this sound like the bearing nut has come off the shaft?

Quote:
Hey [email protected] I turn the steering wheel CCW, the shaft lifts up with each turn. I really think that it would completely come out of the steering column if kept spinning the wheel CCW. Does this sound like the bearing nut has come off the shaft?

Note.....
Inspect TOP THRUST bearing....

Do you own a SERVICE MANUAL.?
NOTE Picture....

Bob...

Info......
Bob...Owner MF FE 35 X

No. The 2 bearings are the same. But the lower bearing is seated at the bottom of the housing and the
shaft seats into it. The upper bearing is on the shaft above the worm gear assembly. I have no clue how
the lower bearing disintegrates. Tires hit objects and transfer impact there? Seems to happen easily
apparently.

Hello again everyone and a big thank you for all your help! I started removing the dash/instrument panel last evening and removed it successfully before dark. Today, I took off the steering box top cover/shaft tube and removed it and there was a ton of shims underneath it. I haven't taken the left drop arm off yet because I wanted to inspect the top bearing. Used a K1 hand siphon to pump out most of the oil. The oil was chocolate colored and as I was pumping it out, I have seen 3 little stainless steel barrel-shaped pieces amidst the oil and sticking to the sides and shaft. The main worm-gear nut looks good from what I can see from the top with the steel balls inside and intact in the retaining shell. I can't remove the shaft/worm gear yet since I haven't taken the drop arms off yet. So I'm wondering if those barrel-shaped pieces are from the top bearing or the bottom one?