Farmall M Steering

If it seems really tough to turn, I would replace the thrust bearing in the front, and put in new bushings in the main pivot shaft.

You've got three options:
1. Take the loader off. It'll still be hard to steer, but not as much.
2. Get a power steering kit. This will likely cost as much as the tractor is worth. They are a highly prized option, difficult to find used, and even more expensive if you use new parts.
3. Live with it. I suggest weight training to muscle up for the road ahead :)

On thing you might try is a bigger steering wheel if you have the standard sized 3 spoke steering wheel. Farmall made a 4 spoke steering wheel that was a couple inches in diameter bigger so you have more leverage. IH doesn't make it anymore and my local dealer couldn't find one, so you might have to find one at a flee market or off a tractor someone is parting out.

If memory serves the 3 spoke is 17" and the 4 spoke is 19". Not a big difference, but a little. I have a JD 4 spoke 19" on my jd70 and while it helps it's still hard to turn with all that weight up front.

On my M I couldn't find a 19" steer wheel so I (and I likely would have done this even if I had found a bigger steering wheel) unpin the loader from the loader frame when I'm not using it. Pull the top two pins to unhook the loader and the bottom two pins for the cylinders and I have a snap coupler on they hydralic line.

And when I was using the loader frequently enough that taking it off and back on was too much of a pain I just took the bucket off. I have a 7ft snow bucket so taking that off helped alot. I have a few cinder blocks I lower the bucket down on, pull the two bolts that attach the bucket to the frame, and back away.

If you use you're loader alot and need the loader and bucket on all the time I don't have any good advice, I couldn't find anything to help...

But to add another tidbit, having that loader on there I think wore my steering gears out prematurely. July 11th my M goes under the knife and is getting new gears and likely a new brass bushing. So after the work is done I'll likely not use the loader very much. I have a 3pt on my M and "boom" I bought cheep that I use the lift stuff with a chain. The only time I use the loader is to lift shingles up to a roof, etc. The rare occasion I need a "lift" device.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Mark