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TO35 Difficult steering

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Bob Weeks

10-04-2005 18:25:19

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After taking weight off the front wheels and finding abnormal resistance I am now wondering what could be causing the stiff steering. I noticed the steering shaft seems to move vertically as if it were screwing up and down as it steers the wheels. Has anyone restored or repaired steering on a TO35?

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john (UK)

10-06-2005 06:29:03

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Re: TO35 Difficult steering in reply to Bob Weeks, 10-04-2005 18:25:19

You don't need to remove the steering box from the tractor, you can take it apart "in situ" Have you checked the adjustment on the top cone bearing just under the steering wheel as this can tighten up or slacken off and cause this problem, it should have a greaser on there. so it looks like top bearing to me from what you say. If it was the shaft and recirculating nut on the bottom there would be plenty of play in the steering but no up and down movement, it is the top bearing that controls that, so check it.
Just make sure that it isn't the spindles or other steering parts first by disconnecting the rods and trying each part separately to make sure.

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Bob Weeks

10-10-2005 16:31:03

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Re: TO35 Difficult steering in reply to john (UK), 10-06-2005 06:29:03

Hi John,
Looks like you are right. The vertical play at the top near the bearing allows quite a bit of up and down movement. My problem now is not being able to remove the steering wheel. I tried a rap on the nut after loosening it a bit. I also tried a gear puller but didn't have a counter sink in the top of the shaft to hold the puller bolt in the middle of the shaft. It looks like the previous owner beat on it trying to get it loose, and finally gave up. If I heat it I will probably melt the plastic on the spokes. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Bob

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john (UK)

10-11-2005 06:24:52

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Re: TO35 Difficult steering in reply to Bob Weeks, 10-10-2005 16:31:03

It can be difficult to remove those steering wheels when they have been on a long time. If you hit the top of the shaft it will damage the threads and you wont get the nut back on. You are on the right lines using a puller though,if there is no counter sink in the shaft, maybe you could try to drill one for your puller as a puller is the only way to do it. Get the puller under load and then shock the centre of the puller bolt and that should loosen the wheel.

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Bob Weeks

10-11-2005 19:23:17

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Re: TO35 Difficult steering in reply to john (UK), 10-11-2005 06:24:52

Hi John,
I got the steering wheel off by loosening the top nut about 1/4 inch, Heating the center of the steering wheel a little, and then rapping on the top of the cap nut. I wrapped aluminum foil around the steering spokes to protect them. After getting the post out and looking everything over, I found the top bearing just under the steering wheel all rusted and tore up. About half of the balls in the steering block had fallen out(being forced out of the little tubes that had spread open). Furthermore, the bottom bearing was missing a roller, the retainer and screw had come loose. I think a bottom shim and bearing retainer is also missing. I fished around with a magnet but only found a few very small metal chunks. Looks like I need all these missing parts. Maybe I should find a complete used shaft and bearing assembly. A salvage yard in St. Johns MI has a pretty good inventory of parts. The owner said he would probably be able to get what I needed if he didn't have it in used parts. That loose ball block assembly sure is an interesting set up. Never seen anything like it before. Seems like it could have been designed a little simpler.

I'll keep you posted.
Thanks for the help.
Bob Weeks

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John (UK)

10-12-2005 10:35:30

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Re: TO35 Difficult steering in reply to Bob Weeks, 10-11-2005 19:23:17

That type of steering (recirculating ball nut) was used extensively at one time both here and in the US. What caused the problems with the tube bursting open was overloading, using it when power steering was really necessary. We never did get a lot of trouble with it normally though.It is possible, with some patience, to repair the tube and refit the balls, use some grease to hold them in place, they work fine afterwards. Not sure who made that type of steering for them now, but it was one of the major component manufacturers.

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Bob Weeks

10-12-2005 12:51:30

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Re: TO35 Difficult steering in reply to John (UK), 10-12-2005 10:35:30

Hi John,
The place I was hoping would help me with parts doesn't have what I need. If I fix the recirculating ball mechanism I can probably get by with just a steering column bearing at the top(it looks almost like a bicycle cone bearing) and the bottom shaft bearing. I bent the bottom retainer back to where it would work to hold the bearing in place. Who might have parts for this? I am assuming that the MF line was similar for a few years.
Thanks again for your interest,
Bob

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Bob Weeks

10-06-2005 17:19:58

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Re: TO35 Difficult steering in reply to john (UK), 10-06-2005 06:29:03

Hi John,
I failed to mention that I tried to adjust the side screws because of the excessive play from right to left. It didn't seem to help much. My TO20 had a similar problem but the side adjusters took out the play and it has been fine for many years. I will look for the bearing you mentioned. Thanks for the tips. I'll keep you posted.
Bob

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john (UK)

10-07-2005 06:29:08

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Re: TO35 Difficult steering in reply to Bob Weeks, 10-06-2005 17:19:58

The steering on the TE and TO is completely different to the type on the 35 as that is recirculating ball nut so it wont adjust in the same way. I think the top bearing is your problem from what you describe. The bearing is right under the steering wheel, that will be the hardest part to get off, its on a taper with a key and needs to be shocked off.

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gerard

10-05-2005 12:36:34

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Re: TO35 Difficult steering in reply to Bob Weeks, 10-04-2005 18:25:19

Found this in archives - may help. There are other references:

As one reply said ,Jack up front and turn stearing full right and left . If it is free stop to stop. I would GET RID of those car tires,and go to three rib orig eqpt type. Also counter weight on back to equal front bucket weight. This will help. The more the stearing parts are worn the more friction is put on every part.
If the stearing IS binding,and tight with the front off the ground,look for a nearly frozen tie rod , spindle pin (not likely) or a rusty stearing gear box upper shaft bad bearing due to water seepage under the stearing wheel. I found this problim on a T0-20 whear water rusted the stearing column bearings so bad they bearly would turn. The stearing gear box is another place water can damage bearings even to the point of cracking the cast housing, when the water freezes. Good luck.

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Bob Weeks

10-05-2005 17:51:12

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Re: TO35 Difficult steering in reply to gerard, 10-05-2005 12:36:34

I think I've narrowed it down to the steering gear box or bearings. Do you know if the whole transmission cover has to be removed to get the parts out to see them? I was able to remove the four bolts at the base of the steering shaft to look at the worm gear there but it looked well oiled and not chewed up. If I pull the steering arms off each side will the shafts come out?
I also called the sponsoring company of the web site but they didn't have part for the steering gear assembly. I wonder if the Massey Ferguson dealer would have parts to fit since the 35 was produced for several years after the TO35.
Thanks for any help you can give.

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Jack in NB

10-06-2005 10:36:11

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Re: TO35 Difficult steering in reply to Bob Weeks, 10-05-2005 17:51:12

You're asking the right questions, Bob!

As John says, the job can be done from the top.

I'd strongly recommend getting a manual - the gear alignment is a bit tricky on reassembly.

My I&T MF-14 covers the job, but the MF shop manual is more thorough, and I understand about the same price now. (My I&T was priced at $5 - which tells you how long ago I bought it! The MF manual was over $40 from a dealer at that time.)

The steering is one of the subtle differences between US and UK manufactured models. The column bearings are adjusted by shims on the bottom of the column, not an adjustable nut under the steering wheel like the British models. And a pain in the butt, in my opinion.

The steering wheel removal may be the most difficult part of the job. There have been a number of posts covering this topic. I don't know how to search for them, but other folks here will tell you, if you ask.

Vapormatic (a major and excellent UK firm) lists most of the parts, and these should be available through A&I, which has the North American distributorship rights. I think this site is an A&I dealer.

There are (or should be) lots of good used parts available too. It's probably just a bearing, as John suggests.

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Bob Weeks

10-06-2005 17:27:40

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Re: TO35 Difficult steering in reply to Jack in NB, 10-06-2005 10:36:11

Hi Jack,
I sure appreciate the time to pass along some help. I'll look at the guts and hopefully find an easy fix. I just bought the tractor a few days ago. I have looked for a good TO35 for years. My Dad had one with a Black Hawk trencher in the late fifty's. I loved to drive that tractor. I was especially fond of the Low-Low gear for back filling the trenches. It seemed to push like a bulldozer.

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