MF 50 Hydraulic question

[Todd Thomas]

Good afternoon everyone. I just picked up An MF 50 and noticed the 3ph would drop to the ground fast with the engine off. That didn't bother me too much,but after using a bushog for an afternoon I noticed that from time to time the bushog would drop completely down and make a better plow than a mower. The tractor would vibrate when this happened and eventually the 3ph would not even raise any longer. From reading the posts here at TBN I decided to take the PTO cover plate off and look for leaks. The lift cylinder had a stream of fluid coming out of the front. I removed the cylinder and found the rings,piston and cylinder scored rather severely. The cylinder on my tractor is a 2 1/2" bore. I cant find this cylinder anywhere except a boneyard. I found a 3" bore cylinder for a MF 50 that I am told superceded the 2 1/2" That requires drilling and tapping 9/16" holes in the existing 1/2" holes in the cover plate. Has anyone done this or Know anyone who has?
Are there any other steps involved that I should Know about?
Also,the pump was manufactured with no strainer ,which I feel pumped metal through the system. Upon inspection the pump pistons were heavily scored,the inlet and outlet valves have scars on the sealing faces,so I am going to pick up a new pump,valve assy. The new pump/valve assy does have a strainer and does not have a retainer handle for valve chamber plugs,like the old one, so apparently there was a design change. My question is does anyone know if this pump will work in my tractor or will I run into a problem with respect to mounting,fitting,etc.?

Sorry so long winded. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Todd

[Todd Thomas]

Just an update....
I purchased the new cylinder and hydraulic pump that I mentioned and it was pretty straight forward. The cylinder required only that I punch the 4 holes in the cover plate out to 9/16". That cylinder looked awful big but everything fit as it should. The pump/valve assembly fit perfect. Put everything back together,added some hydraulic fluid and it works like a charm.
Many thanks to Helms tractor in S.C. Those guys know what they are talking about. Funny though that agco couldnt give me any useful info.

Todd

[ken williams]

we all have trouble keeping things up as we get older

[Soundguy]

Save the old one and have it sleaved if there is enough meat in there... then sell it to someone who doesn't want to go thru all the work you had to go thru...

soundguy

[Todd Thomas]

Thanks Soundguy! I didn't even know that was an option. So who does that kind of work?

Todd

[Soundguy]

Any good machine shop should be able to bore the cyl and pres a custom made sleave in there, IF there is enough meat in the cyl wall for it to hold up.

soundguy