New Member with 1959 MF 202

jagbob23 · Sep 29, 2013

I'be been fascinated with all the information available on TractorByNet, so I joined. For the past 20 years, I have had a 1959 MF 202, industrial tractor with a Davis 101 loader, 35 to 40 HP gas engine, 2WD and about 4000 hours. I rebuilt the engine about 5 years ago and it runs well This is just about the only tractor that I have ever known. About 5 years ago the power steering went out. Everything seems to function properly, except excess pressure will force the PS fluid up and out at the base of the stering wheel. The dealer says the problem is inside the steering gear box at the base of the steering column. Right now it is arm-strong steering. My project for this Fall or Winter (again this year) is to pull the steering gear box and either rebuild it myself or have the dealer rebuild it in his slower season. The electrical charging system has only worked about 1/3 of the time that I have owned the tactor. I have tried to repair the system repeatedly but the improvements were always short term. At the same time as the stering is being rebuilt, I will also replace the generator and mechanical voltage regulator with an alternator and electronic voltage regulator.

I live on 10 acres of wooded rolling land. I use the tractor to maintain the property: brush mowing, finish mowing at times, grading, snow plowing, post hole drilling, moving brush, firewood, trailers and any other heavy objects. The tractor was extermely valuable when we built the house 20 years ago.

I am thinking of moving up to a Ford / New Holland 1920 or 2120 but that will be a different post.

TomSeller · Sep 29, 2013

jagbob23 said:
I'be been fascinated with all the information available on TractorByNet, so I joined. For the past 20 years, I have had a 1959 MF 202, industrial tractor with a Davis 101 loader, 35 to 40 HP gas engine, 2WD and about 4000 hours. I rebuilt the engine about 5 years ago and it runs well This is just about the only tractor that I have ever known. About 5 years ago the power steering went out. Everything seems to function properly, except excess pressure will force the PS fluid up and out at the base of the stering wheel. The dealer says the problem is inside the steering gear box at the base of the steering column. Right now it is arm-strong steering. My project for this Fall or Winter (again this year) is to pull the steering gear box and either rebuild it myself or have the dealer rebuild it in his slower season. The electrical charging system has only worked about 1/3 of the time that I have owned the tactor. I have tried to repair the system repeatedly but the improvements were always short term. At the same time as the stering is being rebuilt, I will also replace the generator and mechanical voltage regulator with an alternator and electronic voltage regulator.

I live on 10 acres of wooded rolling land. I use the tractor to maintain the property: brush mowing, finish mowing at times, grading, snow plowing, post hole drilling, moving brush, firewood, trailers and any other heavy objects. The tractor was extermely valuable when we built the house 20 years ago.

I am thinking of moving up to a Ford / New Holland 1920 or 2120 but that will be a different post.

Sounds like you only have a few problems with your tractor. I think the dealer is correct about the steering problem.. The electrical system is not very complex so you should be able to get the charging circuit operational, what have you repaired so far on it?