power steering cylinder removal 383 2wd

[rodneygeet]

I'm trying to get my power steering cylinder off but cant. It's leaking badly.

I removed the ball joints, the hydraulic lines and a bolt from the middle where it is mounted. It just swings there.

Also, the center where it swings/pivots - there's some sort of joint there with a big bolt going through the frame. I managed to get that nut off but it's still not dropping - there's very limited space where the bolt/joint goes through the frame.

Any ideas on how to get this thing off?

thanks,
Rodney

Edit: Can you just replace the seals with the cylinder on the tractor - I can get the steering arms with ball joints off. If so, how do you replace the seals?

 

[rodneygeet]

I bought the seal kit. It had the two seals and a number of other bands which apparently go inside the cylinder somewhere. I managed to pull one of the old seals out (then it started raining). But it did not appear that you could access the inside of the cylinder from that side - perhaps on the other side?

Do these seals actually hold in all of the hyd pressure or do I need to replace these other parts, as well? I guess I'll know more as to that possibility when I get the other seal out.

 

[massey driver]

I'am not familar with the MF383 but if you could post some pics of what things look like I might beable to help out. If its like any other cylinder the seals on the outer ends are usually more of a dust seal,if oils leaking out like you say then its probably by passing some of the other parts internally.No doubt your going to have to pull the cylinder apart and replace the o-rings packings etc inside the cylinder that came with the new kit.Anyway pictures would sure be of help so I or others can maybe help and give you some advice.Larry

 

[rodneygeet]

Ok. I will try to do that this evening or in the morning. Thanks for replying.

 

[rodneygeet]

Here's some pics.

This is the power steering cylinder as it hangs there. I've got the two ball links are off of the ends - then it's just hanging there pivoting in the center. I've got the nut off of that center ball joint but there's almost no room to put any pressure on it. I've also removed a bolt that was in the housing of the cylinder in the middle (the hole you see in the cylinder housing by where it pivots in the center). But it's just hanging there.

If I could replace the stuff on the tractor that would be fine too. I've pulled the seal from the pictured side of the cylinder as you may note but that doesn't give you access to the rest of the seals etc. I havent pulled the seal on the other side yet.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[massey driver]

Just from looking at the pictures I saved them into a file and blew them up so that I was able to get a better look and from what I can tell the end that you have taken the dust seal of of it doesn't come apart at this end.What does the other end look like any kinda of snap ring or split ring or some other thing that will allow thw cylinder to come apart.You might have to pull the dust seal out that end as well.You did say that you had bougth the kit for the cylinder[Iam assuming from Massey] is there anyway you can get a schematic of the cylinder from Massey.Now as for the cylinder comming down it looks to me like it a tapered shaft and hole[just like a tie rod or ball joint] Is there any way you can use some sort of a wedge tool to apply pressure down onto the bolt thats stciking up.What you could try is first put the nut back on just far enough so it sits flush with the top of the bolt thats sticking out.The reason for this is to save the threads and to keep the cylinder from dropping once the cylinder bolt releases from the taper.To me it looks like you have lots of room to drive a wedge in between the tractors frame and the bolt.What you might have to do is use a plate or thick flat bar on the underside of the tractor frame and use a axe head as a wedge to drive into put pressure onto the bolt thats sticking up.Shim stuff up enough so that that would work or you can always use a tunning fork thats used to break away ball joints etc: you'll just have to a flat bar or plate on both sides letting either tool work as a wedge I hope you get the picture of what Ia'm saying.It sure looks like this is what your going to have to do from looking at the pics.Let me know if this helps Larry

 

[rodneygeet]

I appreciate the help.

Yes, I have the kit from massey.

I'll look at it some more either this evening or asap. I see what your saying about running a wedge in there. And I'm assuming that the other dust seal hides the access to the other parts because, as you can see, you cant get to the other seals from the side I took the pic of.

I would get a diagram from my massey dealer but it's a two hour round trip. If I cant figure it out, I'll have to make the drive.

I'll post back when I get back at it.

Rodney

 

[massey driver]

This end that you've taken a picture of looks like it would be the bottom of a cylinder and the other end the top,[without seeing a pic of the other end this is what I'am assuming] The other end may even have a threaded on end or held in place with a snap ring or a spiral ring that holds it together. Is there anyway that you can phone your dealer and see if they'll e-mail you a schematic of the cylinder.Guess it depends on what your dealer is like.Keep me informed.Larry

 

[massey driver]

Just thougth of something is there anyway that you can get onto the AGCO Parts web site as a guest and see if you can get a parts diagram of the cylinder.I tried but being on dial up takes forever plus being in Canada it doesn't seem to work for me.Larry

 

[rodneygeet]

I figured it out. That is, I figured out how to change all of the numerous o-rings and seals necessary to rebuild the cylinder - on the tractor. I did not take it off.

I have been too busy to get back to it until this morning and I took some pics but won't be able to upload next week when I'm at the office (dial-up here).

Essentially, on the side (right side if you are sitting in the tractor's seat) of the power steering cylinder, there is the outer grease seal and surrounding it in the housing there appears to be two gaps. On the side of the cylinder is a small plug of silicone. You pull the plug out. Then get a screwdriver or punch or something similar and a hammer. Put the screwdriver in one of the gaps I mentioned a minute ago (not in the plugged hole) - then tap it with the hammer to make it turn in the cylinder. When you do this, you will see a rounded piece of metal turning in the plugged hole in conjunction with the piece you are turning in the cylinder. Eventually, you will find the end of it. It is a round piece of spring steel and it will pop up a bit in the area where you pulled the silicone plug. All you have to do now is to continue to tap until you back the entire spring steel keeper thing out of the hole. You can then slide the shaft out of the cylinder and replace the majority of the seals. Then you replace the remaining seals (3, including the outer grease seal) in the other end of the cylinder (the left side of the tractor as viewed when sitting in the seat). Then put everything back together.

Its pretty tedious but not bad if you know what to do. I got it all back together. I just have to tighten up the ball joints, reattach the hyd lines and top off the hyd fluid. Hopefully I'll get this done in the morning.

I hope it doesn't leak. The two internal blue silicone seals were in really back shape and crumbling - that was the main source of the leak I'm sure.

I appreciate the advice I've been given.