MF 390 lost steering

[Dry Rot]

As the header says. I have been using the bucket on the front loader to fill holes (using the back of the bucket to smooth lumps), so lots of too'ing and fro'ing and short tight turns. Suddenly, there is no steering. The steering wheel turns both ways without a lot of resistance but the wheels don't move. The tractor still goes backwards and forwards and I can change gear/range but in a straight line, so it is steering only that has been lost. I know the hydraulic filters need cleaning (another "to do" job!). Could that be it? There's plenty of fluid and it looks clean. Fortunately, it's not far from the shed but snow and gales forecast. Anyone? The Shop Manual tells how to change the filter in the pump if that's likely to be the problem.

 

[Lincs Lass]

Either the steering ram has blown the seals and oil is getting past or the steering orbital unit has also popped a seal ,,the gears will still work as they are not oil driven .

 

[Nearly]

@masseybreaker

 

[shumungus]

Does the steering go from stop to stop or just spin for ever?

 

[Dry Rot]

Either the steering ram has blown the seals and oil is getting past or the steering orbital unit has also popped a seal ,,the gears will still work as they are not oil driven .

Thanks for your reply. Is that a big job or something I might be able to do in the field or take off and take to a mechanic?

 

[Dry Rot]

Does the steering go from stop to stop or just spin for ever?

The steering wheel goes from stop to stop.

 

[shumungus]

It's not an oil problem then its either a broken ram pin or track rod end.

 

[Dry Rot]

It's not an oil problem then its either a broken ram pin or track rod end.

Brilliant! Thank you, shumungus. Without TTF, I'd now be frozen stiff on my back in the field with a gale blowing snow up my trouser legs trying to drain oil so I could clean filters!

Yes, one track rod end is flapping around and definitely broken. Should I replace both? I might even be able to pop it back on and strap it round with some baler twine to get it back into the shed. One happy old man here.

But thanks for all the replies.

 

[Lincs Lass]

Is it 2 or 4 wd

 

[Dry Rot]

Is it 2 or 4 wd

4 wd. 1992. 390T

 

[Nearly]

Bodge it back into the shed.

 

[Dry Rot]

Bodge it back into the shed.

When the bloody £2.50 spring broke, I towed it back over two fields with the 135, jumping off to adjust the steering every few yards. This should be a dawdle!

 

[Green grower]

Brilliant! Thank you, shumungus. Without TTF, I'd now be frozen stiff on my back in the field with a gale blowing snow up my trouser legs trying to drain oil so I could clean filters!

Yes, one track rod end is flapping around and definitely broken. Should I replace both? I might even be able to pop it back on and strap it round with some baler twine to get it back into the shed. One happy old man here.

But thanks for all the replies.

I'd change both while doing it it's been left and right the same amount of times not that expensive good for piece of mind

 

[agrimax]

@Dry Rot
Is your loader a power loader? ie can you lift the front wheels off the ground by pushing down on the bucket? If so,you could reverse over to the yard/shed on the bucket and steer with the independent brakes,if you want to get into the shelter...

 

[shumungus]

Brilliant! Thank you, shumungus. Without TTF, I'd now be frozen stiff on my back in the field with a gale blowing snow up my trouser legs trying to drain oil so I could clean filters!

Yes, one track rod end is flapping around and definitely broken. Should I replace both? I might even be able to pop it back on and strap it round with some baler twine to get it back into the shed. One happy old man here.

But thanks for all the replies.

I agree with @Green grower and replace both. Bad enough it fails whilst tootling about the field, completely different matter when it fails belting down the road. And when you have it in change those oils/filters. That's a classic bit of British Engineering there that's probably worth more than you paid for it. Look after it as some bits are getting expensive and/or hard to find.

 

[24/7 farming]

Yep do both, and for the price of them get two spare aswell, they seem to only ever break when it stuck in a muck hole, or a Saturday evening with full shed to be fed on Sunday! Now that I have spares they will probably never break!!

 

[Dry Rot]

Yep do both, and for the price of them get two spare aswell, they seem to only ever break when it stuck in a muck hole, or a Saturday evening with full shed to be fed on Sunday! Now that I have spares they will probably never break!!

The same track ends do seem to fit a range of tractors. I can stretch to a pair which should see me out, but not four! Prices seem to range from £40 to over £70 + VAT + delivery each.

Tractor now in the yard -- an inch at a time with baler twine and an old ratchet strap! Too tight a turn to get her into the shed but I may have another try in the morning.

 

[Lincs Lass]

The same track ends do seem to fit a range of tractors. I can stretch to a pair which should see me out, but not four! Prices seem to range from £40 to over £70 + VAT + delivery each.

Tractor now in the yard -- an inch at a time with baler twine and an old ratchet strap! Too tight a turn to get her into the shed but I may have another try in the morning.

Are these the ones

2x Tie Track Rod End LH RH for Massey Ferguson 4WD 298 365 375 390 398 Tractor | eBay

Massey Ferguson. 165, 168, 185, 188, 275, 285, 290, 298, 350, 365, 375, 390, 390T, 398, 399, 575, 590, 595, 670, 675, 690, 698, 698T, 699, 1080, 2620, 2640, 2645, 2680, 2685, 2720, 2725, 3630, 3650. Taper Length: 22.3mm.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Henarar]

Brilliant! Thank you, shumungus. Without TTF, I'd now be frozen stiff on my back in the field with a gale blowing snow up my trouser legs trying to drain oil so I could clean filters!

Yes, one track rod end is flapping around and definitely broken. Should I replace both? I might even be able to pop it back on and strap it round with some baler twine to get it back into the shed. One happy old man here.

But thanks for all the replies.

if its popped off the ball bit of the track rod end you can put it back on cut a washer in half and weld it on the outer bit of the track rod end to hold it in place

 

[shumungus]

@Dry Rot
If yours is 94 does it only have one Track Rod on the end of the ram and a pin on the other end and is this the track rod that is broken?
If this is the case there are two smaller track rod ends on the tie bar but I'm guessing it wasn't either of these that broke as no wheels were moving.