MF 204 issues steering left

thahn1608 · Mar 20, 2020

I just bought a MF 204 with a loader. The steering works fine going right, but it has no power steering going left. It will steer left, but it is like driving a fully loaded dump truck at 2mph without power steering. There is no power assist. To the right it works

I am new to the MF tractors so I'm still learning how things are run. Any ideas on what could be wrong or where to start looking?

Kernopelli · Mar 21, 2020

thahn1608 said:
I just bought a MF 204 with a loader. The steering works fine going right, but it has no power steering going left. It will steer left, but it is like driving a fully loaded dump truck at 2mph without power steering. There is no power assist. To the right it works

I am new to the MF tractors so I'm still learning how things are run. Any ideas on what could be wrong or where to start looking?

I would suspect an issue with the control valve or cylinder seals . Looking at the power steering parts diagrams at Welcome to AGCO Parts Books ( enter site as "guest") will give you a good idea of their locations and where to start diagnosing problems.

oldnslo · Mar 21, 2020

Most steering units have make up check valves built in that allow steering with the engine off. If one of these checks is stuck open it could cause the symptoms you are experiencing. With the engine off swill it steer in both directions with similar amount of effort? If yes then I would suspect the steering unit is the problem.

Sportsman762 · Mar 21, 2020

I had the same problem with my 20C which uses a similar steering system with two cylinders. I had replaced the steering hydraulic pump and ended up blowing a cylinder. I talked to a tech at a steering rebuild shop and he gave me these instructions.

Check the fluid first and make sure the reservoir is full. If it is not full fill it, then lift the front off the ground and turn the wheels lock to lock 40 times to work the air out. When mine failed I could get the wheels to turn strait by lifting the front with the loader. I had a cylinder fail on mine.

If that does not work then the problem is either with the cylinders or the steering valve.
There are two checks to do.

1.) Swap the lines to the cylinder and see if it fails in the same direction. If the steering fails in the opposite direction then it is the valve. If it fails in the same direction a cylinder is bad.

2.) Block one of the ports on the right side of the valve (this is if the ports are facing you. What is That Valve in the Pressure Port For? - Midwest Steering ). If the steering works in that direction then you have a bad cylinder.