MF 261 steering cylinder removal / rebuild

[Trailboss1]

Hello all, I have a 2-wheel drive, 1996 MF 261 made in Poland that has a leaking steering cylinder. I got a seal kit from the dealer, but ran into a problem when I tried to remove the cylinder. The end of the rod looks nothing like the parts manual, and I can't figure how to release the end of the rod. Actually, the other end of the cylinder also doesn't match the diagram.


The end of the rod in the parts manual is more oval, and the one on the tractor is round. There is no way the retaining pin in the diagram could work on the tractor, and what I have on the tractor looks nothing like the diagram. I'm guessing that you use a nut and washers to pull the retaining pin out of the rod (I already removed the cotter pin from the small hole), but does anyone know what size nut to use? The threads are coarser than all the other bolts on the tractor.

On the other end, it looks like I'll have to remove the snap ring from the large shaft and pry the arm off?

It's discouraging to spend $30 for the MF 261 parts book and find it doesn't match my MF 261 tractor.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Mysfyt]

Sometimes the diagrams don't match but the parts can be correct. Can you measure the seals and see if they match? Do they pass the eyeball test?

Yes, you are correct about removing the pin with a nut and washers/spacer. Can't help you with the thread size and pitch, but maybe someone with a similar MF can weigh in on this.

As far as the other end goes, it looks like if you remove the upper bolt and spread the split with an old screwdriver or chisel, the cylinder should slide off the pin. I think this would be easier than trying to remove it from the the lower pin. Penetrating oil might be your friend here.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[redman135]

Hello trailboss1. just a point on reassembly. If you remove the pivot arm from the pivot then you must have a specific of slack or the power steering will not work, that caught us out when dad did his power steering ram .

 

[byotech]

Trailboss1....I have the same 1996 MF 261 with the same problem as above. Did anybody figure out how to remove the threaded pin for the retaining rod? I thought the pin would be a left handed thread but it is a coarse right thread. Driving me nuts.

 

[Bobstractors100]

Anyone ever figure this one out - same 261 same issue

Thanks

 

[sburns]

im having the same problem with mf 270. i cant remove the smaller pin from the cylinder end.

 

[McDaddy55]

I put a 5/8” nut over the threads and then threaded a 1/2” nut on the rod and it came right out. It was tight at first. But use larger nut or washers because the rod is a little larger below the threads.