Mf 203 steering

Just acquired massey ferguson 203 industrial with loader on front. Bought it running but not driving had to replace axle planetary,and one
steering cyl. because of it being broke. Now when I try to turn tractor fluid comes out at top of column right under steering wheel. Tractor still is
very hard to steer but if raised up steers hard at first but then goes rest of the way easily, but when on the ground very hard to steer. Are they a
seal in column and could the loss of the fluid theare be causing the hard steering, it gushes out a lot. Any help would be appreciated.

i had to replace that seal on my 203.not that bad a job.i would think you have to fix all major leaks for it to work.

Do you have to pull instrument panel to do the seal replacement or are theare enough room to do it with it on.also which part of the steering column is the seal located , like is it in the tube that comes up through instrument panel or in the steering box itself. Thanks

You could look at a parts break down at AGCO parts book.

steering wheel,dash, exc. all have to be off the steering shaft. the seal is at the top of the steering box valve cover tube. there is a o ring at the base you might want to replace i did.

My 202 I got working last year for property cleanup is having the same problem with the steering shaft seal. Only came about 5 months or so ago...not used often but got around the issue by wedging an O-ring into the gap...fixing the problem for quite some time afterwards. But in the last couple days that fix is getting shorter and shorter.

The seal on mine is undoubtedly the 50+ yr old original and attempts at removal when it leaked the first time weren't too successful...hence the wedged O-ring. The outer edge of the seal is FIRMLY wedged into place with a layer of patina to ENSURE its wedged.

Any helpful hints? I'm none too keen on potentially making the steering column a smoking fuming chimney by trying to coax it loose with a torch.

Did your 203 steer easily with your seal leaking mine is very hard,thinking my pump might be on its way out but looks like a newer pump

I wouldn't discount the pump just yet.

As long as there is sufficient fluid its fairly easy to steer...no where near as nice as the 1-finger steer my 40yr old dump truck has PS (stock)...but well enough for rapid change. It's just at a point where it looks like a crime scene when it begins to leak...all that red ooze. It's probably lost most of not all the fluid now since I have to muscle it around.

The seal only started to leak after I replaced the hyd lines to the steering cylinders...1 of them was placed as such were it got pinched and tended to slowly ooze fluid during use. Was always a muscle job when trying to maneuver during that time. I guess after having new lines the system was able to keep pressure and so blew out the seal.

Will be awhile before I can get to it. I looked up the AGCO site and it seems the seal is far lower down the tube...with what's being seen up top is a bearing. Won't know for sure until I can pull it apart. Probably do it when the rig is down for a replacement bigger bucket that will tilt back.

EDIT: The seal would have to be replaced anyway and despite the trouble of getting to it to replace is FAR cheaper than replacing the pump...and less troublesome. I'd say that as long as it becomes reasonably easy (easier is better though) then stay with it until//unless the pump really does fail. Ofc if it does that could maybe tie in to the main hydraulics as some have.

Does the seal got to be driven down from the top of the steering column or can it be managed in from the bottom . Just got the seal today and am planning on installing in the next day or two . I am assuming it would go in from the top down but I've been wrong before , do you remember

AGCO is bugging out on me at the moment. When I try to reload the book showing the breakdown of the different sections so I can select STEERING it returns me to the MAKE selection.

From what I saw of the 3 slightly different configs of the 202/203 (each is slightly different based on serial#) the SEAL is below. The dash would have to come off and the tube around the steering shaft unbolted (3 bolts I believe). The O-ring another poster mentioned is the gasket between the tube base and the steering unit while the SEAL itself is on the bottom end of the tube. Definitely make sure its installed the right direction.

What we are seeing at the top is a bearing according to the diagram (I wish it was the seal) unless there is another seal at the very top but none of the 3 variations show one. But from the looks of it...removal/replacement would go alot smoother with the tube removed anyhow. Otherwise a seal wouldn't last long up by the steering wheel if it was the only thing there to keep the shaft steady...it would be destroyed in a few seconds with the inevitable play in the steering shaft even if all parts were 100% new.

When I get around to doing mine I will be doing the disassemble to make double sure. Wish I could help more but until mine's tore into...

the seal must be replaced from bottom of the tube. there is a shield like piece in the bottom of the tube you will see it when you get the seal out.

Okay only just NOW getting around to doing my steering seal. I have the tube off and it LOOKS like I will have to remove the bushing up on top then knock the seal out along with long punch or such?

I couldn't tell if the inner lip was broken up into sections (ie 3 parts with gaps between) to get a punch onto the seal itself.

Install looks reasonably straight forward but will be tricky as hell.