International 574 Hydraulic problem - Suspect new pump

Hello, my international 574 has poor hydraulics. I'm just trying to make sure i correctly diagnose the problem before replacing the pump if needed.

My main complaint is the steering being very slow to the point of almost unusable. Curiously when i start it, the first 5 mins are much better, but then it gets worse to the point where i can basically not steer it unless i'm moving already.

The hydraulics have been quite slow for a while. If i hitch it up to my log splitter, it runs it but quite slowly. Also the lift arms are slow but its a consistent speed so i doubt its air in the system.

I have flushed the transmission fluid and replaced it all. I have also cleaned the gauze and replaced the filter etc. Fluid levels are fine

Does this sound like i need to replace the pump or are there other things i should check first?

This post was edited by RW-IH574 on 09/22/2023 at 12:34 am.

There is no gauze in there or should not be. The filter is inside the cover on the left side on the MCV. Once changed if there is no change get back to me. IT sounds like the valve is tuck. The cap screws in on the bottom of the MCv then you will need a pair of Needle nose pliers to pull it out the bottom. IF you can not get it out with a helper put a 5gallon pail under the hole start tractor be ready to shut it off as soon as it starts this will push the valve out then wrap some emory cloth around a stick you can put in the chuck of a drill and polish the hole some then try it. I always do a quick start to flush out whatever I can in the MCV from the polishing then put back together and see if it helps. Local dealer told me to do this once when the valve was sticking. Solved the problem on our 674. Have a pail handy for the filter change also. I don't bother spend time digging the o-ring out of the MCV for the filter since oil is draining all the while you fool around with that. IF they are leaking I do not otherwise though.

I have never worked on your type of tractor, but generally speaking, I would suspect an issue with the relief valve before replacing the pump.

(quoted from post at 02:57:44 09/22/23) There is no gauze in there or should not be. The filter is inside the cover on the left side on the MCV. Once changed if there is no change get back to me. IT sounds like the valve is tuck. The cap screws in on the bottom of the MCv then you will need a pair of Needle nose pliers to pull it out the bottom. IF you can not get it out with a helper put a 5gallon pail under the hole start tractor be ready to shut it off as soon as it starts this will push the valve out then wrap some emory cloth around a stick you can put in the chuck of a drill and polish the hole some then try it. I always do a quick start to flush out whatever I can in the MCV from the polishing then put back together and see if it helps. Local dealer told me to do this once when the valve was sticking. Solved the problem on our 674. Have a pail handy for the filter change also. I don't bother spend time digging the o-ring out of the MCV for the filter since oil is draining all the while you fool around with that. IF they are leaking I do not otherwise though.

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Thanks, i'll try that first. Do you know where i can locate any diagrams or anything so i know i am taking out the correct part. I'm not very familiar with tractors.

thanks, i'll give this a shot

When you take the filter off there is a screen at the front then the filter wash that screen out in some diesel fuel or other suitable cleaner. Then dry out some with a rag. The bottom of the MCV has 2 plugs you want the front one it is the flow divider. If it gets stuck it can divert oil to just the hydraulic circuits or to the steering depending on where it is stuck at. Could also be a broken gasket between the layers in the MCV,though I would not expect that first. You could put a pressure gauge in one of the remote couplers and work the lever .This will tell you if you have any pressure or not. It should be 2500 psi or very close to that. To really test for the pump flow and volume you need a floe rater. They read the pressure and volume as the tractor runs with the circuits working. Steering should be in the 1500 Psi range to be correct. If PTO works then spline is good in clutch if not then probably found your problem. IF PTO works then Nut could have come off shaft at pump letting gear fall off. Again if pressure at remotes then gear is working. Recheck oil level in case it dropped since you put the new oil in and ran it.

See below for photo of IH 54-74 Series MCV valve, your 574 probably doesn't have the FWD/REV option in the upper left corn and that hydraulic port will go to the oil cooler in front of the radiator.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but "gauze" is non-American English for "screen," correct?

(quoted from post at 11:48:27 09/22/23) Correct me if I'm wrong, but "gauze" is non-American English for "screen," correct?

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Yes, sorry to confuse! We do use the word screen too

Ok so i took the flow divider out. It came straight out with no effort at all so i don't think this was the problem. I gave it a polish all the same and put it back in, but it still hasn't solved the problem.

Also, when trying to steer, the rear hitch stops lifting so i guess this is proof that the flow divider is working?

Has anyone got any other suggestions? When i first start the tractor, it works to a degree, but i cannot steer very sharp, but then after a couple of minutes, it stopps working almost entirely.