Tractor Repair: international 574 steering problem, international 574, tractor salvage

Question
QUESTION: My international 574 diesel has developed no Power steering to the left. Just started doing this and at first the wheels would be locked in the left position if you made a hard left turn. Now anytime you try and turn left it is as though you had manual steering. Everytime to the right it still works properly.

ANSWER: Hello,

  This sounds like a power steering hand pump failure (the control unit driven by the steering wheel.)  A blown seal in the steering cylinder would cause hard steering in both directions.

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QUESTION: now what is the best and most cost effective cure for this problem. I have a minimum of mechanical knowledge. Thanks

Answer
Hello,

  The hand pump is kind of tricky to put back together.  There are things that must be timed properly for it to work correctly, and if not assembled precisely, it will leak.  Unless you have a service manual that shows detailed repair and assembly of the hand pump, I wouldn't recommend trying to fix it.  This is a pretty expensive part to replace, so the most cost effective way is to get a used one from a tractor salvage yard.