# Steering a '22 MF 6718S over CANBUS

**URL:** <https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955>\
**Category:** Success stories\
**Created:** [14 March 2023 11:29 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955 "2023-03-14T11:29:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/andyinv)\
**Post date:** [14 March 2023 11:29 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/1 "2023-03-14T11:29:09Z")

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So, finally getting time to write this one up. While look at a friend’s CVX240, I couldn’t help but admire the nice shiny new 6718S sitting next to it. Very tidy machine, jumped up in the cab, nice monitor… “aye, it’s steer ready”. Me: “oh, do you have RTK etc?”. Owner: “no, no unlocks for anything, it’s just ready”.

Well…

I had that AOG All-In-One board just sitting there, so time to go browse the [CANBUS](https://discourse.agopengps.com/c/hardware/canbus/33) pages and see what all it entailed. I’d already read Tony’s excellent [CANBUS for beginners](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/canbus-for-beginners-super-simple/3814) thread and had a feeling this wouldn’t be that difficult.

Was a bit more than I expected, so here’s how I got it working. First, if you haven’t already, go check out how I ordered and built my Micro v2.4 board [here](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/micro-v2-4-a-build-thread/10623). That’ll pretty much get you to the right place where I started with a board that worked for hydraulics, but wasn’t in the least bit useful for CANBUS.

If you’re wanting to follow the buy/build process, the AOG board wiki is [here](https://github.com/farmerbriantee/AgOpenGPS_Boards/wiki) and while under construction, there’s some great info in there.

But my board, as it had arrived, wasn’t quite CANBUS-ready. There were no CANBUS transceivers on it, and I was advised that the Teensy was CAN-capable, I just didn’t know what I needed. A bit of help from the team on Telegram pointed me towards [these](https://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDetail/579-MCP2562T-E-SN). I ordered 40, as that was the minimum amount I could get without paying postage. Aye, that’s smart thinking eh…

They arrived, and damn, they’re SMALL! Not a little daunting with the soldering iron, but with a fine tip, tinning the contacts first, they actually went on no bother! Yes, that’s a pen-tip, for scale…

 ![image](https://discourse.agopengps.com/uploads/default/original/2X/b/b2883f0c5cbcc2f94f114dbda502752c2dfa678c.jpeg)

So, now I had a board that was supposedly ready for CANBUS. But I wanted to test if I could speak CAN to the tractor and query its steering system. I had already built a CAN-sniffer using an Arduino Nano and an MCP2515 chip, so I had to find the correct jack on the MF to plug it into, make sure I could receive the right PGNs etc. Long story short, you want the one that’s on the outside of the tractor, X184 it’s labelled as - the one lower at the front is X888 (engine/transmission etc) and X183 (nearest the seat) is where you’d find the joystick/hydraulics I believe.

 ![image](https://discourse.agopengps.com/uploads/default/original/2X/0/0d2512a7a317515658a2f7eaceb35970072b6315.jpeg)

The green wire will go to CAN-L (low, the green grass is low) and the yellow to CAN-H (high, the yellow sun is high).

I used my Nano to ensure I could speak to the bus, and I could - I used [this sketch](https://github.com/MechanicTony/AOG_CAN_Uno_Nano/blob/main/Valtra/Valtra%20Tractor%20Simultor/Valtra_Tractor_Simulator_Engage.ino) from Tony to engage auto-steer (I’ll document this later how I built the scanner, but it’s largely the same as in Tony’s thread). Fly-by-wire steering a brand new tractor… so that’s fun. And best of all, if you grab the steering wheel, the safeties kick in, auto-steer disengages, and you have to dis/re-engage the toggle switch again to resume auto-steer. In other words, same as if it was factory!

Here’s how that worked out:

[![](https://discourse.agopengps.com/uploads/default/original/2X/b/b95be8367b06bf930373f1a0e2202db4b1c1717d.jpeg "Steering a 2022 MF7718S through the CANBUS") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvymsvd0z1c)

So, I knew I could speak to the CANBUS, and I had my AGO board ready to go with the transceivers on it - I loaded Tony’s CANBUS-controlling [Teensy code](https://github.com/MechanicTony/AOG_CAN_Teensy4.1) to the board and… nothing. Hmmm.

Fortunately, Tony pointed me in the right direction - his code is written for his own CAN board (which I’m currently building), and needed some tweaks to work with the AIO as he uses different pinouts for the Teensy (and different LED indicators etc). I made those tweaks and am going to try and keep my branch up to date with his changes as he makes them.

You can get my AIO-changed code [here](https://github.com/lansalot/AOG_CAN_Teensy4.1/tree/AIOChanges).

3D-printed out a box…

 ![image](https://discourse.agopengps.com/uploads/default/original/2X/2/20c8f5d447981302a0549fc0236c2be79541b6e9.jpeg)

Made up my loom. Two wires going from CAN1-H/L to the X184 connector as above. Two wires (fused) going to the 3-pin D-connector in the tractor for power. Two wires going to a temporary steer-engage switch until I get the joystick sussed and … we are steering on AOG!

[![](https://discourse.agopengps.com/uploads/default/original/2X/a/ac3f0192e6bbc5d55ac602052ff8d178b1c1a852.jpeg "Massey Ferguson 6718S steering with AgOpenGPS via CANBUS") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj91qnRydks)

And, that’s about it. Call it around £300 for a used tablet, around £400 in parts for a board and a bit of time to make up. Zero-subscriptions, zero unlocks. Win !

The next task is to integrate auto-steer with the joystick; at the moment, if I engage auto-steer while recording headland management, it spots that I’ve engaged it - but when I play that back, it doesn’t engage it. I guess that’s because it’s essentially clever enough to spot I pressed the button, but it also knows the tractor doesn’t really have auto-steer, so it won’t engage it until unlocks are paid for. No matter, we’ll trap the joystick button direct in time.

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**Author:** ![davidroberts30](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@davidroberts30](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/davidroberts30)\
**Post date:** [14 March 2023 15:30 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/2 "2023-03-14T15:30:05Z")

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Sweet😎

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**Author:** ![Arek84](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Arek84](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/Arek84)\
**Post date:** [14 March 2023 19:18 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/3 "2023-03-14T19:18:10Z")

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Very nice!  
What tablet holder are you using?

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**Author:** ![andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/andyinv)\
**Post date:** [14 March 2023 19:49 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/4 "2023-03-14T19:49:54Z")

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Not my machine, but I believe it’s a rammount

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**Author:** ![ferdi](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/e19adc/32.png) [@ferdi](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/ferdi)\
**Post date:** [16 March 2023 10:55 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/5 "2023-03-16T10:55:09Z")

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Hi, very nice build.  
Is the tractor really autosteer ready with the metal GPS holder bracket on top or just fitted with quick-steer?

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**Author:** ![andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/andyinv)\
**Post date:** [16 March 2023 12:26 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/6 "2023-03-16T12:26:40Z")

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It had quick-steer and I believe there’s a bracket on top - but no unlocks or anything like that.

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**Author:** ![ferdi](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/e19adc/32.png) [@ferdi](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/ferdi)\
**Post date:** [16 March 2023 16:15 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/7 "2023-03-16T16:15:19Z")

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As far as I know, there is nothing to be unlocked. This said a topcon dealer about our 2018 MF 7718  
Maybe they use other PGNs for the engage knob now? The Armrest is a little bit different than ours.

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**Author:** ![andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/andyinv)\
**Post date:** [16 March 2023 17:51 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/8 "2023-03-16T17:51:29Z")

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Not expecting to need any unlocks, just haven’t got into that bus yet.

A

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**Author:** ![Hansdampf](https://discourse.agopengps.com/user_avatar/discourse.agopengps.com/hansdampf/32/8751_2.png) [@Hansdampf](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/Hansdampf)\
**Post date:** [7 April 2023 09:17 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/9 "2023-04-07T09:17:40Z")

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Nice project, did you also use Tony’s Agopengps Canbus Version, in order to incorporate the hitch height via isobus? And is CAN 1 or CAN 2 connected to the steering bus of your tractor?

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**Author:** ![andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/andyinv)\
**Post date:** [7 April 2023 10:03 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/10 "2023-04-07T10:03:09Z")

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I used my AIO board with some modifications to Tony’s code. Used CAN1. However I’ve now built Tony’s board and am looking to swap this machine over to it

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**Author:** ![andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/andyinv)\
**Post date:** [7 April 2023 10:03 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/11 "2023-04-07T10:03:42Z")

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Haven’t incorporated hitch height with my AIO but I will with this one.

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**Author:** ![Hansdampf](https://discourse.agopengps.com/user_avatar/discourse.agopengps.com/hansdampf/32/8751_2.png) [@Hansdampf](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/Hansdampf)\
**Post date:** [7 April 2023 10:19 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/12 "2023-04-07T10:19:09Z")

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Why? What’s the benefit you are seeking here? you’ll need another pcb for gps?

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**Author:** ![andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/andyinv)\
**Post date:** [21 April 2023 09:07 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/13 "2023-04-21T09:07:35Z")

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![image](https://discourse.agopengps.com/uploads/default/original/2X/5/56783400b6264d3da1a7ac74d79a9c5f2e78e3dc.jpeg)

Designed my own case, no extra PCB needed 😉

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**Author:** ![Hansdampf](https://discourse.agopengps.com/user_avatar/discourse.agopengps.com/hansdampf/32/8751_2.png) [@Hansdampf](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/Hansdampf)\
**Post date:** [25 April 2023 04:51 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/14 "2023-04-25T04:51:07Z")

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What kind of configs need to be used with your changed code if i want to run Dual? 1.13 or 1.32?

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**Author:** ![andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/andyinv)\
**Post date:** [26 April 2023 21:06 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/15 "2023-04-26T21:06:17Z")

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I don’t think Dual is supported on the CANBUS branch I’m afraid - I’m just taking Tony’s base and AIO-ifying it, but even with the CANBUS board, I believe it’s not supported.

edit: yes it is supported!

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**Author:** ![jakobh](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@jakobh](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/jakobh)\
**Post date:** [24 June 2023 08:12 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/16 "2023-06-24T08:12:06Z")

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I read about the x230 plug  
Is the x184 plug the correct one?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/andyinv)\
**Post date:** [25 June 2023 06:46 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/17 "2023-06-25T06:46:07Z")

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Yup x184

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**Author:** ![MattesBua](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/bcef8e/32.png) [@MattesBua](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/MattesBua)\
**Post date:** [2 August 2023 13:15 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/18 "2023-08-02T13:15:07Z")

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Looks awesome  
Do you know if the firmware could also work on the V2.5 AIO board?  
I somehow can’t get an ethernet connection to the AIO board with the CAN frimware. There’s output in the serial monitor of the Arduino ide after flashing tho. Has anybody with more experience an idea what’s wrong?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@andyinv](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/andyinv)\
**Post date:** [2 August 2023 20:53 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/19 "2023-08-02T20:53:56Z")

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The firmware does work on All-In-One, that’s what I was using at first up there. Firmware here: [GitHub - lansalot/AOG\_CAN\_Teensy4.1 at AIOChanges](https://github.com/lansalot/AOG_CAN_Teensy4.1/tree/AIOChanges)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MattesBua](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/bcef8e/32.png) [@MattesBua](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/MattesBua)\
**Post date:** [3 August 2023 15:43 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955/20 "2023-08-03T15:43:53Z")

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Uploaded that firmware  
I managed to get an ethernet connection, but for some reason in AgIO the f9p doesn’t connect. I connected the f9p with an extra usb cable so all modules (steering, imu and gps) are shown green in AgIO. When uploading the normal non-CAN firmware everything connects and works without problems. Also the imu doesn’t seem to have any output, atleast no IMU fix is shown in the program.

Is there something I’m missing? Maybe some settings that need to be changed? Or is the pinout of the new AIO boards different to older ones and the firmware needs to be changed?

[Next page](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/steering-a-22-mf-6718s-over-canbus/11955.md?page=2)