frozen gears

We had an A on the farm that would do this once in a while. One day it happened and I went to get some tools to remove the transmission cover (much easier than on a 350). By the time I got back, dad had fixed it by just playing with the shift lever. Eventually I got so I could do that and I think my younger brother did as well.

On the business of pulling the TA lever to make it shift easier, linkage from the clutch to the TA is supposed to effectively do the same thing. Pulling the TA only makes a difference if the linkage is out of adjustment. I have known of people that habitually pulled the TA lever to shift for years, with no evident additional problems from doing it.

The single biggest factor here is tractors that have done loader work for the past 40 to 60 years. You go out and do one hour of loader work, count your shifts, multiply that out to a 12 hour day, for even 50 days per year out of the past 50 years. Compare that to the tractor that never saw a loader, and in a days plowing, disking or baling, probably only shifted couple dozen times per day. Loader tractors are the answer.

I think domestic harmony was strained a bit, but it looks like Tom still supports the tractor idea. This is what happens to a country boy, who decides not to farm, marries a city girl, they build a house on 45 acres of the family farm. He leaves her home to raise a family and tend the 45 acres with a father in law as advisor. I'm just teasing her a bit, she is up for it. But can't you just imagine having job, and coming home to a good better half with all these toys, and the ideas to go with them.

You have to build that end so it is close to being a rectangle as it was when new. The aprox. size is about 5/16 x 5/8 inch. It should nicely fill the notch in the shifting rail. I like to build the lever just a bit over size with weld and then grind it enough to give smooth shifting. It is almost a perfect rectangle with slightly rounded corners.

The likely hood of you finding another shift lever in good shape is not great. 45 years ago we were rebuilding those on loader tractors every 5 years. Even the tractors that never had loaders will be worn by now. Most guys figure they are the first to have this problem, not so, I'll bet my dad had done a couple before I was 16.

Hugh, Tom wants to know if there's any way to find a length as well as the measurements you gave? His assumption is that it is worn in length as well, but how to figure how much more length you need?

Thanks!
Diana

If you have it a bit too long it wont move freely from one rail to the next. It's kind of a trial and error type thing. as I said before build it a bit oversize both thickness and length, then grind to make it right. It is a good idea to try it several times as you do the grinding. It will spoil 2 or 3 hours on you.

I hope I have made this clear, if you have question don't hesitate to ask.

Bob

Bob, would this apply if the TA wasn't in use at the time?

Thanks!

There is a pin crosswise that holds the lever in place. Knock the pin out to remove the lever. Then use a pry bar to pop the forks all back into neutral. The notch in each fork should be in line, centered. Reinstall the lever and you are back in business.

Lee, when I run my tractor, knowing how hard parts are to get, I am very careful about shifting. We had a guy here putting sand down for a new pad we were having put on the driveway and he was too lazy to shovel (even though we paid him "labor")

He asked to use the tractor, which I tried to discourage by telling him it was low on fuel but he checked the fuel!! I'm a softy and said to go ahead and use it then. I believe he didn't press down all the way on the clutch and didn't wait for the gear to disengage before he shifted to another gear.
Sorta ticks me off, but I learned a lesson and that is how to say NO!
:)

Since hubby is right "this time" I think I'm going to beg for him to do the deed. :)

Diana

Thanks!

I copied and pasted this and will give it to hubby. He's good at welding and making things.
:)