IH 656D - TA issues cont.

On my TA, per the IH service manual, I adjusted the linkage, which was very out of adjustment. The TA still shows no signs of working. I drove around and believe the TA clutch is working because the tractor will free wheel downhill with the TA engaged, but I can't get any change in speed. On the direct side, the tractor does not free wheel. I am thinking that the sun gears or planet gears are frozen. Thoughts?

Regards, Tip

Based on your statement that the TA is properly adjusted, with the cover off, can you see if the direct drive clutch on the front of the planetary is disengaging? If so, I think that with the transmission in neutral you should be able to rotate the planetary in one direction with slight pressure on a pry bar. If you can, then you know that the direct clutch is releasing, therefore the TA should function (planetary and sun gears doing the gear reduction) or the tractor should stop (over-running clutch slipping). Because you say the tractor free wheels, I’m going to guess that this clutch is releasing.

That leaves the planetary carrier as the culprit. I agree that as you suspect, a gear or gears are locked up preventing the gear reduction from happening. There may be something jamming the gears, or a failed gear or bearing preventing the planetary gears from rotating as they should.

Good luck, sounds like you will probably be splitting the old girl and doing some TA work. My 2 cents…

1. I can visually see the direct drive clutch releasing. The TA linkage was adjusted per service manual and then I double checked the direct drive clutch clearance - at .035.

2. I adjusted the linkage yesterday and drove the tractor around. I am going to recheck the linkage and make sure nothing moved around. While its open, I am going to put a pry bar on her and see if I can turn it - gently....

3. I too am guessing that a tractor split is in my future. I am probably going to run the tractor through haying season as is and then split her late fall. There are a couple of gears that are a little noisy, so I may be doing more than just the TA.

Thanks again for your help.

Regards, Tip

Regards, Tip

My guess, and I am an IH rookie here, is that one or more planet gears in the TA are frozen so even though the clutch works, it still functions as if it were in "direct" mode. The freewheel is a function of the overruning clutch, which I believe would still function if the sun gears or planet gears were frozen.

I just drove the tractor more and it does not slow down with the TA engaged and I am pretty darn sure the TA is engaging because it freewheels.

Thanks for your help.
Tip

I'm still thinking on your TA problem...