H Shifter Stuck

Help, please, the shift lever on my 1939 Farmall H is stuck in the reverse gear. I've removed the cotter pin and spring, but still can't remove the lever. Do I have to remove the seat and "platform"? If not, how else can I get it unstuck? Thanks for your help.

My 39 H does the same thing.. if you force it into reverse to hard.. the shifter gets worn on the end and lets it go past the notch in the shift forks.. You have to remove the pin that hold the shift lever in the top transmisson housing.. or deck plate if you will.. There are two metal keepers below the bell of the shifter.. Drill a small hole in one side right in the center so that you can use a drift punch to knock out the pin and the other keeper on the opposite side. The pin is only a 1/4 inch in dia. or so. so the punch and hole need to be small.. I could not figure any other way to knock out those metal keepers. or plugs. Once you do this the hole shiter will come out of the top. Now use a large screw driver or pry bar to move the shift forks back in line to put the transmisson in neutral. and you can drop your shifter back on and replace the pin and plugs to hold the pin and you should be back in business.. Next time it happens the hole is already in the keeper plug and all you will need is you punch and hammer. and something to reach down inside and move the shift forks.. Hope this helps.
The first time it did it to me I was in a panic too, thought we were in for a major repair.. Now it is just like the stater hanging up.. just loosen the bolts tap on the starter, roll her forward a little in gear and your off again.. Would not give that tractor away for any money..

Once you get the shifter out, you may want to have a welder build up the ball on the end a little bit, and grind it down to its original size/shape so it fits in the slot better and doesn't slip out again.

Otherwise, you just have to be VERY careful shifting the tractor.

For the other guy's starter problem, you generally just need to put the tractor in 5th and rock it back and forth a little to get the starter to pop free. The whole thing with loosening the bolts is overkill. You can also get the drive end of the starter rebuilt or replaced at a starter shop for a reasonable price, and never have to deal with the problem again.

There is a clutch type drive available for the starters that replace the original, and solve all issues. CaseIH, this site, and others have them. JimN

Craig (and MKirsch), thanks so much--sounds doable to me! I WAS very concerned! Craig, from SN I figure my H was made about August 1939. SN puts it at about 800th made. What about yours? Thanks again