Farmall M (LOCKED REAR END)

Jeff Hostler · Sep 1, 2008

does anybody know how to get the rear end unlocked. we tried pulling it and that didnt work.

GA Dave · Sep 1, 2008

Could it be possible the transmission is in two gears at once? David...........

GA Dave · Sep 1, 2008

Or brakes locked? David.........

Hugh MacKay · Sep 2, 2008

Jeff: I'm not sure you can be helped, transmission or rear end locked up, and you towed it then asked questions.

Brownie 450 · Sep 2, 2008

Foreign object---part of a bearing--ball bearing---lodged between the bull gear & case????

kossuth · Sep 2, 2008

DON'T ROCK IT ANYMORE!!! Most likely it sounds like your stuck in two gears. Pull the shifter out and look down in there. You will see the shift forks. Ensure that all three forks are centered. If not or not sure take a long pry bar and you can pop it in or out of gear as needed. It's pretty common for this to happen being the old shifters on these tractors get worn sometimes. There could be a brake or bearing issue causing this as well, but start with the simple easy to check stuff first.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 2, 2008

Does the shifr lever work in all the gears? You mite just have the tranny locked in two gears at the same time.Remove the shift lever by driving out the pin then looking thru the hole check and make sure the rails are all lined up. It mite be easier to align the rails with one wheel jacked up and have the clutch pedal forward to remove any tension in the tranny.

glennster · Sep 2, 2008

here is the pin you need to drive out to get the shifter out. its in the casting on the deck (screwdriver is pointing at it) drive it toward the steering post first, a metal cap will pop out, then drive it back the other way till it comes all the way out. spray it up a little with pb blaster to loosen things up, then the shifter lifts straight up and out. look down in the hole at the shift rails, you need to go in with a long screwdriver to line them up.may help if the clutch is depressed, you may need to gently rock the tractor a little if it is binding.
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mkirsch · Sep 2, 2008

If it happened while you were stopping to shift, then it is stuck in two gears at once. The nub on the end of your shifter lever is worn down and will slip out of place unless you are very careful about how you shift.

Pulling it is a good way to really break it. It's not broke now, but continue to try to force it, and you will break something.

Andy Motteberg · Sep 2, 2008

Drain the oil and take off the transmission cover and see if you can see any part jamming the gears.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 2, 2008

If he's really lucky he hasn't broken anything - yet. If not, he's probably found a good opportunity to spend some money.

IndianaRed · Sep 2, 2008

Has someone been peeing in your Cheerios, Hugh? Seemed like a pretty short, curt response to this guys request for help. Would you rather he not try and just scrap it?

Brian

Red Mist · Sep 2, 2008

(quoted from post at 15:11:40 09/02/08) Has someone been peeing in your Cheerios, Hugh? Seemed like a pretty short, curt response to this guys request for help. Would you rather he not try and just scrap it?

Brian

Brian:
If you don't know Hugh by now, then I don't know where you've been for your last 433 posts. It's just the way he communicates; crusty sounding? - yes, but one of the most helpful guys on the forum. Perfect? - no. But, then - neither are you nor me. Hugh will help you when nobody else can or will.... You'd be smart to lay off that tough ol' man.
mike

GeneMO · Sep 2, 2008

Not to overkill, it's all been written already, but I side with the stuck in two gears at once crowd.

Gene

Jeff Hostler · Sep 2, 2008

No its not stuck in two gears. it will move to all the gears. and the clutch and brakes work.

armand tatro · Sep 2, 2008

I brought a '48 M that was locked (transmisson). Took off gas tank and belt pulley. Found the front trans. bearing was shot and a piece an roller bearing was wedged in a gear preventing it from turning. By the way my tractor could be moved with clutch pedal pushed in. I am proabley leaving out a lot of information and details. I need to look at the I&T manual and it is not here at the house. Armand

IndianaRed · Sep 2, 2008

Mike,

I meant no disrespect to him. I've seen Hugh help others, me included, and I've been grateful. Just seems like the past few days he's been crustier than usual. Not a big deal. But that one seemed aimed at making that guy feel little and stupid for what he'd done. Like there was no hope for his machine. I've been there and that's no fun. But perhaps I overstepped my rookie status here. Apologies to Hugh if I've offended.

Brian

kossuth · Sep 2, 2008

If that's indeed the case then sounds like you gotta figure out where to stick 10+ gallons of gear oil because you're gonna have to pull her down. I'd check brakes and stuff first. Check the easy stuff first first before you rip that tranny top plate off there.

Hugh MacKay · Sep 2, 2008

Brian: I am not a particularly smart guy, certainly no genius. I had to milk my own 100 cows as I was never smart enough to hire a good herdsman. I found it quite easy to hire tractor operators. The result is I did very little wrenching during my farming days. Local mechanics or dealer did most of that way back in those days. Did my share of adjustment and everyday maintenence, but major rebuilds were shipped off to specialists.

I remember the first time a Farmall rear end or transmission locked up on me. It was Farmall 300 and was close to 45 years ago. Didn't take me long to figure out that the old 300 was in two gears, and as soon as I pulled the shift lever it wasn't hard to see why. End of that shift lever somewhat resembled a cole chisel or large screwdriver. Loader work wears the shift lever much faster than field work. It doesn't take a very bright individual to figure out it should not be towed.

I've been around YT for 8 years now, have become a decent judge of who can be helped and who can't be helped. Just a few min ago, Jeff posted and thinks he's ruled out the two gear theory, I'm not satisfied he's right. Then who knows what the tow job might have done. I'm sorry, but I just don't have a lot of patience for shear stupidity.

Roger46 · Sep 2, 2008

You don't want to do what my dad did with his Super H years ago (posted this story a couple weeks ago, also). His locked up while he was working in the field. He shifted to low gear, let out the clutch, and heard this crunching sound. Turns out a piece of a bad bearing had wedged between the teeth of the bull gear and pinion and he managed to knock two teeth out of the bull gear and one out of the pinion. Ended up being an expensive repair. I also have seen people knock a hole in the bottom of the rear end when a bearing ball gets in there. If you jack up one of the wheels, does either one turn? If one turns and the other doesn't you know where the problem is and you will have to open up the transmission to repair. Roger

IndianaRed · Sep 2, 2008

Respectfully, Hugh, inexperience doesn't equate to stupidity. Nor does a lack of ingenuity. You seem to have a knack for things mechanical, this other person is not as blessed as you. But how do you think he feels now seeing you write, for all to see, that you have no patience for his "shear stupidity"? I guess it doesn't matter to you. I just can't understand why you wouldn't opt to say nothing rather than making him feel worse than he probably already does.

No offense meant in any of this. I just thought this forum was meant to help people, not to belittle them.

I won't mention this again. Kind of wish I wouldn've minded my own business now.

Brian

Anonymous-0 · Sep 2, 2008

Hugh you are correct if the rear is locked up pulling it sure will mess more things up cause if indeed the rear is locked up the wheels will slide and just cause more damage.

Janicholson · Sep 2, 2008

If the clutch is let out in neutral does the engine load down and die? If so it may be the stuck in two gears thing. If not (engine runs in neutral clutch out) then it will need to be taken apart. Top cover first to see what is wrong. Broken gears, bad bearings etc. A good used rear half may be much cheaper and less labor than rebuilding worn junked trans/diff. JimN

Hugh MacKay · Sep 3, 2008

Brian: It doesn't matter how inexperienced one is, when something mechanical doesn't want to turn, best to find out the reason before trying to force it. He may have started off with something very simple to fix, and has now turned it into a major fix by towing the tractor.

I may be harsh, however my harshness is not near as hard as the assault on one's pocket book at the parts counter. Old tractors are an interesting hobby, doesn't need to be particularly expensive. Having said that, it's my firm belief that costly unnessary fix has drove more folks from the hobby than crusty folks like myself have.

Red Mist · Sep 3, 2008

(quoted from post at 17:30:55 09/02/08) No its not stuck in two gears. it will move to all the gears. and the clutch and brakes work.

Then you ought to go back and re-read what Brownie 450 told you. You say you've eliminated every other possibility...... mike

Hugh MacKay · Sep 3, 2008

Mike: you just never know how long that object may have been moving around in there. Could have been years, could have been since the tow job.

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