I just bought a Farmall 544 wide front and got a really good deal on it because it looks rough and had some small minor issues with it... but now that i have it home i noticed that the handle on the left didnt do anything when i pulled it back or pushed it forward. From my understanding this handle is to engage/disengage the TA in the tractor. My question is, will it hurt if i run the tractor the way it currently is?
- Thread starter Tom122047
- Start date
John G. Hasler
Member
You can run it as it is but you might want to get a copy of the manual and adjust the TA and clutch linkages. It's possible that misadjustment is all that is wrong (though it's more likely that the TA is shot).
Janicholson
Well-known Member
If it is hooked up at the linkage, and the TA one way clutch is bad, the tractor will stop moving. If the TA front direct drive clutch (not the engine clutch) is bad, the tractor will be in TA all the time. this is identified by the tractor going slower in each trans gear than it would in direct (TA lever ahead) and it will roll forward in gear with the engine stopped and engine clutch let out (engaged)
If the linkage is way out of adjustment, or the TA direct clutch release bearing is not releasing the fingers on the TA, it will be in direct drive all the time. It can be driven this way for basically ever, It will be hard to shift if stopped going up a hill, but it will work.
Repairing it is valuable because TA systems are great, and last for a long time.
Proper use is to use it often and move the lever like you were racing!! Fast pull into TA, and near release into Direct. This approach prevents slipping the clutch in the TA, and it will last. Jim
If the linkage is way out of adjustment, or the TA direct clutch release bearing is not releasing the fingers on the TA, it will be in direct drive all the time. It can be driven this way for basically ever, It will be hard to shift if stopped going up a hill, but it will work.
Repairing it is valuable because TA systems are great, and last for a long time.
Proper use is to use it often and move the lever like you were racing!! Fast pull into TA, and near release into Direct. This approach prevents slipping the clutch in the TA, and it will last. Jim
You need to figure out if you're in Direct or TA before you decide anything.
If the tractor is in TA it will freewheel (coast) out of control going down hills. This is extremely dangerous because the brakes on these tractors aren't that great. Also the extreme speeds experienced by the components in the transmission when this happens can cause them to fly apart. The problem needs to be fixed.
If the tractor is in Direct, it will be okay to drive it as-is, basically forever.
The test is to take the tractor out and drive down a hill with it. Make sure you have good enough brakes to stop the tractor first. If it coasts you're in TA and need to fix the problem.
If the tractor is in TA it will freewheel (coast) out of control going down hills. This is extremely dangerous because the brakes on these tractors aren't that great. Also the extreme speeds experienced by the components in the transmission when this happens can cause them to fly apart. The problem needs to be fixed.
If the tractor is in Direct, it will be okay to drive it as-is, basically forever.
The test is to take the tractor out and drive down a hill with it. Make sure you have good enough brakes to stop the tractor first. If it coasts you're in TA and need to fix the problem.
Janicholson
Well-known Member
No. With respect here is the way.
With the tractor shut off, in first gear on concrete or flat hard ground with TA forward (ahead), push on the top of the rear wheels in the forward direction trying to roll the tractor.
If it rolls for 2 feet or more it is in TA reduction meaning the direct clutch is not working and it is in freewheel.
If it rolls 6 inches and stops firmly and cannot be pushed, it is in direct drive, and it is a linkage or TA release bearing issue. Jim
With the tractor shut off, in first gear on concrete or flat hard ground with TA forward (ahead), push on the top of the rear wheels in the forward direction trying to roll the tractor.
If it rolls for 2 feet or more it is in TA reduction meaning the direct clutch is not working and it is in freewheel.
If it rolls 6 inches and stops firmly and cannot be pushed, it is in direct drive, and it is a linkage or TA release bearing issue. Jim
If you did not have it under a load when you tried the TA, you may not have noticed a difference in speed. Put a load on it and then pull (snap) it back and it should slow and pull harder. On flat hard ground and no load, the change may be so slow as to be unnoticable. Same goes for shifting back to direct drive... squeeze the handle and let it spring forward on it's own... do not "baby" the TA lever.
RedRoundhead
Member
Lever forward is direct drive. The 544 is a "mechanical" TA, and will freewheel down a hill, whether the TA is good OR bad. It will make no difference whatsoever if the TA is bad, and you decide not to fix it; it will not wreck anything else.
The 06, and 66, and 86 series use "hydraulic" TA"s; they do not freewheel down a hill, unless the TA is bad. 56 series uses a mechanical TA as well. Same as the letter series and the early numbered series.
Best of luck! A working TA is nice to have, tho!
The 06, and 66, and 86 series use "hydraulic" TA"s; they do not freewheel down a hill, unless the TA is bad. 56 series uses a mechanical TA as well. Same as the letter series and the early numbered series.
Best of luck! A working TA is nice to have, tho!
Clarification: They will ONLY freewheel down the hill IF the TA lever is back.
This is a 544 with the newer "over center" style TA lever, so there is no letting it "spring forward." You must push it all the way forward, or pull it all the way back.
A TA gives 33% speed reduction, which is VERY noticeable. You can't pull a working TA and not notice it. In 1st gear it will feel like you almost completely stopped.
Pulling the lever with no change means one of three things:
1. TA linkage is VERY out of adjustment. Either it's too loose, not releasing the clutch for TA drive, or too tight, not letting the clutch engage direct drive.
2. TA linkage is disconnected.
3. TA clutch is completely shot, and not doing anything at all.
This is a 544 with the newer "over center" style TA lever, so there is no letting it "spring forward." You must push it all the way forward, or pull it all the way back.
A TA gives 33% speed reduction, which is VERY noticeable. You can't pull a working TA and not notice it. In 1st gear it will feel like you almost completely stopped.
Pulling the lever with no change means one of three things:
1. TA linkage is VERY out of adjustment. Either it's too loose, not releasing the clutch for TA drive, or too tight, not letting the clutch engage direct drive.
2. TA linkage is disconnected.
3. TA clutch is completely shot, and not doing anything at all.
Janicholson
Well-known Member
I believe there is one other pesky thing. If it seems to shift on its own as you lift the implement(when in direct drive (Lever forward) and pulling tillage implements, then it will very likely need the direct clutch rebuilt. Probably both at the same time. There may be an adjustment on the clutch, but as I said I have not seen the tractor. Getteing a repair manual is a good idea. Jim
You should be fine in direct. Just tread carefully for a while just in case, until you're sure it's going to stay in direct.
Replacing the TA (direct) clutch is really not a huge deal but you do have to split the tractor. It's certainly a lot less involved than replacing the whole TA. Unfortunately it sounds like your TA clutch is OK.
Replacing the TA (direct) clutch is really not a huge deal but you do have to split the tractor. It's certainly a lot less involved than replacing the whole TA. Unfortunately it sounds like your TA clutch is OK.
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