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changing gears while driving on ford 4000 and 4600

F

forgotteneverything

New User
I"m looking at buying a Ford 4000 or 4600 and am hearing different things from different people about whether one can or can"t change gears while driving, or whether if you want to drive in high 4th gear, you need to start in that gear. Or is that precisiely what you shouldn"t do?

Any opinions?
Thanks.
Please do let me know if I"m repeating a previous discussion
 
Many older tractors were built with an auxiliary trans that had constant mesh gears, and a primary with synchros so that you could run through the gears and not have to slip the clutch starting off. As with heavy trucks which are usually shifted without the clutch, most tractors, with practice and under the right conditions can be easily shifted while rolling and using the clutch. I do this frequently with my Ford 960, and the operators manual for my Ford 9000 recommends starting in seven and shifting to eight on the fly.
 
The Ford 8x2 'crashbox' is a constant mesh, sliding collar transmission. Except for the fact that it has a single countershaft it functions ~almost~ exactly like a Fuller RoadRanger in a heavy truck. The main difference is that the RoadRanger has even 'splits' in ratio between each gear and the FOrd 8x2 does not... it's got some fairly even splits and some very wild splits. If you can master what and where those splits are and keep momentum then you can certainly shift the 8x2 on the fly without any worry.
There's a LOT of them got gears jammed at them every day for thousands and thousands of hours.
Keep oil in it and water out of it are the biggest concerns with that transmission. It was one of the best ever built.

Rod
 
They are not synced so its not like shifting a car. Downshifts require double clutching which is difficult with hand throttle, upshifts you just have to rev match so it slides into gear.

A foot throttle makes this a lot easier.
 
Might depend on gears and transmissions. On 8 speed 4000 and 5000 always shifted in gear, for get exact gear as been many a year but with a load like a wagon would start out in low range and then shift to high range that was 6th (that is where i cannot remember the primary gear that just moved the hi-lo range lever to get to sixth and then when you got going good go from 6th to 8th. That was an easy shift, from 7th to 8th is harder but it can be done, reason it is harder is it is not a direct pull from one gear to the next but had to either go in a u shap or a z shape that took more to get the lever aligned. You normally would only shift like that on the road and not do any on go shifting in field but just starting in gear you are wanting to use. Down shifting on the go from 8 to 7 is what is hard but can be done but to go lower about have to stop. With a load it would be impossible to start in high gear that is 4-H or 8th. Hauled wagons many a mile like that, retired now tho.
 
Untill you get used to your tractor, You should start out in the gear you need for power or speed.Unlike a car or truck.
After you get used to it you will find that sometimes you can shift up or down while moving.
Yes you can start out in high gear. Don't ride with your foot on the clutch and let it out smothly. Good luck
 
I have a 4600 and typically start in 6th and shift to 7th then 8th while moving. Otherwise, I stop before shifting. 8th (or high 4th as you call it) is a pretty high ratio to start out in... especially if you have a load behind you.
 
(quoted from post at 04:30:40 08/04/11) Please do let me know if I"m repeating a previous discussion
Click to expand...

Don't worry.....someone sure will...and not even attempt to answer your ??? when they do.... I don't have a ford, but usually start in 4th gear......... Took me a lot longer than I care to admit to get shifting 1st thru third right and I can go down from 4th thru 1st. Even get into 4th on the go once in a blue moon.............. get the tractor and enjoy it.

Dave
 
(quoted from post at 07:07:01 08/04/11)ypically start in 6th and shift to 7th then 8th while moving. Otherwise, I stop before shifting. 8th (or high 4th as you call it) is a pretty high ratio to start out in... especially if you have a load behind you.
Click to expand...

Same here. 7th and 8th are steep gears to try and get a heavy load rolling in unless you lug the motor down a lot and ride the clutch. Its easier to start out in 5th or 6th and work your way up.
 
Most tractors are made to shift from a dead stop. Now if say you have the Farmall H or M ya you got them going in 4th then carefully shifted to 5th. Same thing can apply with any tractor that has a very high road gear but you have to learn to do it with out grinding the gears to much. Now my Ford 841 you only shift from a dead stop but I do not know the 4600 all that well or should I say it has been a year since I drove the one I do work on from time to time but if I remember right we start in any gear from a dead stop and do not shift it
 
Yes you can shift it on the go, but to do it right you have to either double clutch or float the gears. If you try to shift it like a syncro tranny you will grind the crap out of it.
 
They've all got a little differet personality to them in terms of how they shift depending on the clutch and what oil in in the box... but I've put several thousand hours on a 4000 and 5610 with those transmissions. Generally both would shift UP with a single clutch movement if you take the appropriate pause while shifting. Downshifts require a double clutch movement. I always found 7-6 downshift about the worst. I generally never tried the range shift either as 5th is slow enough for starting most loads away. When you know these transmissions well enough they shift BETTER than a syncro and quicker.

Rod
 
Well, my 1975 Ford 5000 row crop diesel is easy to shift up while moving.

I can also shift down under a load, but takes a little more practice. DOUG
 
Yeah, now that you mention it I remember I did used to single clutch the 420 when I was a kid. wasn't too bad but 7-8 I would always grind it a little though.
 
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