IH 1660 combine

Playing musical chairs with the combine heads today. Pulled the header cart up to the north side of the drive. Grabbed the header trailer with 820 head and staged it to go on the south side of the drive. Plan was to pull the combine out, drop the corn head on the cart, turn around and pull the 820 off the trailer and put the combine back in the shed with the 820 on it. Got that all done and fired up the combine. Slip it into gear and wait for the howl...it has a hydraulic leak I have not been able to find. But no howl. I figured I would have to top off the hydro but I like to make sure everything works first. Not getting a peep out of that pump. Had someone work thru the gears while I stood underneath...nothing visibly moving in any linkage. Got me a little puzzled. Still in accountant mode, need to shift into mechanic mode. I checked the fluid in the reservoir and it has leaked down to the top of the filter. But the pump should still try to come on...just make a racket. It was fine when I put it in there. This thing doesn't have a low fluid shutoff does it? Either that or something has maybe gone askew in the linkage? I have a hard time believing it is a pump issue. It drove in there fine in November.

Thing is, it could be me. I get so fried during busy season that I may be just not shifting it right. But I think I am. Pretty darn certain, in fact. If anyone has any suggestions...appreciated. I hate to take a car hauler to pick up a combine head. They go on fine but getting it off is an issue.

Are you sure the transmission is fully engaged? Some times trash and cobs will stack up on top of the transmission preventing the shift lever from fully stroking and going into gear. Rats-Squirrels can move trash around amazingly fast. Clean the top of the trans off.


Beagle

Are we talking the linkage in the cab or in the back by the pump? I am going to have to look in the manual to see where the linkage is in the rear. Seems like there shoui ld be some movement back there but nothing. I guess start at that end and work back.

The gearshift has two cables running down to the transmission. The hydro lever has one cable going back to the pump, off the back end of the engine.

I am guessing from your use of "down" that the trans is directly below the shifter? But isn't there a lever of sort back by the pump that moves when you shift? I was thinking that was it. I know this has gotten stuck in the past but it has been a few years and I am not seeing anything I recognize.

My 1660 is a late one with Cummins engine, angled auger in bin. Maybe there's a difference in the ground drive mechanism, but I doubt it. I hadn't thought of that, but yes, the transmission is about straight below the shifter, or where you sit. One cable selects which shifter rail you want, the other does the shifting. You have to be down in behind and between a tire and the machine to observe movement, on the right side. The hydro lever action is clearly visible from up top, off the back end of the engine, if I'm remembering correctly. I can't imagine why yours would be much different.

Way too many pages of mind numbing numbers, ridiculous "improvements" in the forms, and unhappy customers has undoubtedly taken it's toll!

Thanks Bob! Good advice as always. I will get on it and see can I figure it out.

does the throat go up .check to see if a drive coupler came off