2001 TC40D Rabbit/Turtle switch trouble

[crackpot]

I recently read a post about the hi/lo speed selector on the fender being stuck in Low mode. Mine is just the opposite; it started operating only in High after a day of working in saplings,limbs,vines, etc. in both Hi and Lo. Both critters light up when the rocker is flipped in their direction, but no ground speed change. Any advice on where to begin looking would be greatly appreciated.

 

[h10doc]

under the left hand floor board is the switch Unplug it and see if it goes to the rabbit mode only. Also try unpluging the rocker switch on the fender see what that does as well.

 

[lhfarm]

Check out this thread http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ng/81821-tc40da-rabbit-turtle-switch-not.html. Mine was a wiring problem as you will see, but there is good directions for checking out the operation, including the relay.

You didn't say if the tractor starts out in Turtle mode, which is the fail-safe position. If not, I'd suspect the relay is bad.

There are other notes too if you search under "rabbit switch".

 

[jinman]

I recently read a post about the hi/lo speed selector on the fender being stuck in Low mode. Mine is just the opposite; it started operating only in High after a day of working in saplings,limbs,vines, etc. in both Hi and Lo. Both critters light up when the rocker is flipped in their direction, but no ground speed change. Any advice on where to begin looking would be greatly appreciated.

I think you may have a bad HI SHIFT relay. There are two relays that control the shift solenoid in the transmission. The Hi-shift relay latches to provide power to the solenoid when Rabbit is pressed. The Lo-shift relay energizes when the the Turtle switch is pressed and opens the ground path to the Hi-shift relay so it de-energizes. It turns out that the Hi-shift relay's contacts are connected directly to the shift solenoid and are the most likely to be welded into the energized position by the solenoid inducing an internal spark when the relay is opened.

Your problem is indeed unique because it requres power to the solenoid to hold the tractor in Rabbit. That means the contacts of the Hi-shift relay must be closed to provide this path, unless there is a short somewhere in the harness. If your wires were broken or disconnected, your transmission would be in Turtle all the time.

The relays in question (Hi and Lo) are relays marked 1 and 2 in the attached illustration. I think there are a lot of similar relays in this area and you could swap the high and low relay to see if the problem changes as a troubleshooting method. The relays are under the cowling under your steering wheel and that has to be removed to get to them. They are on the left side, so you have to remove the two bolts in front and then raise the hood and remove two bolts behind the cowling to remove it. Good luck.

 

[crackpot]

As Usual, my memory is razer-sharp and my observations were dead-on. RIGHT!
_ The speed was stuck in LOW range {default}, not HI as I said.
_ My apologies for the unneccesary head-scratching by everyone who tried to help the helpless.
_My appreciation for the info., links, and pictures which I printed and will have for future reference.
_BOTTOM LINE: Checked under left rocker/floorboard and saw a small stick at the end of which was two wires unplugged from dual plug. I felt dumb, but sure was happy!! Never realized how important that range-switch on-the-go really is. Hydro. is the only way to go for me. Thanks again to all.

 

[jinman]

There are three problems that seem huge when you first experience them:

1. Loader moves only a few inches in either direction - almost always a disconnected hydraulic quick-connect

2. Tractor will not start and Parking Brake light remains ON even when brake is off - Fuse #2 is blown

3. Tractor always stays in Turtle in either High or Low range - Disconnected Rabbit/Turtle solenoid.

Almost all Class III NH owners have experienced some of these failures and know the cure by heart. Glad you found your problem.