T273 Transmission Toast?

TYMinColton · Apr 25, 2020

Hey all,

It's been awhile since I've been on TBN. Everything was finally stable with my T273 - until yesterday. After hauling a few buckets of pea gravel I went to park. I shifted from Low to High range (something I rarely do) and drove about 100 ft without incident. Then bang it just gave out. Nothing spectacular, but suddenly no forward or backward and a higher frequency whining with some rattles coming from the transmission housing. There's almost no resistance in the high/low/neutral range shift, but it's clearly still attached to the transmission housing. Pedals also connected as normal. Literally nothing to suggest this was going to happen and only 290 hours on the tach. Completely baffled.

Two questions:
1. Has anyone ever experienced anything like this or have any idea what might be wrong?
2. I'm about 40 miles SE of Portland Oregon. I've been able to get parts from Idaho, but are there any dealers left in Oregon offering service? Does anyone in Oregon know of any shop in Oregon that can work on a TYM.

Super bummed :thumbdown:

Bud Soda · Apr 25, 2020

I take it you have replaced the drive shaft?

TYMinColton · Apr 25, 2020

I haven't done a thing. I'm really not sure where to start. I'm really not equipped to split a tractor, so if this is an issue inside the transmission or with a broken drive shaft, I'm out of luck. I can hear something spinning in the transmission housing, but it doesn't sound "normal". Sounds like something is rattling around in there, almost like I'm hearing a loose ring around a turning shaft. Either way, no PTO, no For/Rev, but engine and hydraulics are normal.

Would a shaft just break? I certainly wasn't under a heavy load or running a brush hog without a shear pin. . .

Roadworthy · Apr 25, 2020

Make sure you have a problem before seeking a solution. I have a Kubota and a Mitsubishi. If I miss the range when shifted or slips out "just because" it will be essentially in neutral and go nowhere. If I carefully position the selector lever again all is well.

TYMinColton · Apr 25, 2020

I'm pretty sure it's not a shifting problem. I've run into that a few times and this was different. The sound the coming from the transmission housing is definitely different, and the whole thing happened while I was in high gear. It also didn't feel like it slipped out of gear. Makes me wonder if Bud's comment about the driveshaft might be spot on. It is almost the engine is disconnected from the transmission. I'm guessing one doesn't just "pop out" the drive shaft and slide another one in.

TYMinColton · Apr 25, 2020

Bud may have hit the jackpot here. This is a pair of photos looking at where the drive shaft connects to transmission housing.

In the first photo you can see the finger splines of the transmission input shaft (oil filter is orange). Now, if I physically slide the shaft backwards towards the input shaft I can actually engage the splines (second photo)

.
The problem is the shaft wants to slide forward. Something that should be holding it in place no longer is. I don't think the shaft itself is broken, but I need to figure out which component is the culprit.

pete-mi · Apr 26, 2020

You have the early drive shaft that was changed by time the T293 came out. Mid production T233's were also updated to the new type driveshaft. What often happens with this early type is the spline in the rear coupler goes out. Sometimes it also takes out the spline on the input shaft of the transmission at the same time. The new replacement drive shaft looks like a regular implement drive shaft only smaller. The new type has a regular yoke and u-joint not a slide coupler type. You can get a new replacement transmission input shaft from TYM if needed rather than a whole assembly.

TYMinColton · Apr 26, 2020

pete-mi said:
You have the early drive shaft that was changed by time the T293 came out. Mid production T233's were also updated to the new type driveshaft. What often happens with this early type is the spline in the rear coupler goes out. Sometimes it also takes out the spline on the input shaft of the transmission at the same time. The new replacement drive shaft looks like a regular implement drive shaft only smaller. The new type has a regular yoke and u-joint not a slide coupler type. You can get a new replacement transmission input shaft from TYM if needed rather than a whole assembly.

So I am learning. Once it was clear that it was the drive shaft, a quick search of TBN revealed that the OEM driveshaft on the T-series is yet another in a long line of problems with these tractors. Muffler mounts, chassis bolts, various electrical components . . . To TYMs credit it does seem that every time I order a replacement part, it's an upgrade over the OEM, but this is getting old. Splines on the transmission looked ok, so hopefully I can just swap out the drive shaft and be on my way. I saw that myazz had a similar issue and the new yoke/u-joint shaft gave him the flexibility to bite deeper into solid splines. Hoping I'll be just as lucky.

Thanks for info pete!

TYMinColton (aka Pete in Colton

)

Bud Soda · Apr 26, 2020

I changed my drive shaft before it gave trouble. Easy to do. I cut a hole in the floor under the mat with a hole saw. Big enough for me to get my hand through. I sold the tractor 3 years ago with over 800 hours on it and the new drive shaft was working fine.

Bud Soda · Apr 26, 2020

One more thing. If the input shaft is stripped you can slide the new shaft up enough to reach splines that are not damaged. That's what I had to do.

TYMinColton · Apr 26, 2020

I saw a similar post by myyaz23. My initial assessment is the splines looks pretty good. The couple just gave out it appears. Will know more when I removed the drive shaft later today. Thanks for your insight Bud Soda - spot on!!

myyaz33 · Apr 29, 2020

Just saw this thread. How did you make out? I was thinking I posted some pictures on this process, so if you need any help, just let us know. Ill subscribe to your thread.

TYMinColton · Apr 29, 2020

myyaz33 said:
Just saw this thread. How did you make out? I was thinking I posted some pictures on this process, so if you need any help, just let us know. Ill subscribe to your thread.

I appreciate your help myyaz23. Your post was a bit part of the reason why I'm sure I can get this done. Parts ordered from Idaho (shout out to Jordan). I cut a hole over the driveshaft and removed it. Definitely some wear on the transmission input side, but the splines look reasonable. Makes me wonder why the metal on the couple on the tranny sides is so much softer than that on the motor side. Motor couple was clean and pretty. Obvious defect in engineering that I missed based on all the posts. Quick question. Did you just crank down the shaft bolt? There's no place on the tranny shaft with a missing spline? I'm hoping I can bite into the splines that look good, but still secure the bolt on the u-joint the bites into the shaft. fingers crossed.
Pete

myyaz33 · Apr 30, 2020

Yes, I just slide the collar on as far as I could onto splines. IIRC, I may have used a prybar and mallet to persuade it on more than just my arms could push. Then i just tightened the bolt pretty snug and all has been well since the repair. I wish I would have made the hole bigger as it would have made it easier. Not a lot of space for hands in there. Then again, having that hole is really a safety risk. Mine is mostly covered by the floor mat but a little exposed. Dont want a shoe string to get down in there and wrap around the shaft.

TYMinColton · Apr 30, 2020

myyaz33 said:
Yes, I just slide the collar on as far as I could onto splines. IIRC, I may have used a prybar and mallet to persuade it on more than just my arms could push. Then i just tightened the bolt pretty snug and all has been well since the repair. I wish I would have made the hole bigger as it would have made it easier. Not a lot of space for hands in there. Then again, having that hole is really a safety risk. Mine is mostly covered by the floor mat but a little exposed. Dont want a shoe string to get down in there and wrap around the shaft.

Definitely a tight space. I too am a bit worried about the whole in the floor. It is not covered by floor mats. However, I think I can put the chunk of plastic back in the whole and duck tape it back together. Not the first duck tape my tractor has seen :laughing:. I'll post an update with pics when I have the shaft replaced. Thanks for your help!

fried1765 · Apr 30, 2020

TYMinColton said:
Definitely a tight space. I too am a bit worried about the whole in the floor. It is not covered by floor mats. However, I think I can put the chunk of plastic back in the whole and duck tape it back together. Not the first duck tape my tractor has seen :laughing:. I'll post an update with pics when I have the shaft replaced. Thanks for your help!

How old is that TYM 273 ?
Duct tape to repair a 290 hour tractor?

myyaz33 · Apr 30, 2020

fried1765 said:
How old is that TYM 273 ?
Duct tape to repair a 290 hour tractor?

Keep in mind, drilling the hole is not the proper way to replace the driveshaft. It was meant as a time saving method, so you would not have to take off all the plastic and such. In essence, self-inflicted duck tapery... I use gorilla tape.

TYMinColton · Apr 30, 2020

fried1765 said:
How old is that TYM 273 ?
Duct tape to repair a 290 hour tractor?

2008. Nothing serious. The body is lexan plastic and it has cracked, so a few strips of tape. A few cotter pins rattle, like on the ROPs, so I've added tape and/or rubber grommets to be less annoyed. I finally placed a sleeve of rubber over the end of the muffler. I'm on upgraded muffler #3, and the muffler mounting bracket still broke. Muffler end pings off the frame like a SOB if you don't dampen. Just tractor things. . .

TYMinColton · Apr 30, 2020

Wait? Drilling a hole in the floor is not the correct way to replace the driveshaft? :laughing:

joeyd · May 1, 2020

TYMinColton said:
I appreciate your help myyaz23. Your post was a bit part of the reason why I'm sure I can get this done. Parts ordered from Idaho (shout out to Jordan). I cut a hole over the driveshaft and removed it. Definitely some wear on the transmission input side, but the splines look reasonable. Makes me wonder why the metal on the couple on the tranny sides is so much softer than that on the motor side. Motor couple was clean and pretty. Obvious defect in engineering that I missed based on all the posts. Quick question. Did you just crank down the shaft bolt? There's no place on the tranny shaft with a missing spline? I'm hoping I can bite into the splines that look good, but still secure the bolt on the u-joint the bites into the shaft. fingers crossed.
Pete

I agree with regards to Jordan Sales! I am lucky enough to have purchased from them and close enough to get my parts and attachments from them. They are a wealth of knowledge regarding the tractors they sell and tractor use in general. They are never too busy to say hi whenever I drop in to get something or just ask a question. I try and steer people their way whenever I can at home or here on TBN.