CK3510 1st gear grinding

[AmericanElm]

I have a CK3510 gear shift I purchased new in 2017. The dealer replaced the synchronizer hubs for 1st and 3rd, and 2nd and reverse in 2021, as the gears became difficult to shift.

Last year (2024), 1st gear, in any of the ranges L, M, or H, started to grind when I'd release the clutch. The transmission continues to grind until I depress the clutch. Sometimes, it's difficult to pull the gear shift lever back into neutral. There's no forward movement, just grinding. The gear shift lever feels like it's in 1st gear, but it's not.

My work around, if I need to use 1st gear.
1. Shift the transmission into 1st gear and have the range selector positioned in neutral.
2. Let the clutch completely out.
3. Depress the clutch and select the range and release the clutch.
This 3-step sequence produces no grinding. The tractor moves forward at the selected speed.

I have not experienced any grinding when shifting into R, 2nd, or 3rd gears.

I figure it's either a range synchronizer issue or a clutch issue. Can I resolve without splitting the tractor?

Any thoughts / recommendations?

 

[Robin Veerman]

What maintenance history has the transmission had, besides the warranty repair?

 

[AmericanElm]

Fall 2017 - changed transmission filter @ 58 hours
August 2019 - changed transmission filter @ 211 hours
July 2020 - changed transmission filter @ 317 hours
April 2021 - changed transmission fluid and filter @ 380 hours Transmission did not want come out of 2nd gear, beginning Feb/March while plowing snow.
May 2021 - dealer split tractor and replaced synchronizers @ 410 hours
October 2022 - change transmission filter @ 511 hours
Nov 2023 - changed transmission filter @ 604 hours

1st gear began to grind last spring (2024). Checked transmission fluid - clear and full. Grinding started out intermittent and got progressively worse. No grinding issue if I keep range selector in neutral, release the clutch, and then select the range.

 

[Coyote_CS2220]

It is always a good idea, particularly when you have not-very-nice transmission sounds, to drain the filter after changing and cut it open to check the filter pleats to see what is in there.

If you can hear grinding, there must be some metal filings being created.

Show the dealer the old filter if they did the transmission work.

 

[AmericanElm]

Yesterday, I changed engine oil and filter, transmission/hydraulic oil and filter, and blew out the air filter.

The transmission oil was darker than I like and there was a decent amount of iron filing on the drain plug magnet. When the range selector is in neutral R, 1, 2, and 3 all shifted smoothly. The detent clicks nicely into place in all four gears. 1st gear still grinds when I release the clutch, if the range selector is in L, M, or H. If I leave the range selector in neutral and release the clutch and then select the desired range the tractor moves forward, as it should.

Looks like I'll be splitting the tractor this spring, after I get my food plot tilled and planted, or early summer after I'm done with the first round of rotary cutting.

Going forward, I will be reducing Kioti's recommended transmission service by half. I'll be changing the transmission filter every 100 hours vs recommended 200 hours, and replace the transmission/hydraulic fluid every 200 hours vs recommended 400 hours.

 

[Harry in Ky]

Just personal opinion here, but my take is your transmission fluid, filter, ETC change interval will have little or no bearing on sychronizer life down the road. The facts as described, namely synchros replaced once already, and (probably) another on the way out tells me it's more of a design (or possibly operation) problem rather than an oil change interval issue. I've seen tractors with synchronized transmissions go for years with minimal (if any) attention to fluid changes without experiencing synchro failures.

 

[AmericanElm]

Harry, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I figure cutting the recommended maintenance interval in half is a relatively inexpensive experiment to see whether it'll impact the gear shifting issues I've experienced.

I started driving tractors in 1965 rolling oats for my late Dad on an averaged-sized WI dairy farm. No surprise, it was a Ford 8N. I drove a handful of other tractors through the years, along with a half of dozen semi tractors, including 8, 9, 12, and 13 speeds. Not a single transmission issue. Hopefully, my CK3510 gear shift is an outlier and others have not experienced similar issues. I admit, my transmission issues have been annoying. On a positive note, other than the two shifting issues, the tractor has performed flawlessly.

 

[Harry in Ky]

Well admittedly I'm no big fan of "Koreangineering" and so much of today's small tractor industry seems to come from that area. I often let that attitude affect my opinions, I don't see a lot of those tractors up close and personal but I read and hear a number of "not so good" experiences people have. Maybe it's just because much of the chatter is about the problems not the satisfied customers.

 

[AmericanElm]

I hoped when I purchased my CK3510 that it’d follow the reliability of Kubota when they entered the compact utility tractor market. I had a friend who purchased a Kubota sub-CUT 20+ years ago. He's experienced zero issues.

Kioti's 7 year engine and drivetrain warranty got me to make the leap. There’s been more than one occasion I’ve second guessed that I should have shopped for a low-hour Ford 2120 or JD 990. Water over the dam... I’ll circle back after I split the tractor, diagnose, and resolve the 1st gear issue.

LOL - after I repair it, I’m hoping it’ll outlast me. I figure I’ll be ready to give up tilling, planting, and mowing in 5 years. If I have an appetite to continue planting and rotary cutting, I’ll hire my neighbor. He’s married with four kids and enjoys moonlighting evenings and weekends. He’s handy, grew up helping on his grandpa’s farm. Always good to have a plan!

 

[DK35vince]

I hoped when I purchased my CK3510 that it’d follow the reliability of Kubota when they entered the compact utility tractor market. I had a friend who purchased a Kubota sub-CUT 20+ years ago. He's experienced zero issues.

I've owned my DK 35 for 24 years.
Minimal issues. I think I changed 1 battery (original lasted 11 years, still running the replacement battery) 1 tachometer cable ($12), a fuel filter bowl ($8) and a left rear axle seal ($35)