186d Foot Shift Conversion

[old grayfellow]

Never been that fond of the "tunnel-mounted" powershift selector lever/gate system on my early 186d, and had been toying with the idea of trying to get the parts from a later-style model to move the powershift up to the dash location.

But after seeing a diagram and the relative complexity of that system and getting advise that I might have to have a whole donor tractor on-site, decided to go a different route and make a foot-actuated system to move the powershift lever.

Turned out to be pretty straightforward.

Made a mount system for a couple of bearings to position a shaft across above the transmission case right in front of the steering column mount. A pedal on the left end of the shaft lets you shift with the left foot. It rotates the shaft, which moves a short arm mounted to a spline on the right side of the shaft, and that arm pushes/pulls a linkage rod that connects to a short selector lever replacing the original hand-operated lever to do the gear shifting.

Seems to work well. Since putting a loader on the tractor both my hands are now busier than ever, and it was even more inconvenient to have to always have to reach down and shift. No more of that now-- it leaves both hands free for the steering and loader control while giving my otherwise unemployed left foot something to do.

Attached are some photos.

 

[jerrybob]

Interesting......good work.....looks like that will work well for you. I also have a 186D........I guess over the years.....I have just gotten use to that shifter......have done a lot of work with that little tractor......very good machine. Good luck with your invention.......

 

[clemsonfor]

So how do you pull it back? Rechargeable your foot around it and pull back?

 

[clemsonfor]

So how do you pull it back? Rechargeable your foot around it and pull back?

Ok never mind I see push on the top or bottom of the petal

 

[old grayfellow]

Interesting......good work.....looks like that will work well for you. I also have a 186D........I guess over the years.....I have just gotten use to that shifter......have done a lot of work with that little tractor......very good machine. Good luck with your invention.......

Yeah the 186D is a great little tractor, built to last forever. They don't build very many things like that any more. I've had mine about 10 years, and gotten a lot of use out of it, as did the former owner(s). Don't think I'll ever sell it. No idea how many hours are on it, but it doesn't seem to even matter. Runs like a top.

 

[old grayfellow]

So how do you pull it back? Rechargeable your foot around it and pull back?

Ok never mind I see push on the top or bottom of the petal

Yes. The pedal is sort of balanced with the shaft in the middle so I can rest my foot on it while driving, and push forward with the toe and back with the heel. It shifts easily but not so easily that it changes gears by accident. There's some kind of detent or resistance mechanism inside the transmission that you can feel clicking through the gears.
Because the lever now moves just in a straight line, it can also shift more quickly than before.

 

[Markey]

FANTASTIC JOB!!! An example of great American ingenuity by an intelligent and handy individual.