4300 Locked-up in Low Range

esimmons · Mar 22, 2010

My 2000 4300 operates fine in medium and high range but when shifted into low range (A) it bogs down and kills the engine when you let off the clutch. It acts like two opposing gears are working against each other. It feels like a parking brake has been set. It does the same thing between (B) and (C) range. Do all 4300's lock-up if the shifter is left between two ranges? Is this normal?
I disconnected the linkage and moved the shifter shaft by hand and it does the same thing. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

kennyd · Mar 22, 2010

esimmons said:
My 2000 4300 operates fine in medium and high range but when shifted into low range (A) it bogs down and kills the engine when you let off the clutch. It acts like two opposing gears are working against each other. It feels like a parking brake has been set. It does the same thing between (B) and (C) range. Do all 4300's lock-up if the shifter is left between two ranges? Is this normal?
I disconnected the linkage and moved the shifter shaft by hand and it does the same thing. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Welcome to TBN

A common thing to check on these machine is the brake return spring and the brake shaft where it enters the wheel hub on each side. The springs are prone to breaking and the shaft can get seized in the housing causing the brakes not to release.

jpinca · Mar 22, 2010

What type of transmission?

I sometimes hit a false neutral or get slight grinding if the shifter isn't fully into a range.

Weird problem though. Mine will drive right through the parking brake in "A" range if I forget it's on. It would make more sense if it was "C" range that had the problem. Brake drag would be more pronounced.

Is the "A" range just stiff, or is there absolutely no motion? Could be a bad tooth or foreign object on one of the gears.

esimmons · Mar 22, 2010

Kennyd,

Thanks for the welcome and the input. The tractor operates fine in med. (B) range and high (C). It is only in low, (A) range that the the drive line locks-up. I made the comparison to the parking brake to try and give give people an idea what is feels like when you are sitting on the tractor. Thanks again.