Balky Shifting

[Boomer33]

Hello again! I now have 31 hours on my TC33D HST. I was hoping by now that the gear range selector would have "broken in" to allow smooth shifting, but it has not! I sometimes experience very stubborn shifts fron Neutral to Range 2. Ive tried double clutching and just plain muscle, but It is not getting any better. Has anyone else experienced this? Is there a lubrication remedy? Or, must I go back to the dealer 40 miles away? Thanks for all your help; This is a great forum!

Boomer33

 

[Bird]

Don't try muscle; you'll just break something. It should go easily. When you double clutched, did you step on the hydro pedal while you had your foot off the clutch? In other words, you let up on the clutch, step on the hydro pedal to turn the gears a little, then step on the clutch again to shift. Sometimes you have to do it more than once to get the gears aligned properly. And as long as you're sitting still, you really don't even have to use the clutch. If it doesn't go easily, just step on the hydro pedal just a tiny bit, let up and shift.

Bird

 

[jinman]

I can't improve on Bird's advice, but on my TC45D, there is no clutch whatsoever. To shift from neutral to range I or II, I almost always have to feather the forward or reverse hydro pedal. When I do, the shifter drops right into range with almost no effort. The same is true for 2wd to 4wd. Just a little feathering of the pedals and it engages or disengages with no effort. If you do this procedure and still cannot get your tractor to cooperate, I'd say it's time to make that 40 mi trip to the dealer. Hopefully, that's not the case.

JimI

 

[djradz]

B33, I felt just as you did that something was not right. Till I tried this now commonly posted answer. It really does work. If you try to change range and it doesn't go easily, just touch either forward or reverse, and try again. Whatever you do, don't force it.

 

[rmorgan]

Boomer33--

My 33D acts more-or-less the same as yours (although it gets sticky more from 2 to 1 than into 2), and responds to exactly the technique Bird recommends. If it doesn't go in right away (or if it slides past low and then won't go up into it) I hit the clutch and tickle the hydro pedal a time or two and it slips right in every time, no muscling needed.

--Rick

 

[ERNIEB]

I've had that with my TC29 since day one, and still do. The dealer told me just exactly what Bird said. I'm so use to it, I now do it without thinking. Once you get the hang of it it's no big deal.

Ernie