Case 885 won't move

[topfli8979]

I picked up a David brown case 885 from a neighbor that was tired of looking at it sitting. Runs very good starts right up.

Here's my issue. I can shift through all the gears high/low fwd/revrs and it will only slightly move (like it's rocking) with clutch pedal released. It will not engage and drive. Clutch feels good,. I can hear things turning in the rear end ( very faint whine). Loader seems to operate as it should. PTO works.

He said everything was good until he changed trans oil in the spring, then it wouldn't move. He filled with 303, I've heard these use 30w oil in trans????? Where would be first place to start digging for the issue?

Thanks for any help guys

 

[DJ54]

I'm not familiar at all with the DB tractors. But, is there an open inspection hole, where a plug should be near the bell housing area..?? I did a quick check, and do see they have a 2 stage clutch.

I'm wondering if there is an open hole large enough for a mouse, or other small varmint to get in. If there is, could be something has built a nest in the bell housing, and material has gotten wound up in the pressure plate. PP may release enough to power the PTO, but, not release enough to drive the transmission. I had an old Case backhoe that was that way. It had an inspection hole in the bell housing, and apparently a ground squirrel had built a nest in there. It would barely pull itself around in first gear, but not enough to even load it on my trailer. I had to take the hoe, and help push it on.

I figured the clutch needed replaced. When I took it apart, I found a LOT of heavy string, nut shells, and about anything you can imagine that critter could get through that hole, to build a nest. It got wound around the release fingers, and would not let them fully release. I ended up getting a full 10 qt. bucket of "stuff" out of there. It was quite the mess, but a lot cheaper than a new clutch & pressure plate. Once that material was out of there, it worked as well as a person could expect. It would slip the tires, before the clutch would slip.

Just some food for thought, if that is the case.