Century Problems

SnowRidge · Jul 9, 2004

How about this scenario? You are cutting with the hand throttle set so the engine runs at proper PTO speed. For whatever reason, you try to brake at little. Your foot on the brake pedal has no effect because the engine driving in that low range is a lot more effective than the brakes. You immediately get that runaway feeling.

Is it possible that is what happened?

MicroPilot · Jul 9, 2004

( What gear and range where you in when it happened?)

1st range, 2nd gear

( Did you try and use the break pedal to slow you down?)

The first time it happened I was in a tricky part near the bottom and the creek drop off. I immedietely stomped on both the brakes and clutch. The second time it happened I was in a less risky area and let it go to see what would happen. It rolled a few feet and then the gears "caught" again and all was well. I did not touch the brakes or clutch this time. I did leave the field however to inspect the underside as I suspected that brush or debris were interfering with some linkages. I didn't find anything like this though. I didn't even see how that could happen, as the clutch and shift linkages are not very exposed from the underside.

( If something did pop of gear in the transmission and then caught again I would expect that you would hear the gears grinding as it did this.)

I didn't hear any gears grinding.

( Is your clutch properly adjusted (free play within spec?) )

I'm not exactly sure. IT feels right to me, but I'll see if I can cheack this. Would this be covered in the tractors operator manual or will I need the shop manual for this info?

( Did the engine tach up when this happened? Where you using hand or foot throttle at the time. )

The engine was at PTO speed set with the hand throttle, and I don't recall that it revved up any.

Evasive1 · Jul 9, 2004

The tractors owners manual has the clutch adjustment specs and how to adjust it on page 72.

JerryG · Jul 9, 2004

Were you in 4wd or 2wd, when this slippage happened?

herdfan · Jul 10, 2004

So was there a change in the grade you were going down when these occurred?

MicroPilot · Jul 10, 2004

( ( So was there a change in the grade you were going down when these occurred?
))

Hmmm, yes. The whole hill side is very uneven. It's been cut laterally with cow/horse paths creating a sort of terrace effect.

( ( Were you in 4wd or 2wd, when this slippage happened? ))

I was in 4WD.

( ( How about this scenario? You are cutting with the hand throttle set so the engine runs at proper PTO speed. For whatever reason, you try to brake at little. Your foot on the brake pedal has no effect because the engine driving in that low range is a lot more effective than the brakes. You immediately get that runaway feeling.

Is it possible that is what happened?
))

Nope. The machine "lurched" forward free wheeling. The first time it happened I thought your scenario might have been it. Then it happened again. I did some more cutting the following night after checking things out, and didn't experience this again. It was too wet here to do any tractor work today.

@Evasive: Thanks for the adjustment info. I checked this and it is adjusted correctly.

The only way I could see this happening is if the clutch somehow dis-engaged. The other thing I thought of is if a wheel would have left the ground and let the other wheels spin. I don't know enough about how the gear train works to know if this is a viable theory or not.

JerryG · Jul 10, 2004

Sounds like you were in a slide. Tractors don't feel the same as cars when they slide. It won't happen again if you are in 4-wd.

herdfan · Jul 11, 2004

( The whole hill side is very uneven. It's been cut laterally with cow/horse paths creating a sort of terrace effect. )

Could you have been picking up speed until the engine/gears "caught" the tractor? That shouldn't be too much of an issue in the 1st range, though. Maybe try 1st range, 1st gear?

wing164 · Jul 12, 2004

MicroPilot,

How uneven was the ground you were mowing when your "freewheeling" happened?
Here's the reason I ask... I've been rather surprised/disappointed at how little oscillation the front axle on my 2028 has. It's really not very nimble on uneven ground. As soon as one front wheel runs up on a bump, even in 4WD, it hits the axle stop, which takes weight off the one rear wheel and it loses traction. The only way to keep moving is to lock the rear axle(the pedal at your right heel) so both rear wheels pull together regardless of traction.
My guess in your situation is this...you hit an uneven spot with a front wheel which lifted one of your rear wheels, losing traction for the time it "freewheeled". This is just the reverse of losing traction while pulling uphill.
The fix is the same--lock the rear axle when you need full traction. You will go straight, of course, and will need to release the lock before turning.
Try this when you mow the same area again and see if it reduces the "pucker factor".

Lynn

MicroPilot · Jul 12, 2004

Since I haven't had this problem again, I think I'm going to go with the sliding thing, although I've had the tractor slide before and this didn't feel like a slide, but that could be my "newbieness" on this machine coming out!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Thanks all for the replys!!!