Ford 4500 TLB low power

[loopman]

Hi there,

Okay, I think I know the answer and it equals $$$$ but going to ask just in case.

I have a 4500 Loader/Backhoe that I have done a bit of work to and am quite happy with it overall for an old girl (1970). To date my use has been on level ground and mainly backhoe work. I have started using the loader a bit more and on slopes and have found that the transmission lacks power - a decent slope and you need to give it full throttle to get up the hill at a crawl! Likewise in trying to push into a dirt pile, it just doesn't have any grunt (couldn't push the skin off a custard is the relevant phrase I think!)

This machine has the 'power-reversing' transmission which engages and otherwise operates fine. Is their anything I can do to try and fix this issue. I am getting a new oil filter this weekend, and believe there is an internal screen on the oil pickup somewhere (not sure if accessible from the gear selector cover, or a plate underneath?). Or am I dreaming and the solution is a torque convertor or oil pump rebuild? (If this is the case then the machine is probably uneconomical to repair )

Any thoughts most appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[loopman]

I'll take the lack of response to equal the sound of people running away and not wanting to give me the bad news :-(

I have replaced the oil filter, oil looks fine (but will give it a change soon in case it is the wrong grade) and replaced the seals on the pickup going to the oil cooler in the bottom of the radiator (had a couple of leaky O-rings) - no change unfortunately to the behaviour.

Can anyone tell me of a DIY way to determine where the problem might lie?

 

[loopman]

Just in case anyone stumbles across this, I forgot to post an answer. The "problem", as is often the case, was operator error. Any markings on the machine had long since worn off, but after purchasing a manual online, I found the gearbox shift pattern was opposite to what I suspected. It turns out that 1st gear is up and to the right (where 3rd gear would be in a car), because of the power reversing transmission it is not obvious that an incorrect gear is selected.

Stoopid me.... hopefully this post will save somebody else being embarrassed.

 

[MEMEMEME]

Not stupid at all-I have the same machine [only maybe a '67] that I recently bought and had the same difficulty...once I started using low gear I have had no further trouble pushing into a dirt pile!