Hi-Lo Shifter Questions

[SouthamptonBeaver]

Hi all!

Having alot of fun with my new (to me) 370D. Runs great and I'm starting to go through the fluids and other items that need a bit of attention.

I am having some difficulty shifting to low-range though! I don't have a manual yet but thought it should just shift by moving the lever forward for Lo & back for Hi. I got it to go into Lo the other day to use the york rake going down hill after a few tries.She shifted back up into Hi no problem but the next day I couldn't get her in Lo.
I don't want to put to much force on the lever and I haven't changed the tranny/diff fluid yet.
Any ideas and or suggestions on fluids et??

I'll post some pictures in the next few days.

THANKS!
Phil

 

[PILOON]

Perhaps if you are in 4WD there is residual tension in the drive train?
The front is designed to slightly lead the rear to compensate for faster front tire wear by about 5% or so.
The tension is more apparent with new tires.
Also the Mitsu's are not syncro so gears need to be perfectly aligned in order to shift in, generally a slight tap of the clutch allows alignment.

Welcome to TBN

 

[SouthamptonBeaver]

Thanks, I did try it multiple times clutch in, out in gear, out of gear , reverse & 1st bu nothing!
It almost seams like the "ball indent" on the shifter base is frozen??

 

[284 International]

My Satoh ST1440, essentially the same as your Beaver, sometimes gets that tight feeling in the PTO speed selector. When I first got it, the high/low range selector was tight too. If it's too tight to drop in and out with two or three fingers, you should probably pull the top cover off and make sure nothing is rusted and binding. Otherwise, sometimes it is easier to shift if the clutch is very slowly and slightly let out. This spins the gears so they align properly.

 

[SouthamptonBeaver]

So it sounds like I should pull the top cover?
It sure seems stuck although I got it to go into low range a couple times the other day.
It went back into hi fine, shifts fine R thru 3 up & down too!
I tried a search but didn't find any threads with the same issue. The tractor was stored inside and it runs great and makes good power. I bought it from an older gentleman, was his brothers who had passed recentley. He did say his brother hasn't used it much so could it be tough going to lo range from lack of use?

THANKS!

 

[SouthamptonBeaver]

Perhaps if you are in 4WD there is residual tension in the drive train?
The front is designed to slightly lead the rear to compensate for faster front tire wear by about 5% or so.
The tension is more apparent with new tires.
Also the Mitsu's are not syncro so gears need to be perfectly aligned in order to shift in, generally a slight tap of the clutch allows alignment.

Welcome to TBN

Thanks for the reply PILOON,

Just took a look and it looks like I am in 4WD and that lever has about 3" of movement but dosn't seem to disenguage. Any ideas??

Thanks

 

[284 International]

I would start at the top cover. Just put it into neutral, and take a picture of the gear alignment (just in case) then see what you can see. There may be an external retaining clip that is too tight from corrosion or something, but I expect the trouble is a retaining ball or spring in the detent.

For the four wheel drive, check underneath where the driveshaft joins the transmission. There is probably a sliding coupler of some sort in there. I have never crawled under my Satoh to inspect that specifically, but the other Japanese compact tractors I've looked at have similar mechanisms. You can see what I did to treat similar troubles with a Yanmar tractor here. You will have to muddle through a lot of chattering review from me, but there are some photos and diagrams that may help.

Good luck!

 

[oliver28472]

Check out the 2nd page of this thread. If the 370 4wd shifter is like the 372, this could be your problem. It was on my 470.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/mitsubishi-satoh/153410-mt372d-full-time-4-wheel-2.html

 

[SouthamptonBeaver]

Thank for all the replies so far, good news to report. The shifter is still "stuck" but it's just a locked-up detent ball. I took the bracket retaining bolt out and the shifter moves great between hi & lo!
Now the 4wd get's interesting! I drained the tranny fluid and it instantly started shifting into 2wd! But when I put the drain plug back in , back into
4wd Easy fix though, the PO had used a 1.5" long bolt for a "drain plug and it looks like the length of the bolt must have pushed the 4-2 selector into 4 and not permited it to shift to 2wd.
Love the easy stuff.
On another note, THANK YOU to the guys at Valley Power Valley Power , they spent a half an hour on the phone with me helping with service questions. Great service!

Phil