LB1914 Hard to get in gears/service manual?

Kioti Paul · Feb 27, 2020

I was also very concerned that my synchronizer was bad, and I would have to split the tractor. Seems like a HUGE job when a cab is involved! I pulled the shifter cover off, and found the synchronizer to move easily back and forth, and that it was easy to move the shifter fork backwards toward the 2nd gear position, but very hard to move it forward towards 1st gear. Further inspection found the uneven rod.

At first, when reading your description, I assumed your cousin bought the tractor new...now I'm not sure that is a fact. Do you know if this problem has been with the tractor since it was new?? If it originally shifted easily when new, then I guess it is not likely to be the rod. Equally, if the problem has been with the tractor since new, it doesn't seem likely (to me) that it would be the synchronizer.

Anyway,, Good Luck! Please let everyone know what it turns out to be.

fpappal · Feb 28, 2020

I will definitely pull that cover and look it over before I bring it to the dealer. Good project for this weekend. I found this tractor for my cousin on craigslist about 5 years ago. The previous owner told him it was used by a town for their ball fields. The shifter was not working properly when he bought it, but he decided to take a chance. It has around 600 hours on the machine, no idea at what point it stopped working like it should. 2 years ago I brought it to my property to do some brush hogging and I have not given it back to him yet, I like the machine too much! I will let you know what I find out.

fpappal · Feb 29, 2020

I removed the panel today and this is what I found. In my opinion it needed to be adjusted. When I shift to forward the lever on side of transmission is either going slightly beyond the detent and then falling back into it, or it is not getting into the detent completely and falling out of it. I will need to start the tractor and see what it does. Hopefully I was able to adjust it properly. By the looks of the cotter pin I was not the first person in here which makes me nervous.

Kioti Paul · Feb 29, 2020

It does seem like an adjustment might be all it needs. Good news there! I was under the impression it was physically hard to push the shifter handle into the forward position,,,,or does it move freely until it hits a 'stop'?

The shifter mechanisms (& synchronizers) that I am familiar with both have detents. The shifters are made to go ever so slightly past detent (just far enough for the detent ball to go beyond the deepest part of the groove, but not far enough to go past the groove) At that point, the synchronizer has reached detent; then a combination of the spring pressure and engine vibrations will bring the shift mechanism back into detent, which relieves the pressure between the fork and synchronizer.

I don't "think" it would be possible to adjust the linkage to go past detent...I don't think the rod (or fork) would have enough travel. (But that is just me thinking out loud!) Off the top of my head, I also can't think of any shifter that has 'stops' - other than the shift rod coming to the end of its travel, or the synchronizer ring contacting its mating gear.

Check that there is no 'slop' in the pivot (and rotating) points. There are so many of them that a little slop in each of them could really add up.

Best of luck!

Kioti Paul · Feb 29, 2020

By the way, In the picture, it appears that the linkage going to the transmission is hitting what appears to be a (rusty) "guide"??? It's really hard to tell from the picture, but as you move the handle to 'forward', do those two items interfere? Does the "guide" appear to be 'factory', or added on? Could it have gotten bent?

koshari · Mar 2, 2020

Ii sincerely hope your issue is with the linkage however there is a very real possibility it would be a syncronisor. mines (ck35) in the kioti dealership at this moment split in half having this this repaired along with the clutch replaced. and whilst i havnt got the final bill yet the estimates are VERY expensive. for example the parts alone are 2500AUD for the replacemet clutch alone and $550aud for the shuttle gearbox parts. it will also be getting the 1000hr service , all fluids and the lifters adjusted....

Kioti Paul · Mar 2, 2020

koshari said:
Ii sincerely hope your issue is with the linkage however there is a very real possibility it would be a syncronisor. mines (ck35) in the kioti dealership at this moment split in half having this this repaired along with the clutch replaced. and whilst i havnt got the final bill yet the estimates are VERY expensive. for example the parts alone are 2500AUD for the replacemet clutch alone and $550aud for the shuttle gearbox parts. it will also be getting the 1000hr service , all fluids and the lifters adjusted....

That is some brutal pricing!!! I thought maybe someone was really taking advantage of you, then I looked up the prices at Michigan Iron. You (we) are being taken advantage of; but it is Kioti that is taking advantage. I guess low volume, and no aftermarket pressure!

What were the symptoms of your synchronizer failure?

fpappal · Mar 2, 2020

I started my tractor today and spent some time going forward and backwards. Even with my linkage adjustment I am still having issues. Sometimes it goes into gear like it should,other times you can hear gears grinding. Everything in the linkage is moving nice and easy, nothing is binding. I called the dealer to let them know what I found, and they are still convinced my problem is in the linkage. My linkage has quite a bit of slop in it. When I move the lever from neutral to forward, the handle travels around an inch before it actually starts to move the lever on the side of the transmission. The dealer told me to disconnect the bracket where it attaches to the lever on the side of the transmission. He wants me to reach down and move that lever by hand until it slips into the detent and then see if it moves like it should. Same thing for reverse. If it works fine I will know my linkage is the problem. If it still grinds gears I will know it is internal. Makes a lot of sense. He looked up all the linkage parts and they are still available if I need to replace anything. Prices are very reasonable as well. Problem is I will not have time to get to it until later in the week. I will keep you posted.

fpappal · Mar 4, 2020

I determined today my problem is internal. I disconnected the linkage from the transmission and put vice grips in its place. With the tractor running I could easily put it in reverse however forward only worked sometime. The lever would only go so far then stop. I would have to keep trying 4 or 5 times before it would go into gear. Sometimes it would work perfect but it resisted going into gear more times than not. I still need to pull the cover on the transmission to see if I can see anything wrong. Going to call dealership and see if they can give me a ballpark figure to fix it.

Kioti Paul · Mar 5, 2020

That is a bummer! I would agree with your decision to pull the cover - just 4 bolts, and maybe you could see the problem. Look closely at the shifter fork to see if there is wear (where it fits into the synchronizer).

Your transmission has a very different (shifter) arrangement than my DK45, so I guess I am no help.

Best of luck!