Good morning - i wonder if anyone can offer any advice. I have a 2012 T353 which i purchased second hand some years ago. It should have slow/medium/high speeds (4 gears in each) selected by a lever next to the gear lever on the rhs. It has never been able to work in the slow setting and that hasnt been a problem until i bought a hedge cutter which really needs the slowest speed. It is as if i cant quite push the lever far enough forward to engage 'slow' (it comes out of medium) before the lever shaft fouls on the bodywork (ie the slot in the bodywork doesnt seem to extend far enough forward). There doesnt seem to be any adjustment. Has anyone else had this or does anyone have any ideas for a remedy? Thank you.
ptsg
Super Member
Hi Dave.
So, range gear can be tricky to shift since those are not synchronized so the teeth must be aligned just right for it to engage. Hence why letting the tractor roll slowly, helps shifting.
A lot of people don't quite understand this and since it's a tractor, they jump straight to force those levers to shift. This only results in bent linkages, sheared roll pins or worse case scenario bent fork or more inside the transmission, a lot more expensive.
Since you bought this tractor used, there is no tell on what the previous owner did, so I suspect you have something similar going on.
Here is a page from the parts catalogue to help with this next explanation. By the way, you can go to Smith's Enterprise website and download the owners and service manual, along with the parts catalogue.
This picture shows the linkage for the range lever. I suspect that you either have the linkage #5 bent or the roll pin #4 is sheared or close to be anyway. I would start by checking those parts and see if there is anything obviously wrong with it.
If you end up taking things apart, I suggest that you apply some grease on the shaft #10 when reassemble. This is the main pivot for the range lever.
So, range gear can be tricky to shift since those are not synchronized so the teeth must be aligned just right for it to engage. Hence why letting the tractor roll slowly, helps shifting.
A lot of people don't quite understand this and since it's a tractor, they jump straight to force those levers to shift. This only results in bent linkages, sheared roll pins or worse case scenario bent fork or more inside the transmission, a lot more expensive.
Since you bought this tractor used, there is no tell on what the previous owner did, so I suspect you have something similar going on.
Here is a page from the parts catalogue to help with this next explanation. By the way, you can go to Smith's Enterprise website and download the owners and service manual, along with the parts catalogue.
This picture shows the linkage for the range lever. I suspect that you either have the linkage #5 bent or the roll pin #4 is sheared or close to be anyway. I would start by checking those parts and see if there is anything obviously wrong with it.
If you end up taking things apart, I suggest that you apply some grease on the shaft #10 when reassemble. This is the main pivot for the range lever.
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Dear ptsg - thanks so much for this. i didnt expect such a fast and detailed reply, and i hadnt appreciated the need to roll. I'll strip the linkage mechanism down and see what i find. As you say, hopefully its a bent link or similar
Thanks again, and particualry for the heads up on the manuals.
Thanks again, and particualry for the heads up on the manuals.Just some feedback @ptsg
You pointed me in exactly the right direction
I found the actuating arm on the lever bent backwards by about 5-7mm.
Quite how i dont know - it took a great deal of grunt to straighten it. All works fine now though.
It seems to be the only link without any adjustment.
Thanks again.....Dave
You pointed me in exactly the right direction
I found the actuating arm on the lever bent backwards by about 5-7mm. Quite how i dont know - it took a great deal of grunt to straighten it. All works fine now though.
It seems to be the only link without any adjustment.
Thanks again.....Dave
