Brought my 970 powershift in with the intent of changing the fluid and replacing a leaking PTO seal. Problems began when I heard parts hitting the bottom of the drain buckets. Fished around more with a magnet and found a variety of pieces in 4 of the 5 drain holes.
The tractor seemed to be working normally before I started working on it. A small leak at the PTO shaft had been progressing for years. It had gotten to the point it was using a gallon or so a day and it was overdue for a fluid change.
I had noticed a year or so ago that the clutch pedal tension had lightened up. I lubed the linkage, cleaned debris off the top of the transmission, checked the return spring, and cleared a rub against a battery cable and all was good but tension seemed to remain low. The powershift works great in all positions. The four-speed functions as it always has with only a little grinding when cold. This tractor spends its life pulling a bushhog on flat ground. It hasn't been used for hard pulling in several years and I haven't noticed any slippage.
This 970 is on the high end of all of the serial number spits. I have looked at the service manuals and parts list to try to determine where the problem is. The parts of springs wire diameter is 0.085". This matches the spec for the C-1 outer return springs. The ball that came out of the rear drain in is 0.5625" (9/16). That doesn't match with anything I've found searching the manuals or parts list.
Is this something I need to stop and fix now or just fill it back up and keep going until it quits? If it needs to be fixed, should I send it to a dealer or tackle it myself?
Thanks for your help!
Scott
Part from 1st drain plug (front)
Parts from 2nd. More pieces visible but too big to get out
Parts from 3rd. Spring parts also visible but too big to get out.
Ball and spring from rear drain.
The tractor seemed to be working normally before I started working on it. A small leak at the PTO shaft had been progressing for years. It had gotten to the point it was using a gallon or so a day and it was overdue for a fluid change.
I had noticed a year or so ago that the clutch pedal tension had lightened up. I lubed the linkage, cleaned debris off the top of the transmission, checked the return spring, and cleared a rub against a battery cable and all was good but tension seemed to remain low. The powershift works great in all positions. The four-speed functions as it always has with only a little grinding when cold. This tractor spends its life pulling a bushhog on flat ground. It hasn't been used for hard pulling in several years and I haven't noticed any slippage.
This 970 is on the high end of all of the serial number spits. I have looked at the service manuals and parts list to try to determine where the problem is. The parts of springs wire diameter is 0.085". This matches the spec for the C-1 outer return springs. The ball that came out of the rear drain in is 0.5625" (9/16). That doesn't match with anything I've found searching the manuals or parts list.
Is this something I need to stop and fix now or just fill it back up and keep going until it quits? If it needs to be fixed, should I send it to a dealer or tackle it myself?
Thanks for your help!
Scott
Part from 1st drain plug (front)
Parts from 2nd. More pieces visible but too big to get out
Parts from 3rd. Spring parts also visible but too big to get out.
Ball and spring from rear drain.