JD A trans oil too cold to get into gear

ironandsteel · Feb 21, 2015

I wanted to use the old A to clear some snow today and I got her started, but I was totally unable to move the gearshift into any gear, or even engage the PTO lever. No movement at all- that gear oil must be like concrete from the single digit temps.

Is there a better oil I can put in the trans (i.e. synthetic) so I won't have this problem next winter?

Geoff Mathews · Feb 22, 2015

Is there frozen water in there oil?

FBH44 · Feb 22, 2015

Oil will not freeze, it might get thicker, but only water will freeze. No matter the oil, if it's stored outside, has water inside, that has to be thawed out and removed.

John VB · Feb 22, 2015

We had -32 once and the A was the only tractor that would start. Shifted fine. Must be water or something else going on.

machineryman · Feb 22, 2015

Sounds like it would be logical to let the transmission warm up. Seems to me that if you have clutch engaged it would heat up the internal parts of the transmission water or no water. The lower counter shaft would have to be turning and in a short period of time the transmission would warm. Give things time when they're stiff...

old · Feb 22, 2015

What happens if you slowly engage the clutch?? If it kills the engine very good chance you have water in it and that is why nothing will move. Had that problem on more the none tractor over the years

M-MAN · Feb 22, 2015

It isn't the oil, it's frozen moisture/water.

David G · Feb 22, 2015

Agree, probably frozen water in the bottom.

Frank 41 · Feb 22, 2015

We had a hand crank B that we did chores with.In the early 60's, it got down to -32 and on the 4th pull it started but I could not get into gear. Pushed the clutch in and came back about 15 minutes later and it worked alright. Things do work very well in that cold weather. Brakes froze on the cheby pu. About 2' of silage froze on the wall of the silo and the unloader didn't work. Water lines froze in the feed lot but we had a artisian well for one water tank. The good old days in NC IA.

old · Feb 22, 2015

Pushed the clutch in????????????? They have hand clutches

Earl-IL · Feb 22, 2015

That is how a Deere clutch works!!!!!

old · Feb 22, 2015

No such thing as pushed in I know I have had a 1935 JD B in the family since 1940. I have had 5 generation of my family on it and so I know well how they work. Hand clutch you have back or forward not pushed in. Back is unengaged and forward engaged

ironandsteel · Feb 22, 2015

It is in neutral, so engaging the clutch just spins the pulley. I think water in the trans must be the issue. Condensation I reckon. Gonna have to drain this spring.

RLA · Feb 22, 2015

Old.
I think it depends on where you live in this
country? (Pushed the Clutch in ) has been the
only term I've ever heard to engauge the clutch
on a 2cylinder ? We have out of the 10 tractors
sitting here & of them have a hand clutchs....

teddy52food · Feb 22, 2015

He pushed the clutch in to engage it so the gears would turn & limber up. Opposite of a foot clutch.

Earl-IL · Feb 22, 2015

Frank, I don't think "Old" believes us Illinois guys know how to drive a Deere. I couldn't resist his ???????????????

old · Feb 22, 2015

Pour some Heet into the transmission to help absorb any water. On the tractors I have that where froze up it did not matter what gear they where or where not in it would stall the engine so that is why I say try to engage the clutch it can tell you something

old · Feb 22, 2015

Again push forward to engage or back to disengage why is that so hard to understand??

old · Feb 22, 2015

Well I work on all brands so yes it can be different I guess. To me you engage or disengage a hand clutch not push in. If you have a foot clutch you push the pedal down

BushogPapa · Feb 23, 2015

At thet low temp, 90WT would be mighty stiff but the shifter would still slowly move..
Now, if you have 140Wt in there, it may be like Tar..!!

Ever try to drain a Model "T" differential.?
They use 600Wt oil and you need to HEAT that, even in the Summer to drain it..!!

Ron..

ss55 · Feb 23, 2015

How old and how thick is the transmission oil?

ironandsteel · Feb 23, 2015

I have never changed it in the 7 or so years that I've owned the tractor. Probably due, eh? It lives in a shed, but is exposed to the elements, so it likely has condensation in there.
What should I put in there- normal 85w gear oil or is there something better?

DJB · Feb 23, 2015

That question has been debated many times over the years. Perform a search on the John Deere forum for "gear oil" together.

Here's one from 2014 - Gear Oil Type

racsan · Feb 24, 2015

i always spin the belt pully after starting (and with that the countershaft in the trans turns) and that seems to help with being able to shift into gear once im ready to move the tractor. you probly do have water in there, years of condensation add up. ironically my ranger shifted very stiff this morning with -11 temps and i thought that "this thing is shifting like a jd "A"! ".

JD A trans oil too cold to get into gear

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