shifting into neutral when idling a 2 cly

620 John

Member
I understand it's important to shift into neural and engage the clutch when idling to keep from wearing out the clutch. But what I'm curious about is this year I saw two guys put the shifter lever somewhere in the middle the hi and low slot and then engaging the clutch. One guy had a 720 and the other had a late B so these were both single stick shifters. When I'm idling I just put the lever anywhere in the neutral slot on either side of the hi and low range and engage the clutch.

Just curious if there might be a reason for putting the shifter in the hi and low slot.
 
I can't think of any reason for that,,other than some one's Dad told them to do that years ago,,it really don't make a difference,, the main reason for going to neutral and snapping the clutch is is to keep the pulley bearing from running..
 
We never used to put our two bangers in neutral and I've never had to replace a clutch bearing. However, we usually don't let them sit there idling unless it's for hooking up a wagon or implement or opening a gate. If its doing stationary PTO work it's in neutral with the clutch engaged.

Lately though I tend to pull it in neutral when I get off with the tractor running because of the runaway stories I have heard.
 
You do it for the same reason you don't sit with the clutch depressed on your manual transmission truck for any length of time; keeps from putting excessive wear on the throw-out bearing.
 
I was part of one of those run-away stories when I was a kid. Dad had just backed the 70D with baler attached to pick up a hay wagon. I hitched it up and got on the tractor to take the rig to the field. It
was in reverse when it suddenly started back. Dad yelled to shut it off, which involved advancing the throttle a bit, pulling out the stop button and pulling the throttle back to stop it. When I looked
back there was a steel pretzel. The wagon tongue had to go to a forge in town to be heated to straighten it. The frozen bearing had to be chiseled out with a cold chisel. Not the best day ever. Dad said
that in the "old" (letter) tractors, the bearing got enough lubrication from the crankcase oil mist to last almost forever. The numbered tractors have a solid case with no oil fumes and they'd seize up just like
that. If I get off to hook up a trailer I put it in neutral. If its more than dropping a pin, like hooking up a pto too, the clutch goes in. Cheap insurance.

"Just do it".
 
Putting the shift lever in the hi/lo spot keeps a person from catching his leg while getting on and off, and possibly knocking it in gear. Noticed this myself this year.
 
Yea I understand leaving the clutch disengaged wears out the clutch bearing and plates. My Grandpa ran the elevator for hours with the 620 and left the clutch disengaged (OUCH!).

Is there like a neutral zone in the shifter where it's NOT in hi OR low range? Would that keep the sliding gear shaft from turning? This is the only reason I can think of why someone would put the shifter in that position.

I found this video on youtube. If you go to 1:40 you can see he's turning the input shaft without turning the sliding gear shaft.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yegZ4tyXQMQ
 
On old molines with manual over center clutch like the Gvi, it is actually when you engage the clutch that you put pressure on the clutch bearing. It is the other way as normal clutches. So you always pull lever back except for when driving. (And indeed you do put in neutral to be safer). Deeres have to be the same.
They are also overcenter, so ther isnt much force either position.
 
If the clutch is not engaged the pulley bearing spins , and if needs serviced (bearing packed with grease ) it can seize to the crank and if left in gear can run over you . Always shift to neutral and engage the clutch . Then apply the brakes before getting off .
 
Deeres are not the same. THe roller bearing in there on a Deere only spins when the the clutch is disengaged... so keeping it engaged keeps the bearing, which has no
automatic lubrication, from wearing out.
 
No one answered your question about if they had a neutral spot in the middle of the slot. Well they DO NOT. Leave the lever at either one end or the other of the slot. This will leave full tooth contact with the gear this lever moves. If left somewhere in the middle which the exact point does not have a detent I can see where the gears will either have little tooth contact or could even grind the edges off the teeth. I will even go so far as to say leaving it in the side that the gear is in mesh with the top shaft input gear thus locking the top shaft together MAY EVEN lessen wear on the top shaft middle ball bearing since it won't be turning. Though I serious doubt anyone will be leaving the tractor run long enough sitting still to matter in the grand scheme of things.

I have seen plenty of people get on and off and NOT set the brakes and think the pulley brake will hold it. I once got off a late B to open a shed door to pull it in. Left it idling in gear clutch lever pulled back and brakes set. As I opened the door tractor labored and stalled. WTF ? I thought. It appears as though the clutch lever bounced as it was on a slight down hill slope and it engaged enough it pulled the engine down. I'm sure glad I had latched both brakes on !
 
(quoted from post at 09:45:12 10/07/17) No one answered your question about if they had a neutral spot in the middle of the slot. Well they DO NOT. Leave the lever at either one end or the other of the slot. This will leave full tooth contact with the gear this lever moves. If left somewhere in the middle which the exact point does not have a detent I can see where the gears will either have little tooth contact or could even grind the edges off the teeth. I will even go so far as to say leaving it in the side that the gear is in mesh with the top shaft input gear thus locking the top shaft together MAY EVEN lessen wear on the top shaft middle ball bearing since it won't be turning. Though I serious doubt anyone will be leaving the tractor run long enough sitting still to matter in the grand scheme of things.

I have seen plenty of people get on and off and NOT set the brakes and think the pulley brake will hold it. I once got off a late B to open a shed door to pull it in. Left it idling in gear clutch lever pulled back and brakes set. As I opened the door tractor labored and stalled. WTF ? I thought. It appears as though the clutch lever bounced as it was on a slight down hill slope and it engaged enough it pulled the engine down. I'm sure glad I had latched both brakes on !


Thanks Mike, I guess that answers my second question. From your description I can't figure out why anyone would put the shifter in that position for fear of grinding the gears.

I know the guy with the 720 and I should have asked him. He knows these tractors inside and out so I thought there was a reason. The guy with the late B was at a different show and he was using the tractor to cut wood shingles. He probably ran it for hours like that. They were two unrelated persons.

Then again, it probably won't matter as long as it's in neutral.
 
Don has it right.I had one lockup going into the shop many years ago dam near went into the parts dept before i get that big diesel to stop turning
 
Yea I also lock at least one brake on the 2 cylinders. One time in a 4240 quad range the shifter wasn't entirely in neutral and the lever started to catch into 3rd. Good thing I was in the cab before it took off and/or broke the gears! That's why I've had the fear of any tractor catching back in gear, so I usually go in park or set the brakes.

It's amazing how many people I see at tractor shows walk away from a running tractor leaving the clutch disengaged while still in gear.
 
One old farmer told me his 720 diesel ran away when one of the clutch plates got so thin it folded up. Ever hear of that?
 
I have heard several of those stories. If the floating disks break they can stack and lock the clutch up.
 
(quoted from post at 07:37:38 10/10/17) I have heard several of those stories. If the floating disks break they can stack and lock the clutch up.
I've heard those stories too. That's why I was taught to NEVER leave the tractor idling in gear with the clutch pulled back.
 

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