Sherman step-down, how's it work?

BlackThumbHomesteader · Mar 30, 2015

I have one in my 2N and I'm thinking it needs to be pulled and serviced. Tractor in neutral and Sherman lever pushed all the way towards the front of the tractor, then transmission in 1st, gives me a very slow foreward crawl. Tractor in neutral and Sherman lever pushed halfway...should I be in 1st gear again or another one?

There definitely seems to be 2 steps to the Sherman but I haven't had the first one do anything at all, regardless of what gear I'm in. In fact, putting the Sherman in that first step and tractor in gear I get zero foreward movement. I'm going to be doing a clutch job come fall so any work on the Sherman can be planned for and a rebuild kit obtained if it comes to it.

Edit; I [i:c46073f3ff]*THINK*[/i:c46073f3ff] it's a step-down Sherman, only because of its performance in 1st. I bought the machine from a consignment shop so I never had contact with the actual previous owner to answer my questions.

Bob · Mar 30, 2015

Check out "N" GURU John Smith's informative Sherman site:
Sherman info

BlackThumbHomesteader · Mar 30, 2015

Already have. It doesn't quite answer the question I'm asking though. The external lever looks like a step-up, but I'm certain that(like everything else on these tractors) could be a later switch by the owner.

Bob · Mar 30, 2015

Yep, I kinda figured that, but there's some pretty good photos and parts breakdowns for the various versions that SHOULD help to figure it out.

Tiger Joe · Mar 30, 2015

(quoted from post at 11:15:19 03/30/15)
Already have. It doesn't quite answer the question I'm asking though. The external lever looks like a step-up, but I'm certain that(like everything else on these tractors) could be a later switch by the owner.

a creeper and a step up Sherman have different top covers and use different shifters. the locations where the holes come out of are also different therefore unless someone did some welding to fix a broken shifter, you cannot swap a creeper and step up handle.

the step-up handle would come out directly behind the starter whereas the combo or creeper comes out further back.

if you had a step up, all the way towards the engine would be the tractors normal range, and all the way back is the step up range. it is possible to be in neutral in between the two.

I found it can sometimes be difficult to shift my step up and requires a bit of force. maybe you are just not getting the step up gears engaged?

Money Pit · Mar 30, 2015

possibly a sherman combo? about halfway betwen full forward (low) and full back (high) is a nuetral spot. if it is a combo you should be able to move the lever out - away from the tractor - in that position. then pull it back and you're in direct drive.

Kirk-NJ · Mar 30, 2015

With a step up pushing the lever forward will give you regular gears. pulling the lever back,thru the neutral
detent, will give you the (High range) step up gears.
With a step down (same style lever) pushing the lever forward will give you the regular gears, Pulling the lever
back, thru the neutral detent, will give you the (low range) step down gears
If it only operates when you push the lever forward and when you pull the lever back it doesn't go then you are
stuck in neutral and it will not go no matter what gear you put it in. If this is the case then I would say
splitting the tractor may be in your future. There is no access from under the steer box like the 8n's and later
models.

Kirk

BlackThumbHomesteader · Mar 30, 2015

Allright, I'm getting a better picture now...

There are 3 positions to my shift lever. It looks, externally, like the step up lever found on the previously mentioned 8N site. Not knowing any better I have been running the tractor with the lever pulled as far back to my as it goes so if this is a step-up I've been stepping it up for a couple years now without realising it. I'll go out later today and try each position with each gear and let you know what comes of it.

I also did go out and try to rock the lever in each position but it only moves front to back, no sideways motion.

64frd4000ind · Mar 30, 2015

Dad's 2N we got a month or so ago, has the Step Up transmission, Forward is normal, middle is Neutral and back is Step Up.

Have never tried to drive it with the Sherman in Neutral, but I would assume it would not move, hence what you are seeing.

Kirk-NJ · Mar 30, 2015

Sherman combo Has a J dogleg style lever. In the neutral detent you can move the lever out, away from the tractor.
The step up/step down has no sideway movement.
I guess riding around with the step up range for years and then shifting into the standard range would fell like
you're in low range.

Kirk

HCooke · Mar 30, 2015

"Tractor in neutral and Sherman lever pushed all the way towards the front of the tractor, then transmission in 1st, gives me a very slow
foreward crawl. Tractor in neutral and Sherman lever pushed halfway...should I be in 1st gear again "

Actually the main transmission must be in gear to move. If the tractor trans is in nuetral - the tractor is in neutral.

BlackThumbHomesteader · Mar 30, 2015

I guess riding around with the step up range for years and then shifting into the standard range would fell like
you're in low range.

Kirk

That would be just my luck, too! Unless the step-down has the same lever as the step-up it is looking more and more like I have a step-up Sherman and have been cruising at rocketship speed for so long that Cadillac speed has me puzzled.

Bob Harvey · Mar 30, 2015

Here's the combo literature, will look for the other one. HTH Should be able to 'scroll' to enlarge.

Kirk-NJ · Mar 30, 2015

here is the step down lever on my 2n.
See next post for step up

Kirk-NJ · Mar 30, 2015

This is the step up lever.
If you have this lever it's either a step up or step down. Forget about people posting about a combo.
THE HANDLE/LEVER IS THE SAME step up or step down.
using the same gear on the trans (lets say 1st gear) pulling the lever back towards operator if the tractor goes faster= step up. if it goes slower= step down.

papapap2 · Mar 30, 2015

Here is a pic of my 51 with step down.....it came with a loader....no longer in the picture....Felt these poor little things shouldn't be subjected to that!

Tiger Joe · Mar 31, 2015

(quoted from post at 17:41:27 03/30/15) This is the step up lever.
If you have this lever it's either a step up or step down. Forget about people posting about a combo.
THE HANDLE/LEVER IS THE SAME step up or step down.
using the same gear on the trans (lets say 1st gear) pulling the lever back towards operator if the tractor goes faster= step up. if it goes slower= step down.

I was thinking creeper not step down when I posted. The creeper would be totally different. externally, the step up/down would look identical

Kirk-NJ · Mar 31, 2015

Yea, creeper and combo handle/lever the same. A lot of people think the step down and the creeper trans are the
same.
Most people see the straight style handle with the big knob and and think it's a step up. Probably in my area I've
found that maybe 8 or 9 out of every 10 were step ups and with the pull knob on the dash they think all were step
up but you could also get the step down in the cable system.

Kirk

Sherman step-down, how's it work?

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