Peculiar Transmission Problem

Lanse

Well-known Member
Hey everyone. So, I got a really cheap Kubota L175 out of the 1970's that runs great and really only has one main problem - the transmission is stuck in first gear. When I first got the tractor, I took the shifter cover off and discovered that at least one of the "bars" that the shift forks ride on was frozen solid from some water that got into the transmission, so I said "lucky me!" and figured this would get it shifting.

So yesterday, I took the bars, the shift forks, detents, etc all apart and cleaned everything and put some grease on them and now the shift forks ride back and fourth perfectly and move as they should in all directions. Theres only one problem. THE TRACTOR IS STILL STUCK IN FIRST GEAR!!!

I can move the shift lever around and move it through all the gears. But no matter how it is set, the tractor always moves in first gear. Its very strange, I've never seen or heard of anything like it. Does anyone have any suggestions on what it might be? I'm positive the shift forks are on their respective gears, I made sure all 3 of them were engaged when I put the transmission back together. But like I said, no matter what gear you select, the tractor moves in first gear. Sometimes it feels like something is binding in there, but I dont know what. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Its a 4 speed "crashbox" transmission.
 
Hello lance,

Bet you missed the fork for that gear. The transmission sliding clutches have to be in neutral, and the cover too so they match when the cover is installed. Easy enough to miss the sliding clutch with the shifting fork,

Guido.
 
Hello there,

I'm pretty positive I got all of them on there, I spent probably close to an hour getting it in there just right. If one fork was off, wouldn't it work in some gears and not others? What is a sliding clutch? All I saw in there were gears that slide back and fourth on a shaft.
 
Sounds like the gears are out of order on the shift forks. Probly means someone fixed it for you to stay in first gear before you bought it.
 
Well did you jack up one rear wheel and be sure it is in N. So you never blocked clutch down and tried all the gears before you put cover back on. Maybe its time to do it again.
 
No, I did not jack up one wheel and see if it is in neutral? I dont understand the point of that when I'm trying to get it to go into other gears. I'm not really following your post.
 
You jack up one wheel so as to know for sure you have it in neutral before you put the shifter back on. If you do not do that you have no way of knowing it is out of gear.
 
Also by making sure it is in neutral with wheel jacked up you can rule out the bearing being seized onto the shaft keeping it in first. I had a cockshut that welded a gear on a shaft somehow and was stuck in first
 
I thought there was a problem with the high/low shifter, and you backed it off the trailer after doing some wrenching? Dont tell me, you done went and bought something else, ha!! Anywho, if it is indeed going into other gears, and still in first, and someone please correct me if I wrong on Kubotas, but it would bog down and not move at all. Love that youre getting back into farming.
 
If it goes into all other gears, and if it moves as though in first when in one of those other gears, there are issues beyond shifter forks. As said pull the cover and lift a wheel. Jim
 
Something is not adding up...

If it is always in first, or any gear, and you put it in another gear, everything will lock up. It won't roll, and will kill the engine when the clutch is engaged. Typical of being in 2 gears at once.

Possibly first gear is rusted to the shaft causing the binding. But I don't see it being able to be shifted if it was rusted to the shaft.

What happens if you put it in neutral, hold the brake, and engage the clutch? With some throttle can you keep the engine running and the tractor not moving? If it is rust bound, it may work itself loose.
 
A sliding clutch is a gear with an internal spline that locks it to the shaft when engaged, unlocks when disengaged as it is slid by the shifter fork.
 
Thanks old. You need the shifting rails lined up to put shifter on. Also you can look at shifter and see what happens when you put it in a gear. Maybe you have a roll pin broken or a shifting fork bent or broken.
 

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