International T340 - Grinding gears! Hydraulic fluid?

Hello all,

I have a new-to-me IH T340 in fairly good shape I'm new and my manuals are on order and not here yet.

First thing: It is hard to first get into gear. For example, after starting the engine I will shift the main transmission into first then try to push the forward/reverse shuttle into a position - much grinding ensues! Lowering throttle helps some but not much. Once in gear it goes from forward to reverse without much issue – it’s really that first time that seems to be problematic.

What can I do or check to understand this issue more? Should I fiddle with any clutch adjustment? Should I shift in a different way (i.e. double clutching or change the order of operations, etc.?

Any ideas what the root problem is?

Second: it needs hydraulic fluid. I do not plan to run this in the winter at all. Is there a relatively inexpensive (maybe somewhat thick) fluid that people recommend with these old machines? Is there something that is somewhat “environmentally friendly” to help me feel better about inevitable leaks?

Thanks – this site is a great resource!

What happens if you start the engine, push in the clutch, engage the reverser,then try to shift the main box? It's a heck of a way to run a crawler, but maybe that will help pinpoint your troubles. Sounds strange to me what you explain, but I'm sure it will be clear as mud when you finally get it sorted out. I just got a T340 myself, and yours is the only other one I have heard of lately with the reverser. My crawler has the loader with Drott bucket and scarifier on rear, also has new chains and sprockets. Was left outside for 5 years and the water down the stack destroyed the engine--I have it on the mend though, the head is all redone, I just need to order the O/H kit and some odds and ends for the engine and I hope I will finally have a loader tractor.

Yeah, I think I get similar behavior if I try engaging forward/reverse first, (I'll check this out next time I'm out there). Obviously something is spinning and not meshing!

I think the forward/reverse is easy after I get going because everything is already moving - i.e. the clutch will disengage the engine but parts in the transmission are still moving. Its really easy and no grinding if I'm just going back and forth in one gear (as in first gear).

I'm totally new to the old tractor scene so I guess I will not know what is really inside there until I make this a real project and tear it apart.

For now I hope these forums will continue to enlighten.

If the clutch disengages the engine but there is still major grinding getting into gear does this suggest a worn bearing somewhere that is allowing some of the rotation to "seep" back into the transmission? any possible way to fix (or diagnose) this without splitting the rig?

I've been using mine for years fine with that shifting issue you mention. YOu can develop a good feel for when to push it forward after putting the clutch in. YOu don't want to just let it grind away. If you can't get it in, come up on the clutch and then push it back down, and try again. I did find that my linkages on the forward reverse lever were really loose, and when I rebushed these it was a lot easier to shift. As you noted, when it's a problem, lowering the rpm does help. ON oil, use a TDH type oil (transmission, differential, hydraulic), which is the same as a oil that meets the IH hytran specs. Every tractor place has it (eg, Tractor Supply); I get mine from NAPA. About $36 for 5 gallons. A full changeover is 46 quarts, but I occasionally drain mine and let the watery sludge settle to the bottom of the pails, and then put it back in with some new. The most important thing is to keep changing the hydraulic filter regularly so the pump doesn't get starved for fluid. When the pump starts to while or hydrualic response is poor, it's almost always the filter. There's also a T340 discussion board on the Delphi forums.