shifting question

BigTone · May 29, 2012

Can you shift a M on the fly or do you have to stop the tractor to up shift/down shift? I know its a rookie question but this is my first antique tractor and Id rather not destroy the transmission....

Aces · May 29, 2012

Bigtone It can be done, takes time to get good at that. My brother could go through all the gears on his 656 up and down.

rustyfarmall · May 29, 2012

(quoted from post at 07:45:50 05/29/12) Can you shift a M on the fly or do you have to stop the tractor to up shift/down shift? I know its a rookie question but this is my first antique tractor and Id rather not destroy the transmission....

The "double clutching" method usually works when going from 4th into 5th.
Push the clutch pedal down, shift into neutral, let the clutch pedal up, push the pedal back down and shift into 5th. Works the same way when downshifting from 5th to 4th if needed on a steep hill.

No real need to "shift on the go" in any of the other gears. Just choose the gear needed and start out in that gear.

If you attend any tractor shows, find an old-timer to demonstrate the double clutching method.

Red Dave · May 29, 2012

It can be done. I've done it on A's, B's, C's H's & M's. You have to also move the engine speed up and down at the right time too. It will keep your hands & left foot busy.

Find yourself somebody who can drive an old fashioned Road Ranger non-sychronised transmission and have them teach you how. It's not hard once somebody shows you how. It does take a little practice. It is not speed, it is timing.

sflem849 · May 29, 2012

You're not supposed to...

merlynr · May 29, 2012

Actually I up and downshift all the time when mowing hay with 7' sickle mower on my H. The field is bumpy in spots and also the hay is real thick in places and thinner in others. I up/dwn shift usually double clutching 3rd,4th sometimes 2nd and never touch the throttle. This was for rustyfarmall.

old · May 29, 2012

As others have said it can be done but can also be hard on the transmission. For the most part they are made to be shifts from a stop but trying to get one rolling in 5th can be hard to do. The only time I shift an H or M on the fly is from 4th to 5th and NEVER any other gear

BigTone · May 29, 2012

Thanks for the info folks, I greatly appreciate it. ~Anthony

john d · May 29, 2012

Not made to be shifted on the go, but.... with some practice, experience, and good timing, it can be done. Some tractors are a little easier than others. I can shift my M from 4th to 5th smoothly, but not the other way. My SM will up-shift smoothly from 2 to 3, 3 to 4, 4 to 5, and sometimes 5 to 4.

Super-H-Mike · May 29, 2012

It can be done up or down, with some practice... I do it often. Once you get used to your machine, it will come to you easily.

Bob M · May 29, 2012

Like Red Dave says, using the right technique smoothly changing gears up (and down) without stopping the tractor is possible. It's a matter of coordination/timing of throttle, clutch and gear lever - pretty much the same as driving a truck with unsychronized gear box.

Anyway I was fooling around with a cheap pocket video recorder recently and ended up creating this "instructional video". It describes/demonstrates how I upshift 4th to road gear on my Super M.

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My apologies for the quality of my video. The camcorder had recently been tossed out by a friend, and the camera mount was cobbed from an old tripod and some bungees. Truly a "low budget" production(!)
4th to 5th upshift Farmall Super M

Red Dave · May 29, 2012

Good video Bob! That is what I do. I confess that I learned how to do it on a ten wheel dump truck with a Road Ranger, not a Farmall, but it is the very same concept.

Now can you do one on downshifting? It is sorta the same thing, except backwards and you have to rev the engine in neutral. It usually works for me on a tractor, probably 8 or nine times out of ten, but not if I get in a hurry.

BTW Bob, I see that some dirty birdy did a nasty thing on your tractor. They should show some respect

BigTone · May 29, 2012

Great video, you make it look easy!

Bob M · May 29, 2012

Dave - I made a video of the 5th to 4th downshift too. Will upload and share next chance I get.

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I too learned shifting basics on a 10 wheel Mack dump with 5 & 4 twin stick (the cab is a VERY busy place when accelerating with a load!) Roadrangers were a snap after that.

Incidentally "dirty bird" that messed the hood is a robin that's nesting in the truss space above where my Super M parks. Don't quite have the heart to throw her out...

gene bender · May 30, 2012

You need to realy know your ground speeds and rpms. I could shift up and down while pulling pto AC Combine doing standing Timothy seed without grinding gears.

mkirsch · May 30, 2012

Yep, with the right engine RPM and ground speed any non-synchronized transmission can be shifted "on the fly."

The challenge is learning how to do it before grinding the transmission up.

M Diesel · May 30, 2012

(quoted from post at 06:21:00 05/30/12) Yep, with the right engine RPM and ground speed any non-synchronized transmission can be shifted "on the fly."

The challenge is learning how to do it before grinding the transmission up.

Standard quote used to be "they'll make em out of rubber next year". :lol: I still remember my teacher/neighbor telling me that after missing a 5-4 shift on their H with her standing on the drawbar. It was embarrassing, but she just chuckled.

shifting question

BigTone

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Aces

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rustyfarmall

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Red Dave

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sflem849

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merlynr

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old

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BigTone

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Bob M

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