Case IH 235

I posted this on the Farmall forum, but there was no response. Thought I'd try here. I am doing maintenance on my Dad's Case IH 235 with hydrostatic transmission. He is 94 years young and uses it with a Woods RM59-3 mower to maintain the farmstead. While going over things, I discovered that the lever which switches from neutral to low or high range is darn hard to get to move. It's like it is stuck with glue. There is no noise to indicate any internal issues, but just hard to move. I haven't taken it apart, but did see that there appears to be a ball bearing incorporated that moves between three holes cast in the transmission housing. The ball is pressed against the housing by a spring. I gave it a good dose of "Chetah Grease" (sprays out like WD40 then turns into a grease that is waterproof and slick) yesterday. I doubt I got much inside the housing for the ball, so got to wondering if anyone else has dealt with this and what's the best method of repair. Thanks in advance.

Nobody answered your post on RPM because nobody has any experience with that model tractor, I bet same is likely to happen here. That model is basically a Mitsubishi. The model before, #234 was labeled an IH but still similar looking built by Mitsubishi, very low sales by IH. I would check a forum like TractorByNet for both CIH, IH and Mitsubishi and see if anybody responds that has had similar problem.

Working the shifter back & forth will eventually get it loosened up. Transfer case in my '96 F-250 is the same way. Can barely move the lever first snow of the year, by spring it slides from 2-Hi to 4-Hi with one finger.

Thanks Dr Evil. Boy, it sure has been dependable. This is the first issue since we bought it new in '92. Thanks for the info.

(quoted from post at 04:05:06 05/02/18) I posted this on the Farmall forum, but there was no response. Thought I'd try here. I am doing maintenance on my Dad's Case IH 235 with hydrostatic transmission. He is 94 years young and uses it with a Woods RM59-3 mower to maintain the farmstead. While going over things, I discovered that the lever which switches from neutral to low or high range is darn hard to get to move. It's like it is stuck with glue. There is no noise to indicate any internal issues, but just hard to move. I haven't taken it apart, but did see that there appears to be a ball bearing incorporated that moves between three holes cast in the transmission housing. The ball is pressed against the housing by a spring. I gave it a good dose of "Chetah Grease" (sprays out like WD40 then turns into a grease that is waterproof and slick) yesterday. I doubt I got much inside the housing for the ball, so got to wondering if anyone else has dealt with this and what's the best method of repair. Thanks in advance.

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If it is getting hard to shift between ranges be careful. There is a PIN on that shifter inside that prone to break. It rides on a smooth spot on the gear that slides to the front and rear for ho/lo. If that breaks it requires a spit to fix and some tear down in the read end as well to get shafts out to replace.

Make sure that the trans lube and filters have been changed and are at the proper levels. Use a good de-greaser to clean that ball and spring (not likely the issue) and be careful when shitfting. These can be hard to shift if the hand operated hydro forward rearward handle and linkage get out of adjustment and is the tractor is trying to creep a bit.

Can you tell I used to have one of these and had to replace that pin. In all fairness I bought it that way knowing I had to fix it. Oh and that pin is almost unobtainable. I ended using a long smooth shank grade 8 bolt as a pin. Still working 5 years later. I sold that tractor to a friend and he is still using it. That pin and the ignition switch are the only two known weak points on those tractors. Overall a good little tractor.

Thanks for the info.....even though I hate to hear it... ;-)

(quoted from post at 10:35:05 05/02/18) Thanks for the info.....even though I hate to hear it... ;-)

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Your welcome glad to help. I have been helped by many on here just trying to pay it forward.