JD 50 hard shifting

[chas036]

My 50 that I bought last year at an auction has a problem shifting gears. I find that it is almost impossible to get it out of gear without having to hit the gear shifter lever hard with my hand or sometimes with a hammer. It does this for all gears. What would cause this?

 

[larson coulee boy]

My 50 that I bought last year at an auction has a problem shifting gears. I find that it is almost impossible to get it out of gear without having to hit the gear shifter lever hard with my hand or sometimes with a hammer. It does this for all gears. What would cause this?

Clutch is not disengaging.

 

[Rich'sToys]

The pulley brake possibly needs to be adjusted. The owner's manual explains how to do it. My 50 was hard to shift also sometimes. That adjustment helped it quite a bit.

 

[a49deere]

Rust on the shifters! No oil! Burrs on shifter shaft.

 

[a49deere]

Clutch is not disengaging.

If this was happening, I'd think he'd be asking why his tractor won't stop, not shift hard! But anything is possible, I guess!

 

[used red MN]

If this was happening, I'd think he'd be asking why his tractor won't stop, not shift hard! But anything is possible, I guess!

Or be grinding when going in gear. At least on a JD two banger or at least the traditional ones you can see if the pulley has stopped or not to ensure it’s not going to grind.

 

[matthies]

How does it go into gear? Either an adjustment or you have trash/rust in the clutch.

 

[matthies]

Once you get it out of gear does the pulley start turning without holding the lever down?

 

[hoghollow]

My 50 that I bought last year at an auction has a problem shifting gears. I find that it is almost impossible to get it out of gear without having to hit the gear shifter lever hard with my hand or sometimes with a hammer. It does this for all gears. What would cause this?

If you shut tractor off does it shift out of gear easy or does it still hang up? If it shifts easy when shut off you have a clutch problem if still shifts hard it is in the shift rails.

 

[a49deere]

If you shut tractor off does it shift out of gear easy or does it still hang up? If it shifts easy when shut off you have a clutch problem if still shifts hard it is in the shift rails.

I'm trying to wrap my pea brain around how the clutch can affect shifting! If the clutch is not disengaging, the tractor is moving when it's in gear and you wouldn't (I wouldn't think) be trying to shift it. If the clutch is spinning and the tractor is not in gear, and one tries to put it in gear, well we all know what you're going to hear. Can someone explain their reasoning on why it's the clutch? To me it's either on a hill with pressure on the transmission when trying to be shifted, or something internal in the shifter forks and rails.

 

[flying belgian]

I think its the clutch brake. Try moving the clutch lever just enough to release the clutch brake and let the tractor "relax"

 

[hoghollow]

I'm trying to wrap my pea brain around how the clutch can affect shifting! If the clutch is not disengaging, the tractor is moving when it's in gear and you wouldn't (I wouldn't think) be trying to shift it. If the clutch is spinning and the tractor is not in gear, and one tries to put it in gear, well we all know what you're going to hear. Can someone explain their reasoning on why it's the clutch? To me it's either on a hill with pressure on the transmission when trying to be shifted, or something internal in the shifter forks and rails.

It is called clutch drag. Not enough to move tractor but enough to make shifting difficult. Causes are rust in clutch, the 3 adjusting bolts not tightened evenly, clutch brake wore out or miss adjusted, bolts or pins wore excessivly n clutch handle linkage to name a few.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

It could be something in the clutch but it is unlikely

The problem would be ENGAGING the gear not disengaging

 

[chas036]

Once you get it out of gear does the pulley start turning without holding the lever down?

One the tractor is off, it shifts relatively easy from gear to gear. But when it is running , even when I diengage the clutch, it is almost impossible to shift out of a gear.

 

[used red MN]

One the tractor is off, it shifts relatively easy from gear to gear. But when it is running , even when I diengage the clutch, it is almost impossible to shift out of a gear.

When you shift it into a gear the belt pulley is stopped completely by the brake and it goes into gear with zero grinding? When you shift it out of a gear does the belt pulley remain stopped or when you get it in neutral does the pulley start slipping against the clutch brake and start rotating again?

 

[Dan in Ohio]

My 70 gas std. was doing the same as you describe your 50. I tried tightening the three clutch bolts by turning just two flats in and shifting became much easier. As a last resort, there is an actuating pin that the pulley brake contacts that could be worn and I have seen this more affecting the clutch not disengaging or wanting to re-engage when pulling the lever back. Try adjusting the clutch first.

 

[Fordy20]

It is called clutch drag. Not enough to move tractor but enough to make shifting difficult. Causes are rust in clutch, the 3 adjusting bolts not tightened evenly, clutch brake wore out or miss adjusted, bolts or pins wore excessivly n clutch handle linkage to name a few.

First and easiest thing to do is properly adjust the pulley brake before tearing the clutch apart. I have a 620 and the manual details how to adjust it which is simple to do. Another thing to try is when stopped and trying to shift, move the clutch ahead just enough to release the pulley brake. if that works, the pulley brake needs to be adjusted. That works on my 620. Always try simple things first.