450 Shifter lever

[David Robinson]

Fixed my 450 this weekend which was locked up in gear. Searched archives and followed advice on how to remove shift lever and line up notches in shifter rails. This website is especially awesome for newbies like myself.

Just wondering though in retrospect why I didn't see any fluid in transmission??? All I noticed was some old nasty looking grease on the rails.

Was there supposed to have been transmission fluid in there??? Are they just supposed to have some sort of grease on the rails??? What would be the best thing for me to do to bring them up to snuff???

Thanks in advance for your help.

Dave

 

[Nat 2]

Looking into that dark cavity through an itty-bitty hole, you may not be able to see down far enough to see the lube.

The "grease" is likely just 50-year-old gear lube that's built up on the rails.

There is a level plug on the left side of the tractor for the transmission lube. If you pull that and clean-looking thick oil runs out, you're fine.

It may not be a bad idea to get a manual so you have reference for all this stuff, and to change the gear lube in the transmission and rear end of your tractor. Running it dry is a bad, very expensive, idea.

 

[David Robinson]

Thanks "Nat 2". I'll do exactly as you suggest and pull level plug to check for transmission lube. I've already got an Operators Manual ordered but it just hasn't arrived yet. Be glad when it gets here so I can go over everything on tractor and quit embarrassing myself.

 

[Wardner]

Nat, I would disagree with your comments. That 450 probably has a TA and needs tractor fluid to operate properly.

I bought a 400 ten years ago that had a very high viscosity gear oil in it. It was similar to tar and had to be heated to get it out. I presume the high viscosity was due to its age. Funny thing though. The formerly inoperable TA works perfectly with the right oil. He needs to get three 5 gallon pails.