Gears grinding

[Joe King]

I recently bought a 1979 JD 401c. it has an 8 speed trany with a hyd reverser. as you shift between gears it has a tendency to grind. this is worse in the high range than the low. the clutch seems fine but near the top for engagement. it will stall the tractor if I lock the brakes and engage the clutch. reverser work fine. the guy I bought the tractor from had the power steering assemble off and lost a lot of hydraulic fluid, never ran it dry but did add 5 gallons after the repair(a little over full) I was wondering if the grinding was do to the wrong hyd oil, cold weather (did not get a chance to fully warm it up) or some other cause? It feels like the clutch is not fully disengading even when pushed all the way down, or at least dragging the gear train around. What oil should I use in the tranny, is standard tractor supply hyd oil all right? I think that is what he added. Thanks

 

[RobMD]

your clutch is more than likely not disengaging because it's maxed out. try starting the tractor in gear with the clutch pushed in. does the starter drag harder?

 

[Joe King]

The tractor will not start in gear there is a lock out. the hi lo has to be in neutral to start. The fellow I bought the tractor from says it never ground like that before and he seems quite honest (don't they all) I was wondering since he lost a lot of oil from the power steering unit and that is above the clutch area could he have gotten oil on the clutch and would that cause these symtoms and if so how can you fix it short of replaceing the clutch?

 

[Joe King]

I alway thought a clutch slipped more as it wore. Is that not the case with these, do they drag as they reach the end of their life? Or am I miss interpeting "maxed out"? The clutch seems to work fine once it is in gear.