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.

 

[rrlund]

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.

I've gotta go with the clutch dragging. The reason the Olivers won't come out of gear when the Hydra Power or Over /Under are in Dirct or Overdrive is because they don't like to turn backwards in those ranges. Sounds to me like that's what's happening, the transmission needs to roll back slightly and can't.

 

[PJH]

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?

The pulley brake and clutch adjustment on your 50 is a delicate balance. If the pulley brake is too loose the clutch can "over center" and engage when you pull the clutch lever back all the way. The harder you pull, the tighter it will engage. If you are desperately trying to stop you will pull back hard, possibly hurting something or someone. Clutch and pulley brake adjustment should be done out in the open. The newer model two cylinder Deeres had adjustable stop bolts behind the clutch to prevent the "over center" problem.

Clutch drag, as others mentioned, is your problem and it can probably be corrected with adjustment of the pulley brake.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

while clutch adjustment should be checked and done properly I confirmed today while mowing off the sweet corn that the single stick transmission should be able to pop OUT of gear WHILE OPERATING with no touching the clutch smooth as butter. Out only. It’s highly likely something else is causing issues. Could be a bearing gone bad in the transmission or a shifter problem is more likely as suggested above.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t verify proper operation of the clutch but boy shifting out of gear with a hammer should not have the slightest thing to do with it.

I regularly rest my foot on the pto In the same manner and glide it out of gear as I throttle down. No bending over. No clutch. No stopping. Clutch brake not involved. You can feel when it wants to slide out don’t force it.

I don’t regularly do this with the transmission. Why? Because the risks are higher especially in road gear if you miss. And you are changing gears anyway to engage you must be stopped and it’s likely you will want to slip the clutch a bit to get it INTO gear.

But I checked today and it acts identical to the pto as far as you should not have to smack it with a hammer to take it out of gear even at full throttle clutch engaged. She should glide right out of gear.