No fifth gear

[Steve Atkins]

I was gifted a 1947 H got it home and runing and found I have no 5th gear. I have access to another tractor, a 1941 H. Would it be easier to split both tractors and swap transmissions or rebuild my trans? I would have 12hrs driving time to pick up the other tractor? Steve

 

[Nat 2]

Before you go off replacing the entire transmission, determine WHY 5th gear doesn't work. It may be a simple matter of just replacing a couple of common wear parts, or even as simple as removing a single bolt.

What happens when you try 5th gear? Does it grind? Does it seem to go into gear, but does nothing? Will it not go into gear at all? The answers to these questions will point you in three very different directions:

If it grinds, you probably just need to replace or straighten the shifter fork. Someone tried to force it into 5th at one time and bent the fork.
If it does nothing, you probably need a new 4th-5th slider gear. 60 years of grinding has worn the gear smooth.
If it won't go in at all, remove the 5th gear lockout bolt on the platform. Tractors with steel wheels originally (not common in '47) had 5th locked out for obvious reasons.

The lockout bolt is a long shot. I don't know if any post-war tractors came with factory steel, or if the platform had the provision for the lockout bolt.

 

[Nebraska Cowman]

Chances are the other H may not be much better. But @ 12 hrs it would still be worth going after. You may be able to salvage other parts from it. My first guess, Yeah the gears are completly worn out and the previous owner held the lever in with his foot til even that wouldn't work. As far as the lock-out bolt. the only time I have ever seen one installed was when the gears were already shot and the owner did not want the hired help trying to use 5th gear.

 

[Steve Atkins]

It goes in to gear and dose nothing. I can see the hydralic pump output shaft spin. Sounds like a rebuild?

 

[L.C.Gray]

I have a 47 I-4 that 5th gear seems non existant in. Being an industrial unit, I wonder if it might have the lock-out bolt. Where is it and what does it look like?

 

[James3504]

I've have the same problem too Steve. Except the H's I have are earlier model's, can't remember if it is the 40 or 41 but one of mine will not shift fifth gear. Someone mentioned something about a lockout bolt, what is that and where is it located. That may be my whole problem. I just don't know where to start my repair. Any info would be greatly appreactive. Thanks!

 

[Anonymous-0]

This may be a dumb comment but don't H's that came factory with steel wheels have 5th gear locked out so it doesn't work. I assume this was a safety issue. Could these tractors have come with steel wheels and had rubber added later? Just curious.

 

[Steve Atkins]

Just to rule it out. Where is the lock out bolt located? I did notice that when I have the shift lever in fifth that it dose not come back as far as 1 and 3. I ordered repair/ owners and parts manuals today. Can anyone tell me about how long a fifth gear replacment might take?

 

[Steve Atkins]

I found the lock out bolt. Its a 9/16 bolt located forward and left of the stick shift. Mine was not locked out. I stuck a small rod in and could feel the shift rods hiting it. Looks like Im droping in.

 

[Nat 2]

Sounds like a bent shifter fork. Now the decision is yours as to whether you "may as well" recondition it with new bearings and seals since you've got the deck off, or if you just want to fix the problem.

 

[Steve Atkins]

Thank you everyone for your help. Im sure Ill have some other questions as I drop in. Im actually courious about what I will find. Ill keep you posted. Steve

 

[CNKS]

The lockout bolt or a cap screw if it was not sold with steel wheels is located in the front left of the shift lever.

 

[Janicholson]

Yes to both. many early, and war Hs were equipped with steel, then had cast wheels, rims, and rubber added. If from the factory, the lockout would have been installed. JimN