Hi folks,
I was hoping someone might be able to help me out with a transmission issue on my '41 D4. I was hauling some logs last weekend and the gear shift level got stuck in 4th gear. I tried a bit to "rock" it out but it won't budge.
I removed the gear shift lever and can see that the 1-R shifter fork will move from reverse to neutral - but not to 1st, and that the two other forks are both towards the rear and they won't budge.
The tractor is at a remote cabin so I'm usually on my own when it come to fixing things. Any suggestions for my next trip out there? Can I try to force the forks back into neutral? Do I need to take the transmission cover off? Could it be a fluid level issue?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Theres a rod that conects from the clutch mech to top of trans when you pull the clutch lever back to engage at the same time it activates locks that wont let it jump out of gear. Most the time it the yoke pin where rod conects to the clutch mech. the pin will be laying in the bottom of the housing just put it back in and put new coter pin in it.

Yes, that does happen on occasion....when things get worn and maybe the lockout mechanism needs adjustment. Even so Cat finally redesigned the shift gate on later units. Go ahead and pry/jiggle the shift rails back into neutral. Having two gears in gear does lock up the transmission.

Yesterday I had to leave the D4 on the spot. Only the first and reverse gear is able to choose, with some difficulty, but the transmission seams to be stuck. In neutral on the other hand the tracks move. So I felt very lucky finding this thread and directly opened the hatch under the air cleaner. Unfortanetly it all looked OK, the pin was still there connecting the clutch mechanism with the link that goes backwards and it moves when operating the clutch. So what can I do as next step? More complicated I guess?

MATS

Remove the shift lever and tower and pry the shift gates into neutral position (all lined up).

Ok this gave me hope again, does not sound like too much work. I assume I will see something like this.

MATS

Great, great, its done. I had in mind to do something similar but it was done much sooner done when I had this tip and something to aim for. Thanks for the knowledge.

I wrote a bit wrong before it was the second and reverse that was possible to choose. So what happened? The shift lever was in the shift gate for the second and reverse. The two other should be left in neutral but somehow the one in the middle was moved and a gear engaged. Thats why I could not move the shift lever to the right, the groove was not in line. Either two gear was engaged in the same time or when the shift lever was in neutral always the gear engaged by the middle shift gate. Is it wear, unprecise operating or built in tolerances that enables shit to sometimes happen?

LOL-Mats, I've never been able to figure out all the reasons "shit happens",all I can tell you for sure is that it does...
Wear in the lever & the forks will cause that, you have to be careful not to "cut corners" w/the shifter, make sure it's in the gate you want before you shift it into gear...

Reasons are all of the above along with worn indexing pawls and notches and maybe weak springs. Once it starts happening it is likely to occur again....No speed shifting.

Not all the operators fault as the shifter was a poor design that was later corrected to the wide selector to prevent the problem.

KW,

You never said what the SN is of tractor in question. The second photo of the swing lock which OM posted came effective which SN 7U20691, if yours is below that number you are out of luck, as far as the singing gate is concerned…and I believe it is, as I don’t see it laying on the deck with the shift lever. What happens when one shifts to fast without the swinging gate installed causes a shifter fork to overrun its neutral position and thus engage a gear in addition to the one wanting to be selected, with the transmission engaged in two gears (speeds) at once, it locks and may bend the shifting forks and even in some cases brake a gear.

“The swinging gate on the D4 tractors is the same in principle as the one’s used on the D6, D7, and D8 tractors but somewhat different in design. The gate assembly as used on the D4’s has two extensions or feet, one on each side the shift lever. These extensions fit into the shifter slots of the forks, and are of sufficient width to hold the two forks when the shifting lever is moved to the extreme right or left. The gate assembly pivots laterally, but cannot move forward or backward with the shifting lever. Thus, two forks are always positively centered in neutral while the third is moved. The swinging gate interlock can be installed on D4 Tractors effective with 6U5843 7U11952 by installing the following parts. New parts 1-2H2527 Gate Assembly, 1-2H2423 Adapter Assembly, 2-2H2525 Roll Pin, 1-2H2528 Spacer Assembly, 2-2H2526 Shaft, 2-3B5381 Gaskets. The new adapter assembly, shafts, roll pins and spacer assembly replace the existing 1A5592 Cover, 3B5380 Plates, and 7F6383 Spacer. The new gate assembly is installed in place of the 7F6386 or 9B2775 Gear Shift Lever Assembly.”
Also, as above mentioned be sure the flywheel clutch interlock mechanism is correctly adjusted.
Kelly