Stuck in first gear

[mem]

What would cause a tractor to repeatedly get stuck in first gear? I've got a 1952 Allis Chalmers WD-45 that has done this to me twice. I can pull apart the gear shift mechanism and get it unstuck, but I wonder how I might prevent it in the first place? It's not too hard to fix, just a half hour of my time, but hey, a half hour is a half hour. Thanks.

[Rocky Fields]

Hey.

Does your shifter have alot of slop in it? I know on Farmall H and M if shifter tip is worn, it affects your ability to shift. Maybe WD-45 is similiar...

RF

[agmantoo]

The end of the shift lever inside the transmission on that tractor is the same as on a Massey Ferguson as I recall. It is round steel ball configuration. The alignment of the shift mechanism is not accomplished during the shift as the round ball only has a minute area of contact to align the slots in the shift mechanism. The fix on the MF is to remove the shift level and have a competent welder to rework the ball into a square with the leading and lagging edges slightly rounded. In so doing this forces the 2 slots in the shifting mechanism to align as the shift is performed.

[rambler]

Yup, like Agman says. The end of your shifter is worn. Needs to be built up.

My IHC 300 is the same way.

--->Paul

[moopups]

The metal 'boot' on the shifter shaft needs to be removed by a depressed leftward turn, at which time you realign the shifter slots to conformitatility, return the shifter for correct performance.

[ovendoctor]

had that happen to me with a massey ferguson with a bucket loader while moving gravel

got in a big hurry and got it stuck in reverse

[Iddee]

In addition to the above, It can also happen when you shift when the tractor is moving. Be sure it is totally stopped before shifting.

[js2743]

ovendoctor had a 150 MF that would do the same thing it would go into reverse every time it got stuck and would have to back to the house to fix it lol