1957 Massy Harris Fergerson F40 Trans stuck in 3 rd gear.

bfknouse · Nov 5, 2019

I have removed the shifter and tried to move with a screwdriver. I do not know which way it should go. Any ideas on how to get it unstuck?

LouNY · Nov 5, 2019

I've never done it to a Massy just Allis's Farmall's and Oliver's.
Not knowing your exact situation,
or if you are stuck in two gears at once and completely locked up.
I would block the tires front and rear so she couldn't roll either way,
if you can see down to the shift rails or forks reach in with your screw driver and move one rail one notch look at it,
then move it one more notch if possible, once you can move one rail to all 3 positions stop with it in the center,
now go to the other and repeat.
If that is a 3 speed with reverse you should have it in neutral now.
If it is a 4 or 5 speed you have one more rail to work with so repeat again.
Reinstall the shifter in the neutral slot and enjoy.

Cougsfan · Nov 6, 2019

This happens frequently on my TO35 if someone tries to shift it too fast. On mine it is because the shift lever slips out of the gear selector collar. I can fix it one of two ways. I can pull the filler plug and push the gears back and forth with a long screwdriver. I don't know which gear is which. I just move whichever gear moves in whichever direction, and it usually works. But the more common way I fix it is by pulling the pin that holds the shift lever in; lift the shift ever up and move the lever to the proper position for whichever gear it is stuck in, put it back down and shift to neutral, then put the pin back in. If I shift slow and careful, it never happens. If someone else uses my tractor it is more likely to happen. A old mechanic told me it is fairly common malady on these old tractors and is usually caused by ball end at the bottom end of the shift lever gets worn. He fixes them by carefully welding a bead on the end of the ball and grinding it round and smooth with a grinder. The idea is to add back the meat on the shift lever end that has been worn away over the years. I have not done it yet because it hasn't made it up higher on my priority list after all these years.