broken shift lever - TC40D hydro

horstuff · May 13, 2004

Has anybody else experienced a very sudden-seeming, non provoked (I believe) breaking of their gear shift lever? Mine broke off today trying to go from 1st into 2nd. I could swear that there was no abnormal effort on my part. This machine only has 8 hours on it. Aargh...

TCBoomer · May 14, 2004

Only 8 hrs???
seems like a quality control issue

Where'd it break...at a weld?

horstuff · May 14, 2004

Yes, it broke at the weld that attaches it to the cylinder which controls the linkage. It looks like there were two spot welds holding it. There is also silver stuff that looks like it was sprayed on, and that stuff is also underneath on most of the linkage areas. Maybe it's graphite or something. Anybody know if that's the way they come from the NH factory, with silver stuff sprayed on the moving linkage parts?

This is kinda bumming me out. I love this tractor, but can they really break this easily? I swear, officer, I didn't do it! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

jinman · May 14, 2004

( Yes, it broke at the weld that attaches it to the cylinder which controls the linkage. It looks like there were two spot welds holding it.
)

I am sooo confused. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Nothin' abnormal, but I cannot figure where there is a shift lever on a TC40D? Are you talking about the High-Neutral-Low range shifter on the left fender? Do you mean the Joystick?

THE JOYSTICK! OH NO! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Not another "no joy joystick"!!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

If you are talking about your joystick, that problem is one of the longest threads here in the NH forums. I'll find it and post to it so it 'bubbles' to the top. I thought the deluxe joystick problem had been cured, but that appears to still be a problem. Check out the "no joy joystick" thread to see if that's your problem. If not, I'm still scratchin' my head trying to figure out where the gearshift is on a TC40D. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Your profile says your tractor is a TC24D. Is the TC40D in the title a typo? I'm getting more confused every second... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

No Joy Joystick

horstuff · May 14, 2004

jinman,

yeah, my profile says tc24d, but now I also own a tc40d, and was just getting ready to update my profile, just as soon as I put a few hours on the 40 and was sure I was gonna keep it. Well....the broken lever is not a good sign. Maybe it happens alot. It is the lever to the left as you are in the seat, the high-nuetral-low shift lever. It is not the loader joystick, but after reading that thread, phew, you guys had it rough too. Are these flimsy welds just a part of the design that we have to live with if we want-want-want these NH tractors? I don't want green, I don't want orange, I want blue! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Maybe the others have their quirks too, huh? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

jinman · May 14, 2004

Whew! I thought I was loosin' it. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I have never heard of anyone else having that problem, so I have to believe that you are the first. ...such an honor, huh? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

If it's a weld, it's gonna be easy to fix. Good luck.

horstuff · May 14, 2004

jinman,

So I shouldn't be too concerned about this and just fix it?

Also, that silver stuff -

( silver stuff that looks like it was sprayed on, and that stuff is also underneath on most of the linkage areas. Maybe it's graphite or something. )

- what do you make of that? Thanks.

Bobby

jinman · May 14, 2004

( shouldn't be too concerned about this )

I wouldn't. If your range shifter works normally after it's fixed, I wouldn't worry a bit.

The silver stuff might be some kind of dry lube like chain-lube. Is it slick? My guess is that it's a lubricant that might have some graphite in it. Probably not a good idea to get into electrical connectors, but may help your lever work more smoothly. It could also indicate that someone was trying to "lube up" something that was not working smoothly. Did your range shifter work okay before? You'll have to use your best judgement on that one. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

techinNY · May 15, 2004

Never heard of the range lever breaking. My guess is that the lever moved a little stiff at the dealer and the sprayed NH penetrating oil on it that does have graphite in it (and it is the best penetrating oil I have ever used,i recommend having some on hand). As far as fixing it, I'd call the dealer and make them fix it under warrenty so that if there are any other problems accociated with it there is no question it is not someting you may have caused.

TCBoomer · May 16, 2004

I wouldn't sweat it too much. That's what the warranty is for. The weld must have been bad. Doesn't take a lot of force to move the lever, does it??

If it was my machine, I'd probably ask for a new shift arm and replace it myself. Forget rewelding it...demand a new arm. I had a few minor issues with my TC21D when it was new and did the repairs myself. They never questioned what was wrong, they just gave me the new part and I returned the defective one. Doing the repairs myself, didn't void the warranty either.

However, since this is still so new...8 hrs...might be better if the dealer took a look at it so if it happens again, the problems on their shoulders, not yours.

Good luck