Hard to get into neutral when starting bx 23

gerford · Dec 9, 2007

Lately it seems the BX23 is real hard to get into neutral when I'm going to start the machine. The BX23 usually sits in low range when I turn it off, so I have to get it into neutral before starting. I have to really tug on the lever and often I fly by neutral and up into high range. I then have to try and get it out of high into neutral. I don't remember it being this hard before. I was watching the lever below the cover and I'm afraid something will break if this keeps up.
Any suggestions?

lp333 · Dec 9, 2007

I sounds as though a bit a dust and debris has rendered the linkages sluggish. Try spraying the linkages with a generous dose of WD40 to flush the dust out and lubricate the various parts involved.

gerford · Dec 10, 2007

Good Idea, I'll give it a try. Sometimes it so hard I feel like I'll brake the linkage before I can get it into neutral. I'll spray it with lube to see if it helps. Why didn't I think of that? Thanks

ByronBob · Dec 10, 2007

I don't understand why you'd shut down the tractor in gear? It seems to be counter productive.

When I start the tractor in neutral there are times when the tractor won't engage or shifts hard out of neutral. I just tap the foot pedal a tad and it takes the pressure off the transmission to shift easily into gear. This all might even be in the manual.

You may want to consider going to neutral before you shut er down.

gerford · Dec 10, 2007

When I get to the end of a project, I just turn it off. If its parked in neutral the tractor has a tendency to roll. The parking brake is not very powerful and will barely hold the tractor even on a shallow grade, so I never use the parking brake. Leaving the tractor in gear seems to add stability to keep it from rolling. I know, I could find a level spot, drop the front and back, put it neutral, but its easier to just turn it off and go. It use to be easier to find neutral. If the lube doesn't work, I will have to change my habits and find neutral before turning it off. Thanks for the suggestion

638 · Dec 10, 2007

Disconnect the neutral safty switch. The bx24 no longer uses a neutral safty switch. I disabled mine the first thing after getting my bx23.

ron

rdsaustintx · Dec 10, 2007

Leaving it in gear is fine.

Clean and grease the linkage under the seat. You will be amazed.

Tom_H · Dec 10, 2007

Try rocking forward and backward on the floor pedal a time or two before trying to shift the lever.

gerford · Dec 10, 2007

I tried rocking it back and forth and my wife was wondering what I'm doing to the tractor. She knows I like the machine, but....
I really like the idea of no neutral switch, because depressing the HST pedal whe n the engine is running works great.

techman · Dec 10, 2007

Just a note. Leaving the tractor in gear is of very limited utility. The hydrostatic trans, once the oil has leaked down, will provide little resistance to rolling. It works well when the engine is running, but shut the engine off and after some time the hydro will let it roll with minimal resistance.

paul

gerford · Dec 10, 2007

Good Point
I was wondering how much the hydro would hold the tractor. Makes sense.
I did have it parked on a hill one time and I lowered the backhoe to the ground. I went in for lunch and the machine had rolled down the hill and stopped at the berm to the ditch. Luckily the backhoe dug in the dirt before the ditch. I've parked it on level ground since. Thanks

ndnparts · Dec 10, 2007

I'm curious about the need to place the selector in neutral to start it. This is not required on my BX24, but the hydro pedals cannot be depressed or the interlock will not allow starting. Could your hydro interlock be sticking, and will placing the selector in neutral bypass this? Anyone know if the BX23 is connected differently than the BX24? Stan

PS: I use the parking brake and lower the implements when parked, but I also try to avoid parking on a slope.

gerford said:
Lately it seems the BX23 is real hard to get into neutral when I'm going to start the machine. The BX23 usually sits in low range when I turn it off, so I have to get it into neutral before starting. I have to really tug on the lever and often I fly by neutral and up into high range. I then have to try and get it out of high into neutral. I don't remember it being this hard before. I was watching the lever below the cover and I'm afraid something will break if this keeps up.
Any suggestions?

Volfandt · Dec 10, 2007

The BX23 is different in that you cannot start it in gear. It HAS to be in neutral or it will not start. It has a neutral safety switch wired into the start circuit. Many folks bypass it but I haven't had the need to myself.

re. the OP's question. More than likely you just need to give all your linkages a good cleaning and lube em up w/WD40 or similar.

ndnparts · Dec 10, 2007

Thanks Volfandt! So, it sounds like they may have moved the interlock from the H-N-L range selector to the hydro pedals on the BX24. Cleaning the linkages is a good reply, but if I had a BX23, I would probably also just get in the habit of parking in neutral since the hydro isn't really going to keep the tractor from moving. I am already in the habit of using the brake and dropping the loader and implements on the tph to relieve the hydraulic pressure. Thanks again for the clarification of my confusion on the OP about the BX23, and sorry to take the thread off topic a little. Stan

Volfandt said:
The BX23 is different in that you cannot start it in gear. It HAS to be in neutral or it will not start. It has a neutral safety switch wired into the start circuit. Many folks bypass it but I haven't had the need to myself.

re. the OP's question. More than likely you just need to give all your linkages a good cleaning and lube em up w/WD40 or similar.

bx23barry · Dec 13, 2007

just cleaned a lubed my hydo pedal linkage and now the high/low lever shifts nice and smooth too. I had the same problem of it sticking in low before.

Tom_H · Dec 13, 2007

gerford said:
I tried rocking it back and forth...

On the hydro pedal or on the tractor itself? My BX2200 will only start in neutral. My lever will sometimes not shift out of high or low to neutral when I'm ready for startup, but just a slight rock back and forth on the hydro pedal seems to release pressure and allows the stick to shift.

LBrown59 · Dec 13, 2007

ndnparts said:
I'm curious about the need to place the selector in neutral to start it. This is not required on my BX24, but the hydro pedals cannot be depressed or the interlock will not allow starting. Could your hydro interlock be sticking, and will placing the selector in neutral bypass this? Anyone know if the BX23 is connected differently than the BX24? Stan

PS: I use the parking brake and lower the implements when parked, but I also try to avoid parking on a slope.

There is a switch on the range slector lever on the BX23 BX 2230 & Bx 1500 tractors.
This switch has to be on or the tractor will not start.
To turn the switch on the lever has to be placed in the neutral center position.

gerford · Dec 13, 2007

I've got it shifting smoootttthh now. I sprayed the linkage with WD-40 the other day and it didn't really do much. I couldn't for the life of me move the lever today. I took a closer look and the actual linkage is towards the back of the tractor. I sprayed WD-40 only the pivot the other day. It looked like the pivot was actually a shaft that went into the transmission, but thats not the case. After looking at it more carefully and in better light, I sprayed the actual linkage and it freed up right away. It moves in and out of high, neutral, and low like it was brand new. Between getting the detent on the "float" working and shifting into neutral like a charm, it's so much more enjoyable to use the tractor. Thanks for the help.