JD4500 Not going into C Range

   / JD4500 Not going into C Range #1  

MMH

Gold Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2010
Messages
329
Location
Murrysville, PA
Tractor
JD 4500
I have a JD 4500 w/ MFWD and a PoweReverser transmission. I cannot get it into the C range. Also, when I move between A, B, neutral and C it feels 'gritty', and there are no distinct stops between any of the ranges. I could live w/o the 'C' range but am worried that I will lose the other ranges.

The tractor is about 20 years old, is stored outside and has 2500 hours of fairly heavy use. Allot of digging w/ FEL & backhoe along w/ a bunch of grading. Anybody have any clues as to what may be going on?
 
   / JD4500 Not going into C Range #2  
...but it still shifts from A to B OK?

The 4500 is a slightly bigger series, but the 4200/4300/4400 all had weak range shifter shafts, and were prone to breaking off. No detent feel is a bad sign.
 
   / JD4500 Not going into C Range
  • Thread Starter
#3  
It does still shift from A to B but the feel is very vague (do not feel any of the detents). When I try to engage C it seems as if only half a shift occurs and I hear gears grinding. Your assessment of a shift shaft issue seems logical.

How difficult is it to replace the shift shaft? I presume that nothing crazy needs to be done (like splitting the tractor).
 
   / JD4500 Not going into C Range #4  
How difficult is it to replace the shift shaft?

On the 4300s I had, it can all be done from the top, after removing the 3-pt cylinder cover. There are several write-ups on TBN, including mine. One guy even had a new shift shaft made that did not have the weakness. Do a search.
 

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