L2501HST VERY hard to shift from low-medium-high

[TBone]

I admit that I seldom use anything but M but the other day I needed to creep along a bank and I tried to shift into low. After struggling with it for 10 minutes I finally got the lever to move. After I got past the spot I shifted it back into Medium with the same difficulty. Since then I have tried to work it back and forth to loosen it up and it is still all I can do to move the lever. Does anybody know if there's an adjustment or lubrication point that will make it easier or is all the tightness comes from the internal part?

 

[Carl_NH]

See the attached diagram - disconnect item # 40 rod and then the shift mechanism is loose or moves freely, then its likely inside the transmission. If it doesn't move easily with # 40 disconnected try lubing up the connecting points with PB Blaster if they are tight, or taking them apart and cleaning and greasing.

How many hours on the tractor and do you store this inside or outside? Is the transmission hydro oil level good?

 

[crashz]

Mine was very tight for a long time too. With use it loosens up. How many hours on your machine? Mine has about 340 hours and its just loosening up now.

I find it easy to to get into neutral, but difficult to get into gear. So I'll move the lever to neutral, then blip the HST peddle forward or back, then it shifts pretty easy.

 

[TBone]

See the attached diagram - disconnect item # 40 rod and then the shift mechanism is loose or moves freely, then its likely inside the transmission. If it doesn't move easily with # 40 disconnected try lubing up the connecting points with PB Blaster if they are tight, or taking them apart and cleaning and greasing.

How many hours on the tractor and do you store this inside or outside? Is the transmission hydro oil level good?

Thanks for the diagram. The tractor has about 150 hours and is kept under a shed. Hydro oil level is good.

 

[TBone]

Mine was very tight for a long time too. With use it loosens up. How many hours on your machine? Mine has about 340 hours and its just loosening up now.

I find it easy to to get into neutral, but difficult to get into gear. So I'll move the lever to neutral, then blip the HST peddle forward or back, then it shifts pretty easy.

Mine only has 150 hours so hopefully it'll loosen up some. Mine is even hard to get into neutral and even harder to get in gear. I'll try moving the HST peddle while shifting. Thanks.

 

[Forky]

Simply tap the speed control pedal when shifting....it will get easier(shifting) after some use. Tip from my dealer when he delivered the tractor....it works like a charm.

 

[Carl_NH]

Do what CrashZ and Forky says - touch the HST pedal to relieve the stress in the driveline should make it easier, also having it in 4WD mode makes it a bit harder to shift I found - so I run in 2WD most of the time unless in snow or needing 4WD.

 

[number two]

Also try depressing the clutch pedal.
Good Luck!

 

[Grandad4]

The L series Kubotas all use basically the same basic 3 range gearbox setup. They are all notchy and hard to shift when new. The other posters gave good suggestions.
1. Keep the tractor clean. Dirt and grit tend to accumulate under the platform, binding up the gearshift and other linkages even more. I used air or water to remove the crud as often as necessary to keep it clean, followed by doses of WD40, penetrating oil or other stuff to lube and protect the linkages.

2. The gearbox will probably always be notchy. It probably wasn't intended that operators would be shifting all the time. But giving the shifter plenty of use will loosen it up a bit, and the practice will let you master a bit of "technique" for shifting... how to position the tractor so the straight cut gears are not in tension, for example... something that I can't verbally explain. You have to get a feel for it from practice.
Keep the linkages clean, work them a lot and don't give up on yourself or the tractor!

 

[npalen]

May not help in the OP's case, but lifting the front wheels off the ground with the loader bucket will help relieve some of the drivetrain stress for shifting especially in and out of FWA (front wheel assist) mode.