Lame BX Shifting Linkage

[JimMorrissey]

Hello,

My shift linkage is still hard to move and the BX has just reached 200 hours. I'm getting tired of babying the lever by gently moving it back and forth to get it into gear (as I used to do). --I've got a 400 foot, 5' deep electric trench to fill, not hours on end trying to get this [censored] thing in and out of gear. Frankly, I've got to the point where I just slap the lever from rabbit to turtle without regard for it's tender needs. I'm pissed at Kubota for making such a lame shift linkage.

...Any ideas how to deal with this total nuisance? Does it need grease.....is slapping it back and forth going to do damage (I suspect yes, but don't care at this point)? What is the deal with this poorly engineered critical part of an otherwise amazing machine.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Mine does that once in awhile. I just tap the hydro pedal and it drops into gear. You can't be moving if you are changing gears. I never really viewed it as a problem.

Tom

 

[nitronut1]

I have the same shift issue, and do the same thing with the pedal that you described.

Recently my hydro pedal has been sticking in forward or reverse when it's cold outside. Seems that there is a shock-absorber type piston atached to the pedal under the floor that must not adapt well to the cold.

 

[r0GuE]

W o w...
So now I'm left to wonder,.. are you reacting to the same thing mine does (which is essentially a non-issue, very easy to manipulate), or do you have a malfunctioning unit.
Can you get it to drop in by stopping, goiing to N, and then if needed, tapping the hydro.
If so, I just write that off to big gears inside that need to mesh properly. But, to be fair, I almost NEVER shift out of low (I hate saying turtle). Why couldn't they do a 1 - 2 labeling. I feel like I'm looking at the shifter for a Murray when I see that.

 

[MReeter]

Jim,the linkage needs to be lubricated every soo often.I use an Aerisol Grease to "reach in" to the linkage and pivet points.This stuff works very well and she shifts as smooth as silk.

Same way on the PTO linkage....

 

[art]

Just because it is new doen't mean it doesn't need lubrication. Unlike the new cars which don't have a grease fitting on the bulk of them anymore tractors still do and lubrication is a nessesary evil for good performance. When the levers do work hard it might take a couple of times to get them to where they should be.

 

[dkchandler]

I am having the same issue with my H-N-L shifter on my BX2200. I think it is something I can live with, although my hydro pedal is starting to stick which really scares me at times. I keep the pedal greased (Slick 50 One Grease).
I do think they could have used a heaver metal on the shifter linkage./w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif

 

[Charliebrn]

you know, I've never really payed attention, but I don't think I have the issue that you are having. Like one or two others, I automatically nudge the hydro pedal a little when I shift gears without even really thinking about it. Do you do this? I also grease my linkages regularly with Amsoil synthetic grease, so maybe that helps.

As for the hydro pedal sticking, yup, mine does that too, even with the new one my dealer gave me early on. (My original didn't have the grease fitting, the second did). I've gotten used to returning the pedal to neutral with my foot, but you are right, this could be a safety issue if you aren't careful. I'm amazed that Kubota hasn't taken steps to really fix this problem, I gotta believe that someone somewhere is going to be hurt by a tractor that keeps going...

 

[techman]

Jim:

I had the same issue. Got to where I couldn't get it out of neutral. I looked "below" and saw that the actual shaft was not resisting. I gave the linkage a squirt of WD-40 and now the thing shifts like velvet. The linkage is on the right side of the trans, all plated gold color. The bult of the linkage is the neutral start interlock. It appears to have never been lubed by the factory or the dealer. I followed up with a bit of spray white grease. Smooth....

I like others thought that it was tight or balky gears in the trans, but it was only the external linkage causing the drag.

paul

 

[JimC]

I had the same problem and was about to haul it back to the dealer (less than 50 hours) until I took another look at it.
I found that I had picked up a bit of sand in the little neutral switch mechanism, it looks like a short cylinder that activates the neutral switch.
A good shot of WD-40 washed it out and no problems since. I do wash it with wd-40 every time that I have used it in sandy conditions.
Jim