Mahindra 5035 PST - Shuttle Shifter Frozen!

[shesh]

Hello,
The shuttle shifter on my Mahindra is frozen. It is minus 30 Celsius here. It has frozen before, but luckily I left it in neutral, so I could at least start it and let it run until it unfroze. Today I see I left it in reverse the last time I used it, so I can't even get it started. I tried a space heater on the column for about 2 hours and it was still frozen solid. I put the space heater under the tractor overnight, no luck. I am guessing the freeze is somewhere else. Has anyone else had this problem, and if so, can you offer some advice? Should the space heater be pointed somewhere else? Also, I am guessing the issue is there is moisture somewhere, but I am not even sure where to start looking.
Thanks for your help.
Shesh (Ariss, ON, Canada)

 

[arrow]

One thing you can try is wrapping the shift lever with some of that freeze-guard electrical tape used to prevent frozen pipes. I have a tough time believing frozen water is the culprit here but who knows.
One other thing you may check is that the neutral safety switch is not binding on the hold down bracket and thus "freezing" the lever. Only problem here is that it is very difficult to get to and see w/o tearing the floor boards off.

 

[johnsonauto]

Try heating the shift cable, I did see one once that had moisture in it and froze when cold.

 

[RaymondEdward]

I am having the same problem with my Mahindra 5035 (2013) Power Shift.

The tractor is pretty much useless in cold weather. Tried methyl hydrate down top of linkage, no change. Putting a kerosene forced air heater under the unit usually de-thaws the cable, but once out working in the cold it will freeze up. The other day I pulled my Kubota RTV out of the ditch down the road. Walked home to get the 5035 heated up (20 minutes) and then went and pulled the Kubota out of the ditch.

Drove the Kubota home and walked back (20 minute walk) to the tractor which I left running. You guessed it, the Power Shift was frozen. Had to force it out to get the tractor home.

Last winter same scenarios.

Frankly I am not impressed with Mahindra. These tractors are apparently not designed for Canadian winter. Have had hydraulic leaks, creeping forward while PST is in neutral, power shift cable replaced once already, now there's going to be second replacement. Ignition switch has been replaced once, now the replacement has to be jiggled to get the glow plug on. Started up the tractor the other day and the tachometer wouldn't register actual engine revs!

I have told the dealer to either buy back the tractor or fix it properly. I have tractor that is virtually useless when the cable is frozen and thats most of the time. Maybe its a lemon, but if its going to be trouble I also told the dealer it will be traded in for a Kubota.

Me thinks there is something more wrong then just a cable fwiw.

Good luck getting your problem sorted out Shesh. Would be interested in any updates or work arounds.

Best.
Ray

 

[Navasot]

Have any of yall put anti seize on your shifting mechanisms ?

 

[Navasot]

also do not heat the cables up... and do not spray any lubricant that is not self drying like wd-40 into the cables or you can worsen the problem.

 

[RaymondEdward]

Thank you for the follow up.

I have tried WD 40 and methyl hydrate.

Have not tried anti seize on mechanisms. Can you recommend a brand?

Ray

 

[Navasot]

A brand of anit seize? Na seems to all be the same I would just see if there is some rated better for your type of cold.

 

[RaymondEdward]

The dealer has ordered a new cable, hopefully at that point we can apply an anti seizure compound when its replaced. To get at the cable properly the gas tank has to be pulled to get at it as well as the rear wheel.. Not an easy task.

Thanks again.
Ray

 

[Navasot]

Aint to bad takes about 15-20 minutes