will not shift

[joelaudi]

My neighbor asked me a question about his Jinma? tractor. Since I am a car mechanic, he thought I may know the answer. He states that when the tractor is running and the key switch is on the 'ON' position he cannot shift the transmission into any gear [like there is no clutch]. But if he turns the key to 'OFF' and continues to keep the engine running, then he can shift as it should. We could not confirm as the battery was dead and would not crank the engine. Is there any sort of clutch cut-out that may be electricaly operated? This problem happened after the nephew returned the tractor. My guess was that there may be some sort of lever combination that maybe incorrect like the pto levers etc. Any thoughts? Thanks

 

[Diamondpilot]

I think its just a kwinki dink. These are the most basic machines. There is no electric magic happening to operate the clutch or pto. His nephew tore something up. Probably the clutch itself.

Chris

 

[greg_g]

Concur - there's absolutely no electrical or mechanical relationship between the keyswitch and the clutch. For the most part, the shift lever is attempting to mesh straight cut gears without the benefit of synchros. If it's difficult to get into a particular gear, tell the fella to
1. just try another gear (that happens to have the teeth lined up)
or
2. grind it into gear by keeping pressure on the shift lever while slowly releasing the clutch

//greg//

 

[3RRL]

lol ... Your neighbor might be "ON" or "OFF" something.
The other guys already said it's purely mechanical so I think he is just screwing up somehow. What Greg said about "easing" it into gear works for me when it won't go in. I keep the pressure on the shift lever and slowly let the clutch out.
It will (should) "slip" into gear that way. When he gets his battery charged you guys can try it.

 

[joelaudi]

I also believe that the clutch is gone. I quickly looked the tractor over and did not see any electrical reason as why it would shift and not shift. Thanks for the replies, but I wanted to throw the question out there anyways. Maybe he will get it jumped started and I can see the shift problem for myself. Thanks again Joel

 

[Creekman]

I also believe that the clutch is gone. I quickly looked the tractor over and did not see any electrical reason as why it would shift and not shift. Thanks for the replies, but I wanted to throw the question out there anyways. Maybe he will get it jumped started and I can see the shift problem for myself. Thanks again Joel

If the clutch is gone or not, do not force a shift in spite of the advice of other posters. When you force a shift that results in the gears grinding your transmission will not last very long. Other posters are absolutely correct that there is no connection between the key switch and the transmisson.

 

[greg_g]

But if he turns the key to 'OFF' and continues to keep the engine running, then he can shift as it should.

I also believe that the clutch is gone.

I'm having trouble accepting this conclusion in the face of the originally described symptoms

You didn't mention how old this tractor is. If it's new, you might just be working with operator unfamiliarity. Like I said, this is a non-synchro transmission with straight cut gears. Maybe the guy thinks it should work like his pickup truck (??)

//greg//

 

[RonMar]

and I wonder what would posess anyone to even try looking for a shift difference with the key on or off? I don't think like most other people, so maybe it is just me

 

[3RRL]

If he turns the key off without killing the engine with the kill knob, it is still running then, right?
So he can then shift into gear like it should (he said), which made me think the clutch works ... no?

 

[bluechip]

Nothing mechanical is affected by the key switch, It only turns off the electrical (lights and charging system). there are no interlocks, solenoid valves, etc on these tractors. The ONLY change would be the loss of any drag caused by the alternator, this would not affect "shifting". I don't know if we are talking about selecting a gear while the tractor is stopped or trying to move from one gear to the next without stopping (not to easy on a non-sychronized sliding gear trans).