How do I know if I damaged the transmission?

liam.hanninen

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Dec 20, 2022
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As I mentioned in this post I was not disengaging from gear (pressing the clutch) before braking. I didn't understand that the brake wasn't doing it for me. I learned a lot in that thread! But before that (when I was braking incorrectly) I would hear grinding and then the engine would stall (as I understand it). I understand the grinding noise to be some gears moving while others are not - essentially damaging the teeth of each other. First of all am I understanding that correctly? Second of all: what are symptoms of a damaged clutch/transmission/gears? How do I know if/when it needs work?
 

DustyRusty

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As I mentioned in this post I was not disengaging from gear (pressing the clutch) before braking. I didn't understand that the brake wasn't doing it for me. I learned a lot in that thread! But before that (when I was braking incorrectly) I would hear grinding and then the engine would stall (as I understand it). I understand the grinding noise to be some gears moving while others are not - essentially damaging the teeth of each other. First of all am I understanding that correctly? Second of all: what are symptoms of a damaged clutch/transmission/gears? How do I know if/when it needs work?
Symptoms would be jumping out of gear or not moving at all. You will know how much damage if any upon having it disassembled for inspection.
 
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GreensvilleJay

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The BIG difference between 'cars' and 'tractors' with respect to gear based transmissions is that you DO NOT SHIFT gears on a tractor while in motion.
You decide what gear you need to be in for the task, clutch in, wait a bit, select that gear, then slowly let the clutch out.
if you shift while moving ( the way cars are driven ) you WILL 'grind the gears' chewing off steel and eventually require a HUGE amount of coins to replace those gears.
 

ruger1980

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The BIG difference between 'cars' and 'tractors' with respect to gear based transmissions is that you DO NOT SHIFT gears on a tractor while in motion.
You decide what gear you need to be in for the task, clutch in, wait a bit, select that gear, then slowly let the clutch out.
if you shift while moving ( the way cars are driven ) you WILL 'grind the gears' chewing off steel and eventually require a HUGE amount of coins to replace those gears.
My Ford 4630 is fully synchronized and can be shifted on the fly
 

007kubotaguy

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Drain the transmission/hydraulic system and have a look at the filter. This will tell the story. These tractors are tough.
 

GreensvilleJay

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While some newer tractors may have synchros, those of the B7200 era generally do not.
All the old tractors I've had , never had synchros in them... so curiosity got to me...

.., had a quick look at the B7200 tranny online,
it's full of 'spur' or straight cut gears that are listed as NLA (No Longer Available ). That is a HUGE 'red flag' to NOT 'shift on the fly' because when you destroy a gear ( 2 usually..) you cannot 'order online and get them next day' ! Might have to shop around,look in tractor scrap yards, maybe buy complete similar tractors to find good gears. The actual tear down and rebuilding is fairly easy providing you have a clean workbench and copies of the transmission drawings.
 
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ruger1980

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You must have the shuttle. Our 3930 with the constant mesh 8x2 is definitely not, I can generally upshift but not down.
Yes 8 speed synchronized shuttle with cab.

Also synchronizers have been used in tractors for at least 40 years.
 

Biker1mike

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Symptoms would be jumping out of gear or not moving at all. You will know how much damage if any upon having it disassembled for inspection.
I agree with Dusty. Before you get too worried. If you can drive the tractor in all gears without the shifter popping out of gear you most likely do not have much damage.
Second gear has never been good on my tractor. I think the original owner ground it to death. I simply do not use second gear if I do not have to, When I really want second gear I gently hold the shifter so it does not drop out.
So now you know. Come to a complete stop before changing gears.
 
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mikester

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If you hear sounds of marbles rattling around in a tin can and the tractor no longer moves you may have a transmission problem. If you drain the tranny oil and find large metal bits on the magnet and on the filter then you may have a tranny problem.
 
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TheOldHokie

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As I mentioned in this post I was not disengaging from gear (pressing the clutch) before braking. I didn't understand that the brake wasn't doing it for me. I learned a lot in that thread! But before that (when I was braking incorrectly) I would hear grinding and then the engine would stall (as I understand it). I understand the grinding noise to be some gears moving while others are not - essentially damaging the teeth of each other. First of all am I understanding that correctly? Second of all: what are symptoms of a damaged clutch/transmission/gears? How do I know if/when it needs work?
If I understood your story correctly and this was in fact a short.learning experience its not likely you did any real harm. I've owned a B7200DT for thirty years and its seen more than its share of crashed shifts some of them pretty hard. No problems yet.

My mother tortured the old 3 speed Ford she learned to drive on and it survived.

Unless your tractor is misbehaving or making loud noises you have no need to worry.

Dan
 
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DustyRusty

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If you hear sounds of marbles rattling around in a tin can and the tractor no longer moves you may have a transmission problem. If you drain the tranny oil and find large metal bits on the magnet and on the filter then you may have a tranny problem.
If you are a male, and you dress in women's clothing then you may have a tranny problem.
 
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Flintknapper

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My mother tortured the old 3 speed Ford she learned to drive on and it survived.
Dan
Haha.....!

IF it was one of the old 3.03's top loaders from the 60's-70's...they were pretty tough transmissions. Fully synchronized in the forward gears....but you could still grind them if you abused the synchro's enough.

My Sister was on death hers....when first learning.
 

TheOldHokie

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Haha.....!

IF it was one of the old 3.03's top loaders from the 60's-70's...they were pretty tough transmissions. Fully synchronized in the forward gears....but you could still grind them if you abused the synchro's enough.

My Sister was on death hers....when first learning.
My memory is skimpy. It was a Fairlane - probably a late 50's V8 - with three on the tree. Real economy car - no PS, power brakes, or radio. We kids rode in the back while dad tried to teach mom how to drive it. I remember a lot of jerking, grinding, and yelling :rolleyes: It got replaced with a 65 Olds F- 85 - still no PS, PB, or radio but it did have an automatic transmssion for mom. I learned to drive on it.

Dan
 
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