By Jim Welch on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have to violently rock my Max back & forth to get it to shift from forward to neutral or neutral to reverse or back again, sometimes I even have to tap the accelerator a little. It recently had transmission work by the dealer. Could something have come loose? Has anyone ever had similar problems? Do you know of any adjustments that could alleviate this problem? It's an 18HP Max IV 2000. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jim Welch

By Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max Dealer (Fred4dot) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Jim, That's a pretty common complaint with the t-20, the more hours on the machine, the easier it gets to shift, but they never are always easy to shift. Can't think of anything that could have been done (or come undone) to make it harder than normal to shift. Not any adjustment to be made to make it shift easier. I always try to shift gears just as I come to a stop (usually works). Might try using your holding brake as you body rock. If you are up against something or in a rut, bumping the throttle can be the only way to get things lined up. Remember not to force it or grind the gears. If you force it, you can bend the linkage or worse yet, chip your shift collar or break off the shift pin.

You didn't say what the tranny work was. New parts often require a new break in period before things loosen up.

By slim jim on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hi Fred,
The problem isn't that it's tough to shift gears, as of today, it's frozen in forward gear, it can't be put into neutral regardless of any coaxing I can think of. The transmission work was a band replacement and the period after I got it back it seemed to be stiff but fine. And now the shifter is just frozen, will rattle slightly. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jim Welch

By Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max Dealer (Fred4dot) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Jim, check your shift levers (the part with the diamond that the linkage hooks to). Blow the area off before pulling it out to keep dirt out of your tranny. Check for any rough or rusted spots in the housing or on the shift lever. If you have a bad spot in the casing, stuff some paper or a rag down in the hole to keep shavings from falling into the tranny. Use steel wool to buff it smooth. Vacuum out any shavings and pull your paper or rag. Put lots of Vaseline all over the shift lever and o-ring and leave a gob on the top, all around the edge covering the space between parts. Make sure your shifters are both moving at the same time when you change gears; make sure the diamond goes all the way forward and all the way back.

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

It is fairly common for the T-20 to get jammed in gear. All you can do is keep driving for a little while and pull on the shifter every so often. After some driving it will free up and move again. Happens to mine and many brand new machines I have seen. The shifter in the tranny passes the gear it needs to be in and jams.

By hcpitts on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have just had the same problem as Jim.My Max II is stuck in forward and will not come out of gear. I have tried rocking, pulling sticks part way back, using throttle and nothing works. What can I do? The tranny has fluid and the linkage seem to all be ok. The machine has been sitting for several months while I replaced a muffler, manifold pipe and axles. Could the inside of the t-20 be rusted in one spot? Any help short of telling me to replace the transmission would be greatly appreciated. Regards, henry

By Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max Dealer (Fred4dot) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Henry, disconnect your linkage at the tranny (diamond piece) and see if you can shift it by hand. Have the tires off the ground so you can rotate them if need be. If you cannot shift by hand, pull the shift levers as I mentioned above. Take out the two bolts holding the piece that holds shift lever in place and pull it out by hand (straight up). There is an o-ring around the shift lever and crud can get in above it, sealing it pretty tight.

By hcpitts on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Fred: Thanks for the advice on shifting. I will try that and if nothing works get back to you to see what else it might be. Henry

By hcpitts on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Fred: Many thanks for your suggestions.I took out the shifters,cleaned them and lubricated them with vaseline and put it back together.It shifted like silk! Two questions: Why vaseline rather than a light gear grease and should the shifter shafts be lubricated regularly with wd-40 or some other lubricant? Again thanks for the help. Regards, henry

By Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max Dealer (Fred4dot) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Henry, Not sure why, but the skid steer pamphlet advises to use Vaseline to "lubricate seals and "o" rings during assembly". I think it is probably because it won't affect the tranny fluid. I leave a glob of Vaseline on top of the shift drum assembly to keep stuff out of the crevice between parts. Besides changing fluid and lubricating shift levers, the tightness of the tranny mounting bolts should be checked periodically.

Glad you solved your problem.