By Robert C Pickerd (Tugger) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I just bought an older Hustler with what I think is a T-20 tranny. The machine runs pretty good and will steer both directions equally well but does not have reverse. Do all T-20's have reverse? The levers move abot 4-5inches which might be too tight (after reading some of the topics here). On the top if the output shafts there is a diamond plate about 2 in long that has a definate forward detent, a center detent and one at the back. These plates swing about 180 degrees. When I bought the machine there was a bolt sticking up out of each of the plates about 4 inches. I thought that they might be lifting bolts that were left in place for removal by chainfall/lift. Am I missing some pieces that would keep this machine from going into reverse? I do not have a manual for the Hustler or the T-20 as of YET since I'm not sure that a T-20 is what I have. Also, what is the output HP of the Koler K440-2AM engine? Any help out there?

By patwa on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I am not an expert on T-20 trannies, but since no one has replied to your post, I will try to help. The diamond plate does control forward, neutral and reverse. If you do not have reverse, I am not sure why unless the adjustment is out of whack. Also, could that diamond plate have slipped up? It has a pin that moves the shifter sleeve on the inside, and if the pin does not engage, you will not change gears. Do you have neutral or are you permanently stuck in forward? Do you have a single lever forshifting or do you have one lever for each side?

By Robert C Pickerd (Tugger) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

patwa.. thanks.. Just got back and my T-20 book from Richard was here. The tranny works right but ther is no levers or anything to shift it from the operators location. All that was on the tranny diamonds were some 3-4 inch bolts and no levers or linkage of any kind. Nothing in the book about the original levers or linkage. I guess I'll put in two so I can run one side in reverse and one in forward if needed. Any ideas about what orignal was?

By Attex Bob on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Robert: I don't own a Hustler so I can't speak on what they had from the factory. I can talk about the T20 in general. Most if not all T20's have a rod bent at a 90 degree angle going through a hole in the diamond plate. In other words, take the bolts out of the holes on the diamond plates and replace them with the rod. I used torsion rod off an old car trunk. This works great because it is spring steel and springs back when you shift the tranny. Anyway, take the rod up to a T shaped bar on a rocker. This will be the shift handle. I would thread the rod, that way you can you can adjust the shift rods and get them just right. I know this sounds complex, but it is pretty simple if you could see the setup. Good luck and have fun with your Hustler.

By Robert C Pickerd (Tugger) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Attex Bob.....sounds like what I have been thinking of.. off the diamond plates down 90 degrees then forward and to some type of lever,,, something that will be up in the reverse mode and down (out of the way) in forward. have to work that out so it does not interfere with the people in the back... Am thinking of putting tracks on the front two wheels on each side.. ever see that done other than on the 8 wheelers?

By Attex Bob on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Robert: No I haven't. But I don't see why it would'nt work. I think thats a great idea. In fact, if you wanted more traction in mud I would buy six sets of junk car chains from a wrecking yard and weld small pieces of angle iron on them. It would be a rough ride, but you would get awsome traction in the soft mud. Most people on this board want to do the snow thing so this won't work to spread the weight. One more thing, in my opinion I would not put two shifting leavers on your Hustler. These things can turn in their own radious and I just don't think it's needed. Hope you get your Hustler running soon

By Robert C Pickerd (Tugger) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Attex Bob... All we have to run on here is muskeg and snow, both soft. Not sure about how to put the tracks on.. it's axle extentions or cut part of the body and put in a patch. Not much room to work with on the Hustler. Think I'll try the chain thing first. Most of the snow here is really heavy and wet. Think of it this way-- I havent='t been REALLY stuck in quite a while. This discussion board has really been a big help and there is lots of info to read.

By deward mitchell on Unrecorded Date: Edit

my hustler has 2 levers below the drivers seat for forward and reverse, with cables, they weren't connected to the tranny, i got one connected, but haven't figured how to route the other (clutch side)

By liflod (Liflod) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

How a T-20 skid steer transmission works.

The T-20 is actually 2 transmissions in one housing joined by a common input shaft. Only one side will be discussed as the other side works the same way. The heart of it is a planetary gear arrangement consisting of a sun gear, planet gears, a planet carrier and a ring gear. The sun gear is in the center and it is surrounded by the planetary gears that are held together by the planet carrier. The ring gear is surrounding the planetary gears. Both the ring gear and the planet carrier are the drums that can be held stationary by the bands. The other pieces that make up the transmission are the output shaft ,gear selector and the bands.

The sun gear is driven by the input shaft . It is always turning when the engine clutch is engaged. In forward gear the output shaft is connected to the planet carrier. When the control stick is pushed forward, the band is applied that holds the ring gear stationary. The sun gear turns the planetary gears which causes them to “walk around” the ring gear which is held stationary. Since the planet carrier is connected to the planetary gears, the planet carrier turns and so does the output shaft. When the control stick is pulled back, the ring gear band is loosened and the planet carrier band is tightened causing the planet carrier and output shaft to stop spinning. Since the band is not tight around the ring gear and the band holds the planet carrier stationary , the sun gear will rotate the planet gears and they will spin the ring gear inside the housing.

When reverse is selected, the output shaft is connected to the ring gear. So in reverse when you pull the stick back, the planet carrier is held stationary, the sun gear drives the planetary gears which spin the ring gear the opposite direction of the sun gear.

For a good picture of a planetary set , print out the picture on the Wed site “How stuff works” Print a few pictures so you can put directional arrows on the gears and work through it with my description. One thing that is not shown is the planet carrier that connects all the planetary gears to a common shaft and drum.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/gear-ratio4.htm
http://www.howstuffworks.com/inside-sd2.htm

By Robert C Pickerd (Tugger) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

some pretty good pictures of the planetary gears and how they work... another question..I looked thru some of the adjustments for the T-20 on some of the posts and in my book.. my question is how do you adjust the channels that connect to the plungers without the tool mentioned in the book?? Mine has more space between the case and the channel on the top than at the bottom on one side. everything seems to work real well but would like to do it right to start with.. The 39 hp in this thing is WOW!!!! She just about got away from me one time in the woods, a bit quick for some of us that are not used to the skid steering. Bob

By steve boland on Unrecorded Date: Edit

my t-20 runs faster in reverse . If I shift the gears so the sprokets turn the same way as the driven clutch the gear reduction is 6-1, and if I shift the gears to run the sprockets the opposite way as the driven clutch the reduction is 5-1 which means it will go faster backwards. I intended to put the engine and t-20 in the same position as it is in the max, but I'm going to have to turn it around to get the gearing right. Does the max's engine turn opposite of a normal engine?

By hpitts on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Help! The right lever in my Max II just flops forward.The machine will turn to the right -only the left side is driving, Also there is no reverse on the right side.What has happened? The right lever is hooked up ok and the diamond shift plate on top of the T-20 moves when I shift gears. Can someone give me an idea of what my be wrong
Thanks,Henry

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

OOH IT SOUNDS LIKE A BROKEN DRIVE BAND,YOU COULD MAYBE TELL BY HOW FAR THE PLUNGERS COME OUT OF TRANY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IF YOU KNEW THE TRANY BETER BUT AS YOU MAY BE NEW TO THIS
LET ME SAY IT IS MORE LIKELY THE BAND THAN SAY A SHIFT COALER CAUS MOST TIMES WITH BROKEN COALER IT WILL WORK IN ONE GEAR AND NOT THE OTHER,
SO IF THIS WAS A REALY SUDEN THING (AND BY FLOP IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS)
THAN IT MUST BE A BAND, IM ASUMING YOU HAVE OPEND THE BODY UP TOO LOOK AT TRANY WHILE YOUR TRYING IT RIGHT, SO YOU CAN SEE THAT IT IS NOT SOME OTHER THING LIKE A BROKEN JACK SHAFT PREVENTING ONE SIDE FROM MOVEING,
OR WORSE A MISSING LINK PIN THAT ALOWED THE CONECTING ROD FROM LATEREL TO THE PLUNGER LEVER TO FALL OFF, THIS WOULD BE WORSE BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE TO TELL EVERYONE HOW STUPID YOU FEAL AFTER FINDING OUT IT WASENT BROKE AT ALL, HEH HEH HEH

By Henry Pitts (Henry) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

If it is a broken band, how hard is it to replace or am I better off getting Richard to do it? And if it is easy to replace can I get a full shop manual for the T-20? Any help is appreciated.

By Marc Stobinski (Jerseybigfoot) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Its a broken band for sure. Walked down that road before. If you are mechanically inclined you can probably handle it. Get the Manual from Richard or RI.

By mike stettes on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Henry, Sounds like the band is broken. I can help you fix it if you would like some help. I live over near fork. Let me know. mike s.