Farmall Cub

My 3 yr old son was playing on the tractor while I was greasing, changing oil, and switching out blades, but once I got back on the tractor I noticed I shifter was completely loose and practically came out of the boot under the seat, so I tore everything down to the shifter and loosened the bolts but not sure why it would look like so any pics would be great!!!!!... I tried to reassemble the shifter but I can't get any gear but 3rd..any insights would be great...also you are dealing with an amateur so talk to me like a 5th grader....thanks

Yea, you've pulled the shifter out, and re-installed it but didn't drop it into the correct location in the gear box. Basically, the shifter ball is not between the shifter forks. If you take the top off the transmission again, you will see two U shaped channels, facing each other so the U openings can line up. That is where the shifter ball goes when you reinstall it. You can slide them while the cover is open, they slide forward and rearward. Those are the actual shifting forks, so when you move the shifter, the ball slides the forks foward and reverse, thus pushing the correct gears into place down in the transmission.



Oh, and why the shifter got all loose.... the cup probably broke off of the shift lever. I'm sure when you took it all apart, the shift lever just wanted to fall out of the cover. Common problem, especially with a 3-yr old playing on it (probaly trying to stand on it). If you take it apart you'll see where the cup was tack welded to the shift lever. There's a locating pin that sets the alignment. It's all pretty obvious when you've got it apart. Also, the cup doesn't look straight with the lever when it's welded correctly. It's actually at an angle to the lever. A lot of folks think it's supposed to be straight, so weld them incorrectly.
this picture is from a Cub Cadet, but you can see the angle on the shifter.



Take some pics and give us a shout if you have any trouble.

Bill

Ditto to what Bill said. ...and welcome to the best Cub site on the net!

gitractorman wrote: If you take the top off the transmission again, you will see two U shaped channels, facing each other so the U openings can line up.

Having the forks lined up make it much easier to go back together. If push comes to shove a used replacement shifter shouldn't be hard to come by.

How easily should the shifters slide to get them back into place...I don't want to tear them up.

The shafts that the forks are attached to are held in position with a spring and ball bearing that rises up into depressions on the bottom of the shaft as it moves. With a weak spring you can move the forks by hand, but will probably need something to gently pry them forward or back.

Bob

So does it matter which gear I put the shifter back in, once I get in the right position? Seems to me it needs to go back in the last gear it came out of? And is that " cup"inside housing that important? I looked at the shifter and saw no signs of a spot weld?

You should put it in neutral (which is what gitractorman's first photo shows). Note that the aligned forks are not in the middle of the shafts. I think you'll find it hard to shift without the cup attached. While you have it off, make sure the holes in each end in the depression are open. Those drip lube the bearings/gears.

Bob

Do I have to completely have to disassemble the shifter to weld the cup back on, or can i just turn it upside down and weld it in that position?

I haven't seen a numbered LoBoy shifter apart, so I can't answer that question. Someone else should be able to.

Bob

You should completely disassemble it to re-weld it, down to the point where it is like the photo above. Weld it top and bottom and you'll never have to worry about it breaking again.

Thanks

When you re-weld it, make sure you get the 'notch' in the cup aligned directly with the rod/handle. Its critical that is is so that it won't hit the sheet metal once reinstalled.

Got ya, I found a few older posts and a "how to" on here as we'll, just need to disassemble and sweet talk my brother in law for a quick weld job, since I don't have a welder...this site is amazing thanks everyone !!!!!

Here are some pice of the disc like ball and my shifter, has this been modified or does all of the shifter and disc like cut outs look like this?

Yours is broken, I sent you a pm
Boss