Ford 555A Power Shuttle 2nd gear issue

mattyb515 · Jul 12, 2023

Hi all,

Still working through issues on this machine and have run into another one. I've changed the transmission filter and fluid and when attempting to use 2nd gear, the machine engages and will move forward but barely. It's as if a clutch would be slipping. First works without any issue. Third and fourth seem to work fine but I need to get the machine to smooth area of our property to really test them. Is there anything I can test/check to see if I can get 2nd gear working properly? Will running the machine in the other gears be a problem meaning will I damage anything else? I'm assuming it wouldn't if it's like a manual transmission. I can stay out of the gear and it should be fine. Any help is appreciated.

Fritz Maurer · Jul 12, 2023

Could be a directional clutch or torque converter. Cut open and inspect the trans filter you just
took off for any material that might give a clue where it came from. Does it do the same thing in
reverse, or does it pull better? If it pulls better in one direction than the other , I would say the
clutches. However, no change in either direction would be the converter. Converter can be rebuilt
by any automotive shop that cuts open converters; they have the same guts as truck converters
even though they look different on the outside. Last one I had done about 15 years ago was 100$
against $750 from New Holland.

Roy Suomi · Jul 12, 2023

Under the machine there is a steel cover to the clutch housing . Remove the square steel cover and look up inside. There you will
find a fitting on a steel tube. Remove the plug from the end of the tube and install a 200+ lb. gauge into it. With wheels chocked,
and transmission gear shifter in neutral. Wouldn't hurt to put the machine up on it's stabilizers too. I usually install a hydraulic
hose to the gauge so I can watch the pressures while being seated in the operators seat. I can watch the pressures while shifting
forward and reverse. If memory serves, the pressure should be 110-130 lbs at half throttle.

mattyb515 · Jul 14, 2023

Thanks for suggestions on what to check and a slight correction to the post. It's actually 4th gear that it doesn't seem to want to engage not 2nd.

Fritz,
I had a few minutes yesterday to test it yesterday and it does the exact same thing in forward and reverse. There's virtually no power in either direction. I'll have more time this afternoon and will cut open the filter to see what I find.

Roy,
I'm trying to get my hands on a gauge to check pressures and will report back.

mattyb515 · Jul 19, 2023

Finally got around to cutting open the filter. I got a little sidetracked with parts breaking on another tractor so I just had the time to cut it open.

The paper was free of any metal shavings. There was a little bit of gray material at the bottom of the filter. I saw about half a dozen metal shavings the size of a pen tip in the bottom and there was a very light shimmer. Almost imperceptible. I tried to get a picture but just couldn't get a good shot.

It seems like it's the torque converter but with it only affecting 4th gear, I'm inclined to just run it. I'm really not up for pulling the motor to get access to it.

Check Break · Jul 20, 2023

(quoted from post at 04:04:26 07/14/23) It's actually 4th gear that it doesn't seem to want to engage not 2nd. I had a few minutes to test it yesterday and it does the exact same thing in forward and reverse. There's virtually no power in either direction.

4th is hard to get moving from a standing start but no movement in either direction suggests failing converter.

Ford 555A Power Shuttle 2nd gear issue

mattyb515

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Fritz Maurer

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Roy Suomi

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mattyb515

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mattyb515

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Check Break

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