Reverser

[Dean Wise]

I have a 1981 350c.
It Has been setting for about 3 months. Last weekend I fired it up to grade some washed out places on a road going into my deep hollow. The machine worked great , and I ran it for about 3 hours.
A week later I was working with my farm tractor in the hollow, and got stuck moving some brush with a grapple on my frontend loader, so I got the 350c out to pull me out.
When I started it up it did not want to move when I engaged the reverser.
I checked all of the fluids, and everything was O.K. I worked the lever back , and forth a few times , and it started moving.
I noticed as I was moving it seemed to me to be slowing down, so I pushed the clutch, and It stopped, but when I released the clutch it did not move again.
I pushed the clutch and changed gears and it seemed to me like the brakes were hanging the engine sounded like it was pulling down , but not moving.
I read in some of the older posts about dirt, and debris getting around the clutch , and sometimes the reverser linkage hanging.
I have not pulled the floorboard, or checked anything yet, but after playing with the clutch , and reverser several times I did get to start moving, and did have enough power to get my tractor un stuck.
My question , If the clutch linkage, and reverser linkage check out O.K. what next.
I don't own any gauges for checking pressures.
All fluids look clean, and clear there is 352 hours on them since fluid , and filter changes.
When I was grading the hill road I did use the steeering levers quite a bit , and the reverser quite a bit.
I did notice the steeding clutch on the right took more pressure to turn than the left.
Could the self adjusters have gotten out of adjustment from all of the steering , and caused this problem by getting the right side too tight causing the not wanting to go?
I hope to have time to pull the floorboard this weekend, but wanted to have some other things to check if nothing showed up when the floor was removed.
Thank you in advance for any response.
Dean

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

The first thing you need to understand is - you have *no* master engine clutch.

The things you read about engine clutches with reversers are for the older model machines, where the reverser was a drop-in accessory between the engine and the transmission (replacing a hollow center frame piece with a driveshaft inside).

It probably does not help that the original straight 350 (no suffix letter) models were available without a reverser and those machines did have a master engine clutch.

That pedal on a reverser equipped 350 opens a valve and dumps the hydraulic pressure inside the reverser.

Sounds like you have a hydraulic restriction somewhere. Gauges would help you troubleshoot.

The steering clutches are not related to the reverser. If you have one side out of adjustment, you either can't steer to that side, or will have no drive to that side, but the opposite side will be OK. If one side has the brake on too tight, you will just steer that way all the time.

Stan

[Dean Wise]

Thank you Stan for your reply.
I got home tonight in time to check things out under the floorboards. Nothing but leaves.
I worked the clutch pedal, and the reverser lever, and both were engaging, and all springs in place.
I have the repair manuals, but I have not had time to check them out yet.
I was hoping someone had ran across this problem before , and could shorten my learning curve a little.
Thank you again Stan.
Dean

[thirsty07]

I don't have any mechanical advice for you, but I have a similiar problem with my 350c. When we got the dozer it hadn't been used for a while and the clutch was really sticky. we found that in forward gears there wasn't an issue, but when the reverser was engaged for reverse, the dozer wouldn't move. The clutch was stuck just a fraction of an inch, so when i pry the clutch up with my boot, all works as it should.