Shifter still very sticky

T

Treehouse

Junior Member
I know from reading posts that the shifting is supposed to get easier once the machines get broken in but I am not seeing much change after breaking the 50-hour mark on my '05 rtv 900.

It is still really hard to get it to shift from "m" to "r" but pulling the relief valve and turning the wheel a few times works eventually. I also notice that the shifter/shift gate doesn't seem to line up the same with each gear. In "L" the shifter sits right at the bottom of the shift gate (actually touching it) but in "h" there isnabout 3/4" of space between the shifter and the top of the shift gate. This has me wondering if the linkage itself is out of adjustment.

So, wondering if everyone has a lot of slop in terms of where the shifter sits in the gate for each gear. Also, wondering if anyone has adjusted linkage to try to get everything lined up and if so, did it help "loosen up" the shifter.
 
Sometimes you have to blip the throttle while pushing on the brake to help it shift. Could be some adjustment would help it a little. How do you have an "05" and only have 50 hours on it?
 
Thanks muleman
Yes, that is some mighty low usage. I bought her used in 2012 with 14 hours on her. From what I can tell the previous owner used it to pickup up mail at the end of the (paved) driveway.

She has about 60 hours on her now. I thought changing the SUDT (at 50 hours) might loosen up the shifting but not much difference (but did gain a lot of power).

I'll try the blip technique and hope she loosens up after a the next service interval.
 
With such low hours, I would guess that all the other cables and adjustments are probably still fine.

So, the neutral adjustment would be the one to try.

Here is a method to try found on this site by another poster and I've added some of my comments.

Adjusting creep.

On the side of the HST Valve there is a screw with a jam nut (5 or 6 mm allen head with 14 or 17 mm lock nut called the Hex. Socket Head Screw (5)).

The proper way to check this is with pressure gauges but you can get it close with out.

1. With the bota in 2wd jack up the back so the wheels are off the ground.
2. Put in neutral and start the bota.
3. See if the wheels turn in neutral, if they do you need to loosen the jam nut and either screw in or out the screw until you get the wheels to stop. Tighten jam nut your done. Little tricky when tightening the jam nut due to the screw will turn with it a bit and mess up your setting. Just keep playing with it you’ll get it.

You may also want to try this;
With everything done as above and still on the jack stands to keep the rear wheels off the ground, put the machine into high gear and using the throttle knob, if you have one it's located over by the emergency break, rev the engine up to full throttle. Then check to see if the wheels are still not turning, but if they are go back and do some more adjusting on the neutral screw.

If you don't have a throttle control, you can not use the accelerator pedal as this engages the HST and will make the test useless. You can locate the fuel lever on the fuel pump and manual increase the rpm with you finger just pushing on the lever as the cable will flex enough to allow lever movement.

Good time to have a friend help with controlling the throttle movements.

The whole idea is that the extra engine rpm and fluid flow should not engage the wheels and you should have found a true neutral.

Factory test is to use gauges and unhook the HST control rod but this method should give you very close to the same results.

Here are some pictures for reference and the page from the factory manual. It's for the 1100 but the transmissions are the same for both models.

If it is in 4wd, watch out because once you move the throttle lever it will jump ahead, please don't ask how I know.

Go slow take your time, be careful and it's really a simple adjustment.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.
.
 

Attachments

  • Neutral adjust screw.jpg
    Neutral adjust screw.jpg
    88 KB · Views: 130
  • RTV1100 Check Neutral Idle Speed.jpg
    RTV1100 Check Neutral Idle Speed.jpg
    87.1 KB · Views: 130
  • IMG_1107_HST_rod.jpg
    IMG_1107_HST_rod.jpg
    149.8 KB · Views: 127
so if I have a brand new 1100 and shifting is an issue should I take it back to dealer to adjust? I have no mechanical ability so I cannot make the adjustment - mine has 20 hours on it but shifting was an issue from day one
 
tlk said:
so if I have a brand new 1100 and shifting is an issue should I take it back to dealer to adjust? I have no mechanical ability so I cannot make the adjustment - mine has 20 hours on it but shifting was an issue from day one
Click to expand...
TLK, If it's brand new and not hard to get to the dealer, I would let the dealer do it. Give them a call. It would be real nice if the dealer would get the service guy to drop by while in your area. Some dealers are "real nice" others are not so much. Good Luck and keep us informed. Also thanks for the good info and pictures Spudhauler posted :) bordercollie
 
TLK,
I had the dealer do my neutral adjustment and they did use pressure gauges as per their manual.

I believe they had trouble getting the plugs out as these are installed with a sealant/locktite combination sealer that makes them tough to remove without heating first to release the locktite.

I was told the neutral adjustment was off by quite a bit but never found out by how much. Not that it really matters.

It helped but I'm still thinking it could have been better.

The manual method described here should work, just takes a little trial and error.
 
..... a couple of years ago. Cook Tractor sent a mechanic down here to look at some equipment. He adjusted several RTV's while he was here. It helped !!!!!


At one time, Vicksburg had a super mechanic that knew much about these
RTV's and their trannys. ...... :tiphat:
 
TWO GUNS said:
..... a couple of years ago. Cook Tractor sent a mechanic down here to look at some equipment. He adjusted several RTV's while he was here. It helped !!!!!


At one time, Vicksburg had a super mechanic that knew much about these
RTV's and their trannys. ...... :tiphat:
Click to expand...

Yes , Two Guns is right . In fact, Jamie is why I bought my RTV from Cooks. I have a dealer 15 miles from me but got the best feel and deal from Cooks 45 miles away. They are great folks. How far are you from us TLK?
 
Strangely enough, even though I am now an Alabamian, I bought my L4300DT from Cook Tractor in Vicksburg.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top