Low gear 312-8

[Greg Cullison 40]

Hello all,

Picked up my first horse a few weeks ago and have really enjoyed it. No mower, just a snow blade and an excuse to ride the grandson around. I also use it to haul a 5x9 trailer full of leaves to the back of the property. I've done a couple of petty things to it including changing the oil, replace headlights and sparkplug and adjusting the parking brake but would love to get it into the low gear. When I went to shift it into the low gear, it seemed to stick a little but I did get in between the high and low. Upon pushing it towards low, I felt quite a bit of resistance so I stopped. I was relieved to get it back into high gear so I could actually use it at least. I swore I would just leave it alone. Better to have high gear than nothing at all. But...as I said, the low gear is really what I want...

 

I am far from a mechanic or expert, so unless it would be fairly easy to repair if it is broke or if I break it, I am hesitant to go for it again.

 

Any input from you all would be welcomed.

 

Thanks!!

[ebinmaine 68,205]

If you can tell the handle of a screwdriver from an open end 9/16 wrench, you can repair one of these transmissions. Whether you know it or not. Whether you have the confidence in yourself or not. They really are fairly simple. I've had a dozen or more open myself. And I'm no mechanic.

 

 

Your best bet? Get a complete 8-speed and swap the whole transmission.

Possibility that may or may not work? Drain the gear oil from what you have and put some ATF in there and drive it around. The scrubbing action of the automatic transmission fluid may possibly loosen up your high low but it could also do more harm than good so you should know that ahead.

 

 

You definitely have options. There's plenty of Parts out there available.

[Handy Don 12,436]

2 hours ago, Greg Cullison said:

would love to get it into the low gear

Just to be clear, you are feeling quiet but strong resistance when trying to move the Hi-Lo shifter from Hi to Lo?

Are reverse, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd all working in the Hi range?

 

Clutch fully depressed? Grinding noises?

 

One thing to know about WH transaxles is that the gears are NOT synchronized. The drive belt MUST stop turning before trying to change gears. If you are stopped and feeling resistance going into any gear or between Hi and Lo, You can briefly release and re-press the clutch in neutral and then retry your shift.

 

Have you drained the transaxle? There is a drain plug on the bottom that uses a ¼” Allen wrench (note the socket is often clogged with debris and must get cleaned out before you can get the wrench in!) There should be ~1.5 or so quarts of oil. @ebinmaine's suggestion is a good one. Drain, fill with a fluid that can flush out sludge (diesel fuel is another option), then drive it it circles in both directions in all the gears you can access. If Lo is blocked by sludge from lack of use, this may well clear it. Lastly, drain and safely dispose of the diesel or ATF and refill with 80w gear oil.

 

Check back!

 

Edited November 14 by Handy Don

[dcrage 628]

31 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

One thing to know about WH transaxles is that the gears are NOT synchronized. The drive belt MUST stop turning before trying to change gears. If you are stopped and feeling resistance going into any gear or between Hi and Lo, You can briefly release and re-press the clutch in neutral and then retry your shift.

 

The above was my immediate thought when I read the Original Post. A lot of times I cannot put my 310-8 into low range without putting the tractor into a high range gear and  gently releasing the clutch and then shift from low to high range. Try that several times!

 

 

[MainelyWheelhorse 558]

My high and low on my 87 308-8 and 92 312-8 are iffy too sometimes. I just gently work it back and forth and make sure the clutch is in and it will go in. It may be stiff if its been sitting for a while.

[Greg Cullison 40]

8 minutes ago, MainelyWheelhorse said:

My high and low on my 87 308-8 and 92 312-8 are iffy too sometimes. I just gently work it back and forth and make sure the clutch is in and it will go in. It may be stiff if its been sitting for a while.

So it's been a while since I tried it and maybe I was in the wrong. Maybe I was thinking like shifting a 4x4 pickup into 4 low. Stop, put it in neutral and then shift into low gear. Should I be in neutural AND push the clutch in and then try shifting into low? Thanks for your help. 

[MainelyWheelhorse 558]

3 hours ago, Handy Don said:

One thing to know about WH transaxles is that the gears are NOT synchronized. The drive belt MUST stop turning before trying to change gears. If you are stopped and feeling resistance going into any gear or between Hi and Lo, You can briefly release and re-press the clutch in neutral and then retry your shift.

@Greg Cullison@Handy Don explains the High /Low shifting process pretty well.

[Greg Cullison 40]

8 hours ago, Greg Cullison said:

So it's been a while since I tried it and maybe I was in the wrong. Maybe I was thinking like shifting a 4x4 pickup into 4 low. Stop, put it in neutral and then shift into low gear. Should I be in neutural AND push the clutch in and then try shifting into low? Thanks for your help. 

Thanks!!

[953 nut 55,734]

To shift from High range to Low range or Low to High I always shut the engine off, put the gear shift in first, move the High/Low selector in the desired direction and rock the tractor slightly while applying a little pressure to the High/Low. When the gears line up it will slide into place. 

[Greg Cullison 40]

15 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

To shift from High range to Low range or Low to High I always shut the engine off, put the gear shift in first, move the High/Low selector in the desired direction and rock the tractor slightly while applying a little pressure to the High/Low. When the gears line up it will slide into place. 

Aside from the rocking the tractor back and forth, that is exactly what I did this morning. It seemed to have worked! Unfortunately, I didn't have time to start her up and test it out but cannot wait to get home to check it. I'll keep you posted. Thanks!!!!

[Greg Cullison 40]

Started her up when I got home and she was in gear and ready to go. I was relieved, lol. Although I didn't realize how slow the low gear was, even second gear, but I imagine she has quite a bit of pulling power! I think I'll keep it in high gear around the house and switch to low when towing the big trailer or giving the grandson a ride. Thanks for all of the advice everyone. Very nice to have experts help you out when needed..

 

 

[pfrederi 17,856]

Just a reminder WHs will pull heavy trailers no problem...BUT.. the brakes are woefully inadequate to stop a big load...especially in reverse....

[Handy Don 12,436]

3 hours ago, Greg Cullison said:

didn't realize how slow the low gear was

It’s a 4:1 reduction!

I use low 1st and low reverse when loading and unloading via trailer ramps so I can easily and safely walk beside and steer.  

[ebinmaine 68,205]

29 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

It’s a 4:1 reduction!

I use low 1st and low reverse when loading and unloading via trailer ramps so I can easily and safely walk beside and steer.  

 

 

Yep. Same here. The biggest reason I actually wanted an 8-speed in the first place was so I could get that reduction for backing into tight places on our acreage.

[Greg Cullison 40]

Great advice, thanks!!

[8ntruck 7,079]

Low range makes it much easier to keep up when backing a lawn sweeper.

 

My 14-8 goes directly between high and low about 1/2 of the time.  I generally barely engage the clutch while gently pushing on the shift lever, disengaging the clutch completely when I feel the gears engage.  Same procedure for going from high to low, or low to high.

Edited November 19 by 8ntruck

[Greg Cullison 40]

Now that I know it is functional (former owner said he never used it) I think I will keep in in high for the most part but will back her down to low when taking the young grandson for rides through the wooded portion of the property. Thanks

[Greg Cullison 40]

Also while backing, makes total sense...

[ebinmaine 68,205]

54 minutes ago, Greg Cullison said:

Also while backing, makes total sense...

 

 

I was about to suggest you get in a habit of doing that. Safer and easier for reversing of course but also because it ensures continued freedom of movement on the parts that need to work.

[Greg Cullison 40]

Agreed!  Thanks