Comando 8 won't stay in third gear

[bunson70 51]

Hello everyone!! I want to say thank you for accepting me. I just joined and this is my first post. I have a 1968 Comando 8 that won't stay in third gear. It will move in third. But, I have to hold it there with all my strength. It has a uni-drive 3 speed tranny if that helps. Is there an easy fix? I have three horses, 1967 607, 1968 Comando 8 and a 1980 not sure of the make or model. I WILL post pics soon!

[mavfreak 11]

:thumbs: Someone surely will help you on the gear problem. Can't wait for the pictures

[bunson70 51]

I have close to 300 pictures on my phone (not all wheel horses). I have to get them to a disc. I will try to get them posted this weekend! I promise I won't post all of them at once! :thumbs:

[stevasaurus 22,863]

I have the same problem with my 857 when there is a good load, like moving a lot of snow. It could be a worn 3rd gear or rounded off teeth. It is possible that your shifter is worn and not seating the gear all the way. The later is an easy check...pull the boot, loosen the lock nut and bolt on the shifter base, lift out and inspect. If you have another horse...do the same thing to it and try the shifter in your Commando. There is not any adjustment in the trans that you can do to make it better, you would have to tear it down and replace the gear. Not hard to do...some members may have the part laying around for sale, or if it is really bad, pick up a spare trans at one of the shows. You can pick up a spare trans for $50-100 bucks, the new gear from Toro may cost more then that. Try the shifter thingy first.

And Let us know.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,145]

It could be a worn 3rd gear or rounded off teeth.

More than likely, the "internal" teeth on the side of 2nd/high gear and the teeth on the input shaft are rounded from repetitive shifting between second and third gear without completely stopping. Once they wear and are put under substantial load, they become "ramps" and will literally push each other apart unless the operator holds the shifter in position.

The input shaft is (potentially) still available new at close to $300 and the 2nd/high gear is NLA.

As Steve said, buying a working transaxle is usually the better (and cheaper) answer.

:thumbs:

[stevasaurus 22,863]

here is a picture of what you may have wrong...

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f144/mbinnie/100_1027.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f144/mbinnie/100_1025.jpg

[Horse'n Around 22]

Howdy and

John

[bunson70 51]

I took the shift lever out of my 607, and tried it in the Commando. That wasn't the problem. Dang it!! I guess I will be tearing the tranny apart. The screw that holds the shift lever in place broke. My question is, if I buy one of those owner manuals off of ebay, will it have exploded views and part numbers? Or, is there a place on here wgere I can download the manual. I went and got a card for my cell phone today. I just need to get the pictures loaded up here. I am going to a buddy's house later tonight to work on his motorcycle. I will use his comp to load the pics. Thank you all VERY much for the help!!! :thumbs:

[dgjks6 6]

here is a picture of what you may have wrong...

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f144/mbinnie/100_1027.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f144/mbinnie/100_1025.jpg

those are some impressive pics.

[KB9LOR 4]

I took the shift lever out of my 607, and tried it in the Commando. That wasn't the problem. Dang it!! I guess I will be tearing the tranny apart. The screw that holds the shift lever in place broke. My question is, if I buy one of those owner manuals off of ebay, will it have exploded views and part numbers? Or, is there a place on here wgere I can download the manual. I went and got a card for my cell phone today. I just need to get the pictures loaded up here. I am going to a buddy's house later tonight to work on his motorcycle. I will use his comp to load the pics. Thank you all VERY much for the help!!!

I have the tranny manual, I can e-maili it to you, you don't have to buy one...shoot me your e-mail address, I used the one I am going to send you...worked for me.

[KB9LOR 4]

here is a picture of what you may have wrong...

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f144/mbinnie/100_1027.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f144/mbinnie/100_1025.jpg

those are some impressive pics.

Yeah, those are pics of my 3-speed uni-drive, the PO had let his kids plow snow in 3rd gear full tilt and trashed 3rd-2nd and as you can see the reverse Idler gear. lol