Help! Gravely 408 won't engage forward or backward

First, congrats on your 408. You have joined a growing group of 408 owners.

Go to Gravely408 Yahoo group for transaxle repairs information.

Or contact me at crescentree at msn dot com.

I can walk you thru it.

John

The fwd/rev shifter was fine. But the gearshift lever had been out and wasn't seated. We rolled it out of his truck and evaluated the transaxle. I aligned the shift forks, reinstalled the shifter and it still wouldn't go into any gear.

And I've got another unexpected project tractor, that's #7. Make it go or just stop already!

So, this is yet another 1974 408 for me. A bit tired but still had the original seat and paint. Only things missing are a hood hinge tab, and a battery cover.

It sounds like the transmission will need to be split. Does the f/r lever run it's full travel (positive f/r engagement)? There may be a yoke/shift rail related hang up. Hopefully one of the shift rails hasn't wallowed out it's transmission case receiver to the point that it's not running parallel with the other shift rail anymore due to excessive play.

It's possible that at some point someone started shifting from forward to reverse and visa versa in gear, and without using the clutch, and locked everything up.

So John, I'm just trying to keep up here. First congratulations on your latest addition! It looks solid. Will you be keeping it, or finding it a new home? Where did you pick it up?

Second, have you taken on the task of freeing up the subject 408's transmission?

tracktortag said:

So John, I'm just trying to keep up here. First congratulations on your latest addition! It looks solid. Will you be keeping it, or finding it a new home? Where did you pick it up?



Second, have you taken on the task of freeing up the subject 408's transmission?

Click to expand...

The guy brought it over to my house this morning so I could evaluate. He didn't want to bother with it so he said it looks like it has found a good home -- make me an offer. How could I pass it up?

I won't be touching this tractor until I've got Don's 408 gone and the AW reassembled.

The transmission will need to be split. The f/r lever runs it's full travel. I agree that the transaxle suffered some abuse. But at least it isn't full of water like some others I have...



It's got to find a new home. I'm out of hiding places.

Haha! I'm glad I asked. It almost seemed like you had two separate 408s included in your one post. I thought that you found one 408, and evaluated the transmission on another one.

The yoke, shift rails, and affected gears may just be binding, and need to be freed up, and realigned with one another. It sounds like someone tried forcing the issue with the shifter.

I'm in the same boat regarding hiding places. I told my wife that I need a shed. Her reply: "For more tractors?" I don't know where that reply came from...:sidelaugh

So congrats on giving another needy 408 a good home. Actually, you needed one to replace the one going to Don's anyway.

From what I can tell, the trans is clean inside, and still has oil. When I pulled the shifter out of the AW today, I saw heavy rust on the end. Not a good sign. I suspect out of two will become one working trans.

From what I can fathom from the wear and tear, this latest tractor may be the lowest hour machine I have.

mopedriderandbuyer said:

It was my pleasure to meet John today, and to pass the machine on to a good home. Anyway, more room for mopeds! I will follow this thread to see how the work progresses...

Click to expand...

Thanks Larry. Pleasure meeting you too. I squeezed it into the shed for the night, and now have my eye on a spot for a new shed. Thanks for sharing your construction tips.

I pulled the deck off tonight. Hosed it off and removed the blades. They were quite rusty and dull. I pulled another set out of the box and will test mow with it on my daily driver as soon as I time the blades.

It has been sitting indoors but in a damp environment. No perforation, so it will clean up okay.

MikMan48 said:

Congrats John on the new find. You need to get a herd picture of them all, bet its the largest flock of 408s in one household

Click to expand...

Thanks MikMan. In the past I'd take the group shots when my wife was at work. She's retired now, and that makes it a little more difficult to assemble the troops. When they are scattered about, the quantity is less obvious.

This 408 tipped the balance and pushed me into building it (and 4 others) a new home.

jepics said:

This 408 tipped the balance and pushed me into building it (and 4 others) a new home.
View attachment 1376434

Click to expand...

Looking good John! Was wondering how you were making out on the 408s!

How big of a shed are you building?

MikMan48 said:

Looking good John! Was wondering how you were making out on the 408s!

How big of a shed are you building?

Click to expand...

Thanks MikMan. We have zoning restrictions that limit untaxed sheds to under 100 sq ft. So it's only 8x12. I will be making racks to allow stacking ?

jepics said:

Thanks MikMan. We have zoning restrictions that limit untaxed sheds to under 100 sq ft. So it's only 8x12. I will be making racks to allow stacking ?

Click to expand...

That should give you a good bit of room! And sweet how many high can you go in there? I have a feeling a few more 408s may be joining you with the extra room