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Problems with new to me Mule

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 3:22 pm
by jackthebear46
Transmission can't be shifted between 1st & reverse. It is locked. 2nd & 3rd are O.K.
SHIFT RODS ARE NOT BENT. What can I do to unlock?
Also, it seems to lack power. I have nothing to compare it against. It takes a fair bit of gas to even start off in !st & low range.
Any help would be appreciated. Thx, Stewart

Re: Problems with new to me Mule

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 4:30 pm
by muleman7
Stewart

Please read through the following Post It will give you some things to look for.

1-1st check that the hanging swing arm for 1st rev is not frozen. found at the gun door opening. Heat and Liquid Wrench or WD40 will help to loosen the arm.
2-With 2nd-3rd in neutral 1st-rev should shift. There is a lock out pin that prevents shifting 1st-rev when you are in 2nd or 3rd.
3-1st-rev slider on the mainshaft slides on splines and I have never seen galling to the point it will not slide.
4-Remove the cotter pin holding the 1st-rev shift rod to the swing arm and see if you can shift. A frozen swing arm will be apparent if the bed moves where the bolt attaches it.

viewtopic.php?f=79&t=287434

Lack of Power
1-check that both cylinders are firing it sounds like you are only hitting on 1 cylinder. If that is the case my guess is the left hand cylinder is not firing.
a-bad spark plug
b-bad ignition lead
c-bad tower top in magneto cap
d-bad rubber connector for manifold to intake tube.
e-dropped exhaust valve due to a rats nest preventing air flow to the head and cylinder.

It takes a fair bit of gas to even start off in !st & low range.
I thought you said you could not shift into 1st-rev

Re: Problems with new to me Mule

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 4:59 pm
by jackthebear46
Thanks for the reply. I'll try your suggestions. I noticed what I felt was lack of power before the trans problem. This was in the 1st 10 minutes of my trst drive.Thx.

Re: Problems with new to me Mule

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 4:17 am
by Lance-W
The problem with 1st / reverse. Make sure the shift gates are aligned before you try and go from 1/r to 2/3 or vice versa. Before I took mine apart it was VERY picky about the shift gates position when going from one shift rod to the other. It turned out that the hangers on the bottom of the bed were almost frozen stiff and were fighting the shifter.

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Re: Problems with new to me Mule

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 5:04 am
by jackthebear46
Thanks for the help. I'll have to do some maintenance work on her. It appears that not much was done.
Thanks again.

Re: Problems with new to me Mule

Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2017 10:10 am
by Chuck W.
Keep in mind that you cannot "speed-shift" a mule between 1st and 2nd....take it slow and easy. If you try to jam it into 2nd, you can force the clearance in the synchronizer to open up which could allow the the shift plates to jam in the gap.
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Re: Problems with new to me Mule

Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2017 4:55 pm
by jackthebear46
Thanks for the info. I've learned my lesson.No more speed shifting!
Thx, Stewart

Re: Problems with new to me Mule

Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2017 6:32 pm
by markrdje
Ya, there should be 3 separate actions(moves) to shift from 1st to 2nd. Just like the m151

Re: Problems with new to me Mule

Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2017 1:57 pm
by Chuck W.
Stewart, have you found/corrected your shifting problem?>

Re: Problems with new to me Mule

Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2017 3:12 pm
by jackthebear46
Hi Chuck,
Thanks for the interest with my shifting problems. Yes, I've resolved my problems. It was just a greenhorn that more or less tried to speedshift. Does''t work that way
Thx, Stewart