8 Speed Won't Free Wheel

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,349]

Weird issue. It has neutral meaning I take it out of gear and let the clutch out and it won't go anywhere, but if i shut it off and try to push the tractor it won't free wheel. What's the deal?

[peter lena 9,451]

@ MIKES HORSE BARN, what does the trans oil look like ?  milky ? when was it last serviced  ?  pete

[Ed Kennell 43,082]

Is the brake dragging?

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,349]

27 minutes ago, peter lena said:

@ MIKES HORSE BARN, what does the trans oil look like ?  milky ? when was it last serviced  ?  pete

 

I just flushed it and drained what was in there, didn't have much in it.

 

17 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

Is the brake dragging?

 

Brake does not seem to be dragging i checked that.

[JoeM 8,875]

Have you jacked it up and spun the back tires by hand.

Think a final drive bolt sheared and is dragging. just thinking. 

[ebinmaine 74,518]

8 hours ago, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

Weird issue. It has neutral meaning I take it out of gear and let the clutch out and it won't go anywhere, but if i shut it off and try to push the tractor it won't free wheel. What's the deal?

 

Does it run and drive fine otherwise? 

Clicking on sharp turns?

When OFF does pushing the clutch make a difference? 

Or brake?

Does selecting Hi vs Low change it? 

Different gears?

 

Have you tried coaxing it with a carrot 🥕? 

[Pullstart 68,156]

Does it need a turbo?

[953 nut 62,129]

Are the tires fully inflated?                                Pushing backward the same as forward?

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,349]

6 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

Does it run and drive fine otherwise? 

Clicking on sharp turns?

When OFF does pushing the clutch make a difference? 

Or brake?

Does selecting Hi vs Low change it? 

Different gears?

 

Have you tried coaxing it with a carrot 🥕? 

 

It does run and drive fine, which is the weird part. Pushing the clutch makes Zero difference in free wheeling same with brake. If I take the brake band off though I can free wheel it like it's in gear and the drive pulley spins like it's in gear, but If I start it in neutral and let the clutch out, it won't move like it's actually in neutral, but it won't free wheel. Weird.

 

Next step may be coaxing it with a different trans until I can tear into this one lol

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,349]

4 hours ago, 953 nut said:

Are the tires fully inflated?                                Pushing backward the same as forward?

 

Yes to both

[stevasaurus 23,454]

It sounds to me like some teeth from either the axke gear(s) or from one or more of the pinions in the differential have chipped off and causing your issue.  Jack up the rear end and try turning each wheel one at a time).  

[ri702bill 10,024]

4 hours ago, stevasaurus said:

It sounds to me like some teeth from either the axke gear(s) or from one or more of the pinions in the differential have chipped off and causing your issue.  Jack up the rear end and try turning each wheel one at a time).  

If it time to change the fluid, you can confirm what Steve said. Inspect the used fluid that comes out - look for shiny bits of gear teeth that have left home for good...

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,349]

2 hours ago, ri702bill said:

If it time to change the fluid, you can confirm what Steve said. Inspect the used fluid that comes out - look for shiny bits of gear teeth that have left home for good...

 

I did change the fluid, it has such a horrendous leak that it had next to no fluid in it. Anyway ya look at it, I gotta take it apart.

[stevasaurus 23,454]

Mike. just for kicks what horse or what 8 speed trans do you think we have here??    I'm wondering if this is a 10 pinion differential with a brokem spring.

[Handy Don 14,624]

1 hour ago, stevasaurus said:

Mike. just for kicks what horse or what 8 speed trans do you think we have here??    I'm wondering if this is a 10 pinion differential with a brokem spring.

Ah, a locked differential!

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,349]

 

2 hours ago, stevasaurus said:

Mike. just for kicks what horse or what 8 speed trans do you think we have here??    I'm wondering if this is a 10 pinion differential with a brokem spring.

 

This is a 1974 C-160 with the 5091 trans

[ebinmaine 74,518]

1 hour ago, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

 

 

This is a 1974 C-160 with the 5091 trans

 

 

So that should be an eight pinion

[953 nut 62,129]

6 hours ago, stevasaurus said:

Mike. just for kicks what horse or what 8 speed trans do you think we have here??    I'm wondering if this is a 10 pinion differential with a brokem spring.

           I thought only the six speeds had the limited slip differentials.

[ebinmaine 74,518]

4 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

           I thought only the six speeds had the limited slip differentials.

 

6 speeds and some early 1970s hydros. 

My '70 Charger had it. 

 

Anything could have been done by a PO. 

 

Limited Slip Differential can be retrofitted to an 8 speed.  

 

 

 

[953 nut 62,129]

12 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

6 speeds and some early 1970s hydros. 

My '70 Charger had it. 

 

Anything could have been done by a PO. 

 

Limited Slip Differential can be retrofitted to an 8 speed.  

 

 

 

As could a four pinion.             

[ebinmaine 74,518]

3 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

As could a four pinion.             

 

 

If the axle sizes match up, absolutely.

[stevasaurus 23,454]

The 5060 and the 5071 are considered 6 speed...where brake shaft is mushroom gear.  The 5073 is an 8 speed 10 pinion limited slip...brake shaft on cluster gear shaft..

   @953 nut  The 3 speed and the 4 speed transmissions all are 4 pinion differentials with 1" axles.  Even the  #110996 in the 300 & 400 series is a 4 pinion differential with 1" axles and this is an 8 speed.

 

[ebinmaine 74,518]

3 minutes ago, stevasaurus said:

The 5073 is an 8 speed 10 pinion limited slip...brake shaft on cluster gear shaft..

 

 

1970, 71?

[stevasaurus 23,454]

On 9/8/2025 at 10:35 AM, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

It does run and drive fine, which is the weird part. Pushing the clutch makes Zero difference in free wheeling same with brake. If I take the brake band off though I can free wheel it like it's in gear and the drive pulley spins like it's in gear, but If I start it in neutral and let the clutch out, it won't move like it's actually in neutral, but it won't free wheel. Weird.

 

Next step may be coaxing it with a different trans until I can tear into this one lol

 

This is the part I am having trouble with.  It runs and drives fine, but if I start it in neutral and let the clutch out, it won't move.  

BOTH OF THESE CAN NOT BE TRUE.    Further explaination is in order here..

[stevasaurus 23,454]

@ebinmaine  Eric, the list with all the years of Wheel Horse model numbers, engine numbers and transmissions is wrong where you are reading it.  The #5060 and the #5071 transmissions are the 6 speeds, 10 pinion differentials with 1 1/8" axles...brake drum on the mushroon gear shaft.

The #5073 is the 8 speed 10 pinion differential with 1 1/8" axles...brake drim on the cluster gear shaft.

Look here my friend...table of contents.