John Deere 450 E Low Range

[TomJ]

I just purchased a John Deere 450E LT and have found many undisclosed problems with the machine but the one that I am most concerned with is that Low range does not engage until I have raised the engine RPM's to about half throttle. (No Tach) High range and reverse engage at an idle but not low range. Once it does engage it seems to stay in and operate fine as long as I keep the RPM's up. Any help would be appreciated.
I'm also looking for a repair manual if anyone knows where I can get one.

Thanks
Tom

[crewchief888]

could be a slipping low range HLR clutch, or leaking seal rings/manifold.

[TomJ]

Are there seperate clutches for each range HLR and where are the seals/manifold located that you mention. I have never pulled anything apart on one of these and frankly don't know where to starrt with this problem. It doesn't have anything to do with Hyd pressure or the lack of enough pressure at a lower RPM?

Thanks for your help

[crewchief888]

Are there seperate clutches for each range HLR and where are the seals/manifold located that you mention. I have never pulled anything apart on one of these and frankly don't know where to starrt with this problem. It doesn't have anything to do with Hyd pressure or the lack of enough pressure at a lower RPM?

Thanks for your help

you may want to consult a service manual to see if theres a test port to check clutch pressure, i really dont remember.
there are 3 clutch packs in the trans, all on a common shaft, with the manifold on the rear of the shaft, sealed with steel sealing rings.
sounds easy huh?
not really.
tip the rad shell fwd
remove the engine and rad support
remove the dash console
remove the bellhousing
remove top cover of trans
remove bearing quills on the countershafts from the front of the trans
remove the 3 bolts and lock ring from the ring gear side of the housing.
clutches and manifold lift out of the HLR housing.
may have bad sealing rings, or a leaking clutch piston seal(s)

one question, at full throttle is the gear change from fwd to rev "lagging" or do you have a firm hard shift?

on the RH side of the trans, theres a large pipe plug, inside the trans under that plug is the rate of shift screw.
that screw varies the speed of fwd to rev shift, if it's turned too far in, it can cause a slow shift, but it should effect all shifts, not just low.

it's been 20 years since i worked on these dozers every day, my memory is a little foggy.

[TomJ]

Certainly not what I expected sounds like a complete strip down engine or trans removal to get bell housing off. There is a lag between all shifts not sure if its too long a lag or a correct amount of time. At an idle it will not go into low range you can feel a slight change in engine noise but no movement of the machine. If put in reverse or hi range it will move the tracks at an idle you can tell it engages in these positions. If I leave it in low and rev the engine at some point it acts as if you let the clutch out and it will engage. I believe it is about 50% throttle.
What you describe is probably something I won't tackle myself I don't have the equipment needed to pull the engine. In your opionion what do you think of operating the machine with this low range shifting problem.
After rereading your post at high RPM the shifts do seem to be firm.

[hvy 1ton]

Check the adjustment of your shifter first. I thought low was going out on mine but it a little out of adjustment and wouldn't engage a low rpm if pushed all the way forward.

[TomJ]

I will check it might be too much to ask but who knows sometimes it is the small things. I can't seem to find a repair manual anywhere even Deere doesn't offer it. Any ideas?

[d9gdon]

Yeah, look on Ebay to find a service manual for it. Also Jensales may have one for it.

[crewchief888]

Certainly not what I expected sounds like a complete strip down engine or trans removal to get bell housing off. There is a lag between all shifts not sure if its too long a lag or a correct amount of time. At an idle it will not go into low range you can feel a slight change in engine noise but no movement of the machine. If put in reverse or hi range it will move the tracks at an idle you can tell it engages in these positions. If I leave it in low and rev the engine at some point it acts as if you let the clutch out and it will engage. I believe it is about 50% throttle.
What you describe is probably something I won't tackle myself I don't have the equipment needed to pull the engine. In your opionion what do you think of operating the machine with this low range shifting problem.
After rereading your post at high RPM the shifts do seem to be firm.

the rate of shift adustment should be slightly aggressive @ full throttle.

actually the easy part is pulling the engine.

sometimes putting the clutches back into the case can be a real PITA.
as hvy 1ton mentioned try playing around with the HLR linkage adjustment, if it's worn in the clevis/ pin areas that could be part of your problem.

kinda strange that deere dont offer a service manual.

[hvy 1ton]

I will check it might be too much to ask but who knows sometimes it is the small things. I can't seem to find a repair manual anywhere even Deere doesn't offer it. Any ideas?

You just gotta know where to look. The marketing department can make thing pretty opaque sometimes

Repair/Service manual.
https://www.johndeeretechinfo.com/in...duct_id=18090&

Opps this is the Op manual, thought it was cheap.
https://www.johndeeretechinfo.com/in...duct_id=27100&

[TomJ]

Thanks for the help everytime I entered the model number it came up with no matches. But I do see it offered now, and your right not cheap.