jd450 crawler/loader

pbocco said:

the HLR creeps a little when going into the neutral position...is this a simple adjustment?

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It might be the HLR linkage adjustment. Or it could be clutch plates warping and starting to drag. Which way does it creep, forward or reverse? Check your HLR linkage for slop. You should get yourself the service manual SM2064.

pbocco said:

Also I was told to "block" the steering levers back to try and prevent the dry steering clutches from freezing up...good idea?

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If your machine sits a lot, it can't hurt. Bare in mind that if it sits long enough the clutch linkage inside the steering housing could also seize, whether your levers are blocked or not. It would probably be better to just work the levers on a regular schedule.

Since you're moving the machine and levers every now and then I wouldn't block them. They might stick and not release to engage the clutch. The clutch problems occurred when sitting for long periods of time like all winter. If you run it every couple months I think you won't have any problems.

The frictions actually absorb moisture and then the steel plates rust, the rust sort of welds everything together. Just mark your calendar for the 1st of each month or whatever day is handy, fire it up, let it warm, best to run it back and forth a few lengths to oil up the finals, but in any case pull both levers to release both clutches, engage forward or reverse then let each one out until you get drag and leave it long enough to get some heat going. Then do the other side. You want to polish things a bit, and get a little heat in the frictions to drive moisture out. YMMV

Mine isn't even John Deere but the need to exercise it loses its charm when the ground is wet. I always have a big job cleaning out the undercarriage after working it an hour. Even winter, the ground never seems to freeze here in recent years.
I do like to smooth out ground in winter. Getting rid of brush, and knocking the tops off small humps work much better in winter if the ground is frozen.

mg2361 said:

It might be the HLR linkage adjustment. Or it could be clutch plates warping and starting to drag. Which way does it creep, forward or reverse? Check your HLR linkage for slop. You should get yourself the service manual SM2064.



If your machine sits a lot, it can't hurt. Bare in mind that if it sits long enough the clutch linkage inside the steering housing could also seize, whether your levers are blocked or not. It would probably be better to just work the levers on a regular schedule.

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It creeps forward and it,s not the easiest to get neutral...I have to play with the shifter a bit to get neutr

It creeps forward and it's not the easiest to get neutral...I have to play with the shifter a bit to get neutral...just the slightest movement on the shifter does it.

pbocco said:

It creeps forward and it's not the easiest to get neutral..

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Definitely sounds like a linkage issue. First check for sloppy joints and take care of that first.