Tractor Repair: massey ferguson 65, massey ferguson 65, shift mechanism

Question
QUESTION: I can only move the gear shift on my tractor up and down to first and reverse.This has only happened recently.
Any simple suggestions ?

ANSWER: Hello,  it's probably a broken shift fork or shift rail.  The top cover on the transmission will have to be removed to get at them.  There's nothing you can do from the outside, unfortunately.  The good news is that it's not going to be a major transmission overhaul. It's going to be something easy and fairly inexpensive compaired to the rest of the transmission components.  I will look in a repair manual tomorrow and see if I can find a picture of the shift mechanism and follow up if I find more info for you.

         Arnie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Arnie, you are a legend !
Thanks for your help, and if you can find a picture of the shift mechanism that would be great.

Answer
Hello Rod,

   I've got a picture here of the shift mechanism.  I can either email or fax it to you, there's no way to send it in this forum.  

  There are set screws that hold the shift forks onto the rails.  It could be something as simple as a set screw that came loose or broke off, allowing the forks to get out of the correct position.  I was thinking it would be easy to take the transmission cover off, but I see that the steering unit is part of the cover, so it's going to be more work.  If it's something simple, it can be fixed through the top cover, but if a fork or rail is broken, the tractor will have to be split between the transmission and rear end to get the rails out.  Sounds bad, but they are a fairly easy tractor to split.  These are a good old tractor and I see lots of them around yet.  I hope you can get it going soon.  

  Send me your email address or a fax number and I can send you the picture if you want it.  It's not real detailed, but shows the layout of the levers, rails and forks, detent plungers and springs, etc.

         Good luck,

         Arnie