Max IV shifting

[narrowfarm]

Hello, I am new to the Max world and just bought a 2009 Max IV from the original owner. only 60 hours on the machine.
Most of the time it takes a bit of tries before I can shift it into reverse. Forward is just a bit easier but it is still a handful at times. The original owner says its been like that since new and was told to rock the machine until it goes into gear. I also heard that from another experience person, but still rocking is a bit crazy way to shift. My wife wont be able to do that and we both were suppose to use the vehicle around our farm.
Do a lot of you people have the same issues???
I can't image this is how it is suppose to be.....

[dirtdobber]

Every T20 transmission is difficult to shift. You are being told correctly about having to rock the machine. As an alternative to rocking the machine, you can give it just enough throttle to turn the driven clutch and as you bump the sticks let off the throttle. That will rotate the inner gears of the T20 and facilitate shifting.

[Rusty-Gunn]

Be sure to pull the laterals back an inch or two. This is a "neutral" sweet spot that makes the gears shift easier. It releases the brake bands. It won't shift with the brake bands engaged.

[Reconrokon]

Be sure to pull the laterals back an inch or two. This is a "neutral" sweet spot that makes the gears shift easier. It releases the brake bands. It won't shift with the brake bands engaged.

I have a 1995 Max II and it took a while for me to figure out how to shift it without grinding and forcing it. I use my left forearm to pull back both levers simultaneously and then shift with my right hand. I pull mine back about 2" for the "sweet spot" and it shifts smooth as silk. It takes some practice, but can be done very smoothly. Its just one of those things I had to figure out, but wish I had known from the beginning. Best of luck. RR

[LowCountry1720]

That is good to know. I thought mine was having issues, would shift smoothly through F-N-R, the not want to go in or come out of gear. I think it is just a difficult transmission.

[garrett1308]

Dirtdobber is right on. You can split shift or add springs to the linkage. Both will make shifting easier.

[Rusty-Gunn]

I have a 1995 Max II and it took a while for me to figure out how to shift it without grinding and forcing it. I use my left forearm to pull back both levers simultaneously and then shift with my right hand. I pull mine back about 2" for the "sweet spot" and it shifts smooth as silk. It takes some practice, but can be done very smoothly. Its just one of those things I had to figure out, but wish I had known from the beginning. Best of luck. RR

This is exactly how I shift mine.

[Toys4Me]

I have a split shift in mine making it much easier to shift. One side always falls into gear and that gives me the ability to move and the other side will just fall in.

[allwheeldrive]

Funny yesterday was the first time I drove a T-20 machine. It had a split-shift mod but I was in disbelief at how hard it was to find the proper gear mesh while shifting! I could reasonably easily get one side in but the other side was almost impossible. Chain ended up breaking before I could get a hang of it. If only I’d read this thread beforehand. Granted the owner wasn’t havening any easier of a time.

[onefunzr2]

Perhaps by their nature Max IV's are harder to shift? I don't know. My 4 owner '99 Max II took a bit getting used to but using the technique Reconrokon described shifts just fine now that I know how. I got lots of OJT [on the job training] shuttle shifting back and forth plowing snow from my driveway.

Who knows, yours might still be factory stiff with only 60 hours on the clock.