Direction Reverser 1958 420C

[mclay06]

I am reassembling my 1958 420C (ser# 132666) after a quite complete teardown. My question concerns the operation of the Direction Reverser (the later style clutch plate model). Not being familiar with what I should "feel" when I hand turn the input shaft when comparing "forward", "neutral" and "reverse" positions, I just want to know if what I feel is normal, prior to sticking the crawler back together. Don't want to find out afterwards that I need to get inside the reverser.
Currently, my reverser is sitting on the floor of my garage. When I select "Reverse" it is pretty easy to hand turn the input shaft. When "Forward" is selected it's about the same but slightly more resistance. But, when "neutral" is selected, there is noticeably more resistance, although I do not have difficulty turning it. I would have guessed that it would have been most easily turned when "Neutral" is selected. Just wondering what others think.

[Lavoy]

There is no neutral position. It should always be engaged forward or reverse.
Lavoy

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

That lever ought to snap pretty good as it moves from forward to reverse and vice versa. If it feels like it has a neutral, it has an issue to be looked into. Might need adjustment, might need a rebuild.

Stan

[mclay06]

Thank you for the response. I had not considered that there is no Neutral position. It just feels like there are 3 positions of the selection lever and I assumed there was a Neutral but the fact that in the position I considered Neutral offers a fair amount of resistance when turning the input shaft tells me that it is indeed "engaged".
I will investigate further.