Reversing while steering question

[firebawlp]

I've owned this 1969 350 for one year now and have never noticed this problem before (mainly because I've never tried it before). I was working really tight around trees that my dad didn't want damaged, so I would hold one steering lever (or the other) and turn the reverser so I could start turning immediately as I changed direction. It just sits there... no forward, no reverse. If I just flip the reverser without holding either steering lever and let both tracks turn even a little I can then steer perfectly after it gets moving. Should it be this way?

PS... I'll get rid of the obvious. I've already rebuilt both side steering clutches and adjusted them exactly as the manual states. Both tracks will spin up against a stump OR the desired track will spin against a stump. This leads me to believe its not in the steering clutches.

Thanks for any and all info / advise. This site has been my crawlers guardian angel.

[JWB Contracting]

I think this a problem with the hydraulic cluching mechanism. When you step on the clutch you release the oil flow and thus takes a while to build up pressure to get going again. If you just flip your reverser back and forth the machine will function properly as the oil flow has not been interupted. Probably best to check the pressures on the transmission pump. Don't know that much about it but have seen similar issues, my dad is the one does the diagnois and i do the grunt work. Read your technical manual and it will tell you how to test. Changing the pump is no big deal, just pull your motor and remove the front cover on the transmission.