190XT Power Director

So here’s the story. I have a 67 190xt Diesel. I’ve always liked the 200 style power director handle, as I grew up with 3 of them. I switched the console last weekend. I adjusted the linkage properly, first with the 1.5” measurement and also checked with gauges. I have drag in neutral that I never had before. It loads the engine a lot. This weekend I removed the hydraulic pressure to the pd valve, and test ran. No drag, same as before. My gauges on the power director valve show 280 in high and low, and 40 in neutral, on both clutches. No matter where I wiggle the spool, it never goes below 40. Is 40 psi enough to make it drag? Could I have damaged the internal spool by moving it too far before I adjusted it? Last question, I have access to a late 200 pd valve. Besides the different external feed line, is there anything else that changed that prevents me from installing the later valve?

It just odd that it seems to have started dragging heavily after I switched levers. It never acted like this before. Even at cold start. Could just be coincidence, and something happened the last time I used it, I didn’t notice then. I will warm the oil with a loop hose in the remotes and try it again. I did measure the rod travel of the old linkage and the new. They both have the exact same travel. Do you know why they switched to the newer style pd valve? I was told that it created a smoother pd engagement. But that might be just hearsay. Thanks Dr.

Well explained Dr. Changing the lever should not have had an effect on the amount of drag in neutral. I believe the spec is 50psi or less in neutral. From my experience, the newer 200 4000+ valve has less pressure in the neutral position. But like Dr Allis said, it shouldn't affect the amount of clearance inside the clutch.