Syncro Shuttle

strum456 · Dec 3, 2011

TripleR said:
I got the 12x12, so I can go pretty slow inn low 1st. I usually pull my BH in 2L or 3L and drop to 1L when I am going through some really big stuff. We pull a Woods DS1260 which is 10'6" cutting width.

To "inch" up to a fence or edge of a pond, I will use the clutch just as on any other tractor as well as my brakes if I misjudge the distance. It takes a little practice, but it is doable.

I must admit that sometimes if I am in a hurry, I will just use the L5030 for trimming after going over it with the M8540 and if I am in a really big hurry, I put my wife on the L5030 and me on the M8540.:thumbsup:

The clutch on mine is not meant to be feathered. It is just a valve that dumps the pressure to the torque convertor (mainly for shifting). It is basically in or out, not much inbetween. Is yours different? Do you have a torque convertor lock?

BeeferMan · Dec 4, 2011

Don't have any shuttle shift tractors, but reading this reminded me of a small dozer I used to operate long ago. I can't even remember what brand it was, but for shifting between forward and reverse it had deccelerator pedal - you'd hit the deccelerator, the engine speed would drop to an idle, do the shift, then release it and the engine would pick back up again. Long before the days of hydraulic reversers, I guess...

TripleR · Dec 4, 2011

strum456 said:
The clutch on mine is not meant to be feathered. It is just a valve that dumps the pressure to the torque convertor (mainly for shifting). It is basically in or out, not much in between. Is yours different? Do you have a torque convertor lock?

The 8540 has a hydraulic clutch, so "feathering" is different than on a regular clutch and I really try not to do it much. You can slow the engagement down by the speed you move the foot pedal or hand lever, but if I am close to something, I keep my foot on the brake pedals in case I misjudge the distance the tractor is going to move once I clutch it. It does not work well for precise work, but that just may be I am not as good of an operator as I should be.

As mentioned, for precision stuff, I hop in my 5030.