Auto vs shift

paulsharvey · May 4, 2025

So, if all I was doing, was dirt, I would be 100% after a power shuttle.

If all I was doing was forward mowing, I wouldn't mind a hunt and peek, old school

If I was doing a lot of back and forward, PTO work, HST

If I was doing a mix of everything, HST does it fine, but I really want a MF 2860M PST, open station.

If I was milking a too small machine, to its limits, doing dirt work, HST

If I was milking a too small machine, to its limit, mowing, again, straight line, I'd be fine with a dry clutch

If I was working in small areas, and doing some dirt and some PTO, but varying PTO work, HST, but get higher HP than typically needed.

paulsharvey · May 4, 2025

On clutches, even a $8,000 tractor, a split and clutch is approaching a end of life repair.

We take a DK4510, i believe book hours are 16 for a split and clutch. Thats labor of $2000, $400 for the clutch, filters, seals, fluids, we are probably approaching $3500.

paulsharvey · May 4, 2025

If we look at the hourly cost of a dry clutch, doing a Lot of loader work, we are budgetting $4,000 every 2000 hours, and that's with competent worker, or an extra $2/hr. I could see a new worker, or a guy who doesn't care at all reducing that life span to 1000 hours. We add to that, a week of down time (getting parts, shop time, ect), every year....

We pay for our PST upgrade pretty fast.

paulsharvey · May 4, 2025

For a home owner type, about the time that clutch needs replaced is also about the time it's going to be hard to find parts...

We aren't dealing with cars, where 400,000 are made every year, of each make and model. I'm guessing a 25 year old Hinomoto clutch, or Kubota, Kioti, JD, Massey, Yanmar, whatever, is likely not longer 3 days away. Add to that, now, your new Mahindra, dry clutch, maybe only 4000 are made, and then they switch models again; how many replacement parts are made?

ultrarunner · May 4, 2025

paulsharvey said:
Construction, we don't need 16 or 32 speeds; running a bailer, maybe the difference between 3.2mph and 3.6 mph, at PTO rpm is the difference between clogging and smooth bailing.

Same time, take the Jd-110, micro TLB, in a construction setting, it lacked the mobility of a true TLB, with a really low road speed with its HST. Tractor data says it could get to 16.2 mph in high; more like 10-12 in real life, too slow for a municipality to "road" it 5 miles between sewer services.

True on transport speed on the 110 when I road it but it is possible for me to trailer without commercial license and the creeper is great for positioning…

For Dozer work in the hills I like low gear grunt and my reverser…

For parades I like the over /under on my 1953 Jubilee.

arrow · May 5, 2025

paulsharvey said:
For a home owner type, about the time that clutch needs replaced is also about the time it's going to be hard to find parts...

We aren't dealing with cars, where 400,000 are made every year, of each make and model. I'm guessing a 25 year old Hinomoto clutch, or Kubota, Kioti, JD, Massey, Yanmar, whatever, is likely not longer 3 days away. Add to that, now, your new Mahindra, dry clutch, maybe only 4000 are made, and then they switch models again; how many replacement parts are made?

Since you brought it up,
Mahindras are now made in one factory and they have developed a new line that should be good for at least the next 15 years.
I feel you are right about clutch life but the homeowner, unless they ride the thing may never have to incorporate a clutch replacement as just not enough hrs are put on.
Average is 35 to 50 hrs per year.
That would make that 30 yr old tractor probably devoid of parts availability any way.
Many of us here will be dead before a clutch replacement is needed.
The only “clutching” we’ll be doing is probably at the chest.