CK30 Shifting Question

btward79 · Jun 22, 2012

Thanks to everyone so far for helping me out with my questions. We bought our property about 2.5 years ago and I'm so stoked about my new to me tractor!

I have a gear tractor. I just want to confirm. While in high you need to use the clutch to shift and you need the clitch to go from forward to reverse. While in low gear you still need to use the clutch to shift through the gears but you don't need to clutch when going from forward to reverse right?

I tried to go from forward to reverse in high and it doesn't seem to do it. While in low it will. I'm not moving fast when doing it. I think that's the idea of shuttle shift...

One last question. Going into 4WD. Do I need to be at a dead stop holding the clutch? That's what I did but I'm not sure if that's required...

Thanks again,
Brandon

DK35vince · Jun 22, 2012

You need to use the clutch to foward and reverse. In high and in low range.
You need to use the clutch to shift gears. In high and in low range.
I shift in/out of 4 WD all the time while moving. Shifts smooth and easy. Don't do it if the tires are spinning.

btward79 · Jun 22, 2012

Really? What is shuttle shift then? :confused3:

DK35vince · Jun 22, 2012

A power shift or Glide shift does not require a clutch to forward/reverse.
A shuttle shift does require the clutch to shift.

ritcheyvs · Jun 22, 2012

On old-time tractors there was one shifter with several forward gears and one reverse gear, like a car. Then there was the range select lever (typically high and low). This was OK for plowing or mowing in the forward direction but very cumbersome if you reversed direction frequently, like with a loader. The shuttle eliminated reverse on the main gear select and added a separate forward-neutral-reverse select lever, a huge time saver for loader work but it was still a manual transmission that required clutching for EVERY gear change. Next came the power shuttle that allowed forward-reverse shifting without using the clutch, at least at low power settings. Now hydrostatic trannys are in vogue where you set the engine RPM and control motion with just the foot pedals. This gives very fast changes of direction and there's no dry clutch to wear out, Clutch replacement in a tractor is a big deal (unlike a manny tranny car) because the tractor must be split in half. So the hydro tranny also prevents some fool from burning out your clutch by riding it.

Gittyup · Jun 22, 2012

One big advantage of the shuttle is you have 8 reverse speeds. Not just 2 like you get with a standard manual 2 range tranny. Let's you go back ward almost as fast as forward. I think the CK's reverse speeds are like 80% of forward for the same gear. Definitely clutch when going forward/reverse no matter the range setting. 2WD/4WD switching, I always lift the front off the ground with my loader before switching to make it easy, else it's pretty hard to shift. Never tried it while moving. Probably OK at low speeds going in straight line.

lockhaven · Jun 23, 2012

I have had a geared CK30 for almost two years, always use the clutch for all shifting. To get out of 4 wheel drive all is necessary is to reverse your direction, SLOWLY and it will slide out real easy. This is because the front is not perfectly timed with the rear and put the gears in strain, that is why NEVER run 4 wheel drive on dry pavement, no need to anyways. As stated the shuttle shift lets you back up at a desired speed instead of the always either too fast or too slow with a single reverse gear.

btward79 · Jun 23, 2012

Thanks fellas for all the replies. I'll consider myself educated.

After I read DK35s post I went back outside to play one more time and shifted the whole time. First is sort of hard to get into if you're stopped it seems like. Not when you're rolling though.

lockhaven, I was thinking the same thing about 4wd. I didn't roll in another direction though. I was driving slowly and right before I got to the concrete drive I put it in 2wd.

btward79 · Jun 25, 2012

One more question on shifting. Ok two!

When shifting am I driving like a stick where you gently let out of the clutch while pressing the throttle like a teter motion?

While moving can I go from low to high? I understand I need to use the clutch for all shifting. I've been edjamacated! Lol