Hello all-
My first post, but first let me thank all of you for the advice and knowledge received searching and reading these forums as a lurker for years.
Recently I purchased a 500 hour Ford 345c MFWD, PTO, 8x8 TC shuttle, industrial loader. I love the machine, and as expected with those confirmed low hours, it looks, works, and operates just like it should. I bought this tractor for a hobby farm as a general use, do-all tractor dedicated for nothing in particular.
I needed low to the ground and stable to work around our lake and hills, wanted a pretty high lift capacity to pick up logs for clearing part of our woods, run a brush hog to keep a field mowed, and mfwd because our property is mostly clay and every time it rains it's like working on ice and sludge. The 345c seemed perfect for me and I love it- mostly.... but as the subject suggests, I just don't like / can't get used to the 8x8 TC shuttle shift transmission.
The reason I want to replace it with something else is for a couple reasons:
1. I'm a traditionalist who has overtly and actively chosen to drive manual transmission vehicles my whole life and that's what I know and like
2. Running a PTO stump grinder and brush hog, I don't have the ability to "inch" or feather up against items by using the TC disconnect switch or shuttle lever. Not to mention I need to idle down before shuttle, which lowers PTO speed.
3. Transmission gets hot - cooks the operator. (even with TC in lockout mode)
4. Lastly, although it may never be an issue and just my paranoia, I don't like the electronics control aspect of the transmission and it scares me that the disconnect switch or shuttle lever may not operate correctly and I could hurt somebody or something
Back to the main question of replacing transmission-
1. Easiest - get a same era 6 x 4 transmission loader model industrial tractor (or just transmission) and swap it out knowing everything for a fact will work and have all the parts and it'll match
2. Get a 8x8 syncromesh dry clutch transmission from a 4630/3930/etc similar era tractor and hope it all matches up. (parts diagrams show same housing, mostly same gears, counter shafts, and synchros, but there are some differences. Transfer case for MFWD also shows same part number)
3. Crazy question - convert mine to the 8x8 synchromesh (as in, are there enough similar parts that is in fact what the engineers did? Replace the TC with a dry clutch setup and a mechanical reverser?)
4. Buy a 4630 or eqivalent and play mix-match and put all my 345c parts on it including loader and nose section....
I highly expect some people to say "too much to read, sell the tractor and get what you want" but if you are still reading - Well, I would, except low hour, original, clean, garaged 345's, 445's and 545's don't come up that often, and I'm particular, and mechanical enough with the proper tools to tackle doing this swap and have plenty of time and space.
I like the 8x8 mechanical shuttle idea the best, but I read that's a Kubota design, even though it shares many parts to what I have now? 6x4 appears the most simple, and probably most rugged, but lacks the ease of reverser lever... Anybody own have operated both and what did you like/dislike?
And finally, Can you get either of these transmissions rebuilt somewhere because the last thing I want to do is put a sloppy transmission with 5000 hours and a million cycles on it into a tight machine? Anybody have either laying around for parts, or want my 8x8 shuttle?
Flame away or give me your thoughts and options.
Thanks,
Tony
My first post, but first let me thank all of you for the advice and knowledge received searching and reading these forums as a lurker for years.
Recently I purchased a 500 hour Ford 345c MFWD, PTO, 8x8 TC shuttle, industrial loader. I love the machine, and as expected with those confirmed low hours, it looks, works, and operates just like it should. I bought this tractor for a hobby farm as a general use, do-all tractor dedicated for nothing in particular.
I needed low to the ground and stable to work around our lake and hills, wanted a pretty high lift capacity to pick up logs for clearing part of our woods, run a brush hog to keep a field mowed, and mfwd because our property is mostly clay and every time it rains it's like working on ice and sludge. The 345c seemed perfect for me and I love it- mostly.... but as the subject suggests, I just don't like / can't get used to the 8x8 TC shuttle shift transmission.
The reason I want to replace it with something else is for a couple reasons:
1. I'm a traditionalist who has overtly and actively chosen to drive manual transmission vehicles my whole life and that's what I know and like
2. Running a PTO stump grinder and brush hog, I don't have the ability to "inch" or feather up against items by using the TC disconnect switch or shuttle lever. Not to mention I need to idle down before shuttle, which lowers PTO speed.
3. Transmission gets hot - cooks the operator. (even with TC in lockout mode)
4. Lastly, although it may never be an issue and just my paranoia, I don't like the electronics control aspect of the transmission and it scares me that the disconnect switch or shuttle lever may not operate correctly and I could hurt somebody or something
Back to the main question of replacing transmission-
1. Easiest - get a same era 6 x 4 transmission loader model industrial tractor (or just transmission) and swap it out knowing everything for a fact will work and have all the parts and it'll match
2. Get a 8x8 syncromesh dry clutch transmission from a 4630/3930/etc similar era tractor and hope it all matches up. (parts diagrams show same housing, mostly same gears, counter shafts, and synchros, but there are some differences. Transfer case for MFWD also shows same part number)
3. Crazy question - convert mine to the 8x8 synchromesh (as in, are there enough similar parts that is in fact what the engineers did? Replace the TC with a dry clutch setup and a mechanical reverser?)
4. Buy a 4630 or eqivalent and play mix-match and put all my 345c parts on it including loader and nose section....
I highly expect some people to say "too much to read, sell the tractor and get what you want" but if you are still reading - Well, I would, except low hour, original, clean, garaged 345's, 445's and 545's don't come up that often, and I'm particular, and mechanical enough with the proper tools to tackle doing this swap and have plenty of time and space.
I like the 8x8 mechanical shuttle idea the best, but I read that's a Kubota design, even though it shares many parts to what I have now? 6x4 appears the most simple, and probably most rugged, but lacks the ease of reverser lever... Anybody own have operated both and what did you like/dislike?
And finally, Can you get either of these transmissions rebuilt somewhere because the last thing I want to do is put a sloppy transmission with 5000 hours and a million cycles on it into a tight machine? Anybody have either laying around for parts, or want my 8x8 shuttle?
Flame away or give me your thoughts and options.
Thanks,
Tony
