Hydraulic Shuttle Transmission & 4wd questions

deerepower · Dec 15, 2004

Is the hydraulic shuttle transmission on the M-series pretty reliable? Is it worth the extra money for the occasional user of a front end loader? How about the need for 4wd with a loader, thinking about purchasing a new tractor I had the M6800 in mind.

teddydo · Dec 15, 2004

I will offer you my thoughts. Yes the shuttle will make the use of a loader much easier and yes the 4 wheel drive will make the loader more effective.....luck be yours, teddy

stevenf · Dec 15, 2004

deerepower, I just took delivery on my M9000 around Thanksgiving so I can't vouch for the shuttle reliabilty although all the research I did voted it was a good bet. The Hydraulic Shuttle is very nice although I have found that its happier moving from forward to reverse at around 1300RPMs or less any more and it seems like it could damage the tractor over time. I don't think I could get by without the 4wd though I have 350 acres of Texas Hill Country and over half is up or down in varying degrees using the loader without the 4wd just doesn't get the bucket with toothbar into the dirt as well.
I am very happy with the machine so far, I originally looked at the M6800 but decided what I wanted to do was more than the M6800 was going to be able to handle at the speed I would like to do it. My first job has been to move a thousand or so yards of dirt one bucket at a time about 300 yards to my lake dam that was damaged by flooding in November. It is proving to be up to the task. The M9000 is very fuel effecient at an average of 1500RPMs it is burning about a gallon an hour.
Steve

slowzuki · Dec 16, 2004

The cab models come with a nice mechanical shuttle that is fine for most work. Do the open ones use a f/r on the floor like the gear shifter?

4wd, it makes the tractor much more useful.

Tell us what you want to use the tractor for and we could help a bit more.

stevenf · Dec 16, 2004

slowsuzuki the Hydraulic Shuttle on my M9000 is on the left side of the steering column kind of like a blinker lever sticking out neutral in the center pickup move forward goes forward pickup move back goes backwards it is slick but like I said Idle needs to be down some from normal working speeds which isn't a big deal I set the stick for engine speed at 1300RPM's and use the foot pedal to go faster once I'm staightened out and in transport mode.
Steve