Hydro with and with out a clutch

[Henro]

Cliff,

I have one of both. I like having the clutch better than not having one. Mainly because when there is no manual clutch, there is a hydraulic clutch that engages for the PTO, when the PTO lever is put in the "on" position, and it is VERY difficult to feather the activation of the PTO.

On my BX2200 the PTO smacks in hard. With the clutch on my B2910 Kubota I can engage the PTO slowly, which I find especially nice when using something with a lot of inertia like a rotary cutter.

When starting the tractors, it is either depress the clutch on one, or shift the range selector in to neutral on the other. One is not more difficult than the other and that part is a none issue.

Really, the only time I miss having a clutch on the BX is when engaging the PTO.

Like you, I don't know if there is a clutch that is activated when the range selector lever is moved into the neutral position, and engaged again when it goes into low or high range. Mabye someone can shed some light on that one. With my BX it does not feel like there is clutch involved when I change ranges...

Edit: Just realized that if I am going up or down a hill, I really don't want to be pushing my my B2910 clutch in, regardless of what is happening with something connected to the PTO. Don't trust my brakes that much...prefer to keep the HST connected to the drivetrain... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[WhiteRock]

<font color="blue">Like you, I don't know if there is a clutch that is activated when the range selector lever is moved into the neutral position, and engaged again when it goes into low or high range. Maybe someone can shed some light on that one. </font>

There is not another clutch between the hydro and rear drive train. That is basically a unsynchronized (L/H or L/M/H) gear change.

 

[_RaT_]

Bill, on my L3830, I can ease the tractor in with the PTO lever or depress the clutch, quickly engage the PTO lever and then ease in the clutch. With the clutch you have more control simply because it has a longer throw. Sometimes I do the clutch, sometimes the lever. There is no rhyme or reason for which method I choose. It's crazy! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[WhiteRock]

<font color="blue">Would make more sense to have a hand clutch and put the brakes on the left. </font>

Whew! That would be a tough change! I think they are on the right for legacy reasons. That sure would mess up my panic lever. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Of course I don't seem to get in those situations much anymore, but I know it is still there.

 

[Freds]

Same here. Push the clutch in, flip the PTO lever and ease the clutch out. I wish my G2160 had a clutch. Too much throttle and the PTO clunks in, too little and you stall.
When using a PHD I'll often push the clutch in to stop the auger, raise it out of the hole and ease up on the clutch just enough to spin off the dirt. Don't know what I'd do without one. Get hit with high speed flying dirt I suppose... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[slowzuki]

This is one problem with the larger Kioti's. They have an electric over hydraulic PTO clutch pack. I looked at a DK55 but with the hay baler that thing would slam it into action. Not even a hydraulic valve to modulate with like our old international.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="green"> My Kubota B7500 HST has a clutch. I use it for three different scenarios; starting, engaging the PTO, and PANIC </font> /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
How does one stop a tractor from moving forward and PTO operating in emergencies when a clutch is not present? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif )</font>

I sure wouldn't use the clutch as a panic "Stop everything" method. Sometime when you're on a hill (even if you're on flat land now), you're going to do that and off you go either backwards or frontwards down the hill, it's probably going to be an uncomfortable ride. Seems like it would be better in a panic situation to just hit the PTO switch and take your foot off the HST pedals.

I guess what I've got out of this discussion is that the clutch on an HST is an advantage when you are starting up something on the PTO that requires heavy torque and you want a soft start.

Cliff

 

[WhiteRock]

<font color="blue">I sure wouldn't use the clutch as a panic "Stop everything" method. </font>
Guess I would just say there are probably experiences you haven't encountered yet.

<font color="blue">I guess what I've got out of this discussion is that the clutch on an HST is an advantage when you are starting up something on the PTO that requires heavy torque and you want a soft start. </font>

My panics were not using the PTO. Doing FEL work, the HST lets you switch from forward to reverse very quickly. When forward or reverse become bad options and you can't find the center of the pedal quick enough, the clutch is an instant stop in direction.

 

[DUMBDOG]

No, the use of the clutch as a stop everthing is not a good idea, esp on a hill.

Was about seven years old and on a big tractor, IH model A, seemed big when you are at that age anyway. Taking the tractor out to the field for something or other, (cannot remember for what, over 40 years ago), going down a hill, about a 100 foot drop in four hundred feet. (Have been on the hill in the last couple of years). Anyway, thought I was going to fast and was going to step on the brake, but stepped on the clutch instead. Did not realize that tractor could go so fast, did not have enough sense to take the foot off of the clutch until it rolled to a stop on the bottom. Somethings just stick with you the rest of your life. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[_RaT_]

I am abidextorous. I can use the clutch to instantly stop everything all the while using my other leg on the brake. It works every time. Using my left leg on the clutch to stop the PTO is faster then reaching for the PTO lever.

PS everything I use the tractor on has a slope, some more then others.