</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The manual is superior if you are pulling heavy implements and is simpler, with fewer things to go wrong, but, when using an FEL with a manual you have to have unbelievably precise timing or slip the **** out of the clutch to keep forward pressure on the tires while curling the bucket without stalling the tractor.
Typically you will end up carrying 1/3 and 1/2 buckets around. This is why a smaller tractor with an FEL and hydro trans will easily out perform a larger manual tractor. The smaller tractor will load its' bucket faster and can load it to capacity everytime without demanding superhuman skill from the operator.
The hydro allows you to just crack the forward pedal to keep forrward pressure on the bucket while you slowly curl it, ending up with a full bucket practically every trip to the pile. )</font>
I don't have any trouble loading a full bucket with my manual. I also don't consider myself to have superhuman skill.
First rule of thumb for anyone should be to never drive your tractor when you're half loaded, whether they have a hydro or manual tranny.