Snow Operating GST transmission with snow blower

[rgevans871]

I have a question for those of you that have a Glide Shift Transmission. I'm learning how to use a pull behind snow blower for clearing my driveway/parking areas around the house in addition to a long driveway. In the area around the house it would seem that the most efficient way to operate would be to go forward and back a number of times to minimizing repositioning the snow discharge chute. I'm operating in this area with the Main Gear Shift Lever in 3 and would like to leave the PTO engaged at 540 RPM and change direction by just using the shift lever on the steering column. When I back up I would just lift the blower. The problem with this mode of operation is that the Kubota Owners manual says to reduce engine speed to low idle before shifting the shuttle lever. If the engine speed has to be reduced every time I back up, it means that I have to bring the blower speed back to an idle and then ramp it right back up when I get the gear shift in the right direction. My back forth path is about 50 ft. This seems kind of hard on the blower and makes the operation more cumbersome, but I don't want to trash my transmission either.

When operating my PTO driven mower, brush hog and rototiller, I've used the sequence of putting the Main Gear Shift in 0, the shift selector in forward, engaged the PTO, increased engine speed and then moved the Main Gear Shift 1 gear at a time until I'm up to the gear I want to be in. The difference between this operation and my snow blower is the only attachment that I want to make frequent direction changes.

I'm gong to call my Kubota dealer, but I'm not sure they always know what they're talking about. I'd appreciate some help here. This is an L3010 tractor and 60" Erskine Pull Behind snow blower.

Ron.

 

[CobyRupert]

Not familar with Glide Shift transmission, but does you tractor have a clutch? If so, can't you use that with the shuttle shift to keep full rpm without "jamming" the shuttle from fwd to reverse.

By the way (IMO), I would think ramping the blower up and down with rpms wouldn't bother it, probably a lot easier on it than turning it on, and probably a lot more equipment friendly than shuttle shifting w/o a clutch.

 

[DK35vince]

Personally I would just use the foot throttle and throttle up /down as needed for forward, reversing. Easier, the machine is a lot less jumpy, and it saves unnecessary wear and tear on the tractor/transmission
RPM changes will not hurt the blower any.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

When I am doing loader work with my L3130 GST I set the hand throttle to higher idle speed and then just use the foot throttle to speed up after gear or direction changes. You can get away with shifting at a little higher rpms with the shuttle shift as long as you do not have a heavy load or starting out in taller gears above 6 or 7 I do not think 3rd gear is much of a shock for the clutch pack.

Only question that I have is what method does the L3010 use to feather the clutch pack out as the L 30 series and newer have the electronic control units for the clutch packs that compare rpm, speed and fluid temp for shifting and clutch timing?

David Kb7uns

 

[bilrus61]

I have over 1000 hard hours on two GST Kubotas. I've never throttled down to shift but I don't do it if I'm going fast in a higher gear where the clutch pack has to stop the tractor then reverse it. I give it a slight pause to slow foward momentum then reverse it. I never have lowered the engine speed to reverse here, just paused it to bring the tractor to a stop before pulling all the way back on the lever to go in reverse.

 

[aczlan]

I have over 1000 hard hours on two GST Kubotas. I've never throttled down to shift but I don't do it if I'm going fast in a higher gear where the clutch pack has to stop the tractor then reverse it. I give it a slight pause to slow foward momentum then reverse it. I never have lowered the engine speed to reverse here, just paused it to bring the tractor to a stop before pulling all the way back on the lever to go in reverse.

That is what I do with our L3830GST when bush hogging, cutting/baling hay, etc.
Shift the shuttle into neutral, wait till the tractor stops moving (hit the brakes if needed), shift into the other direction.

Aaron Z

 

[Baby Grand]

Ron,
Agree with bilrus61 & Aaron - come to a stop before reversing direction.
Specifically, I shift the shuttle from Fwd or Rev to N as I'm coming to a stop, then shift from N into Rev or Fwd.
In 3rd (of 12) I don't have to drop revs from PTO speed when brush hogging, so I don't see why you'd need to when moving snow.
-Jim