question for shuttle shift owners

[phantom309]

Hi all-

At this point, my experience/knowledge about Branson tractors is limited to what I've read/seen online. Stumbled on a video that has me wondering...

In this video (about 4:50 in):

... the RK37 owner complains about sloppy shift linkage and jumping out of gear. I think that the RK37 is a re-badged TYM 394. Well, I'm looking at a "legacy" Branson, so I don't need to worry about problems with "real" TYM tractors, right? Well, maybe, but if the Bransons and TYMs run the same engine, they might also run the same transmission, linkage, etc....? (shift levers look similar)

I think he's only complaining about the F/R shifter. Funny thing is, when I was a kid, I drove a few vehicles with "three on the tree", and they tended to have lots of slop in the gear shifters with all of the linkage necessary to connect steering column shifter to transmission.

A nice, clean shifting, "precise" manual gear shift like I have on my daily driver (older Mazda) is fun to use. Sloppy or balky manual transmissions? Not so much.

So what are the F/R and 1-4 gear shifts like on the Series 3 Branson (and TYM???) tractors?

TIA

 

[ptsg]

While Branson and TYM are technically one now, the tractors are actually fairly different.

Branson tractors are actually better built all around compared to the TYM ones.

The castings are heavier built, controls are a lot sturdier, the front axle provides a lot more support to the knuckle and I've recently discovered by going through service manuals that TYM uses ball bearings on the rear axle while the Branson uses tappered roller bearings which are much better on an axle that sees so many forces in so many directions.

Here is a picture comparing the front axle on the 15 series vs a T474:

Anyway, back to the shuttle lever. The RK37 uses a bowden cable, which can get more play and doesn't give that snappy shift feel. Not really a fan of it.

The Branson 20 series, uses a bit more complex linkage but shouldn't have that much play at all. Its a vertical shaft, that goes through a couple U joints and then a short linkage. In this one, you have to lift the lever slightly to move from all 3 positions ( forward, neutral, reverse)

The 15 series, like mine, uses a straight rod from the dash to the bell housing, then a short lever and fork moves the actual fork to change directions. Really nice and crisp shift. Even makes that satisfying clunk when it shifts.

 

[5030]

It's a friggin tractor, not a sports car....

 

[phantom309]

While Branson and TYM are technically one now, the tractors are actually fairly different.

Branson tractors are actually better built all around compared to the TYM ones.

The castings are heavier built, controls are a lot sturdier, the front axle provides a lot more support to the knuckle and I've recently discovered by going through service manuals that TYM uses ball bearings on the rear axle while the Branson uses tappered roller bearings which are much better on an axle that sees so many forces in so many directions.

Here is a picture comparing the front axle on the 15 series vs a T474:

View attachment 3712592

Anyway, back to the shuttle lever. The RK37 uses a bowden cable, which can get more play and doesn't give that snappy shift feel. Not really a fan of it.

The Branson 20 series, uses a bit more complex linkage but shouldn't have that much play at all. Its a vertical shaft, that goes through a couple U joints and then a short linkage. In this one, you have to lift the lever slightly to move from all 3 positions ( forward, neutral, reverse)

The 15 series, like mine, uses a straight rod from the dash to the bell housing, then a short lever and fork moves the actual fork to change directions. Really nice and crisp shift. Even makes that satisfying clunk when it shifts.

Thanks ptsg. As always, your post was very informative.