Shuttle Shift or Hydrostatic.....

[gunny0628]

This is a perfect example of why I have reservations concering the RK business model.....

Sounds like you have a mechanical shuttle. Clutching required to change direction.

If the shuttle gear isn't synchronized you may also have to stop movement or "grind" it into gear.

So should I opt for hydro?

 

[4570Man]

I would if the shuttle involves a dry clutch.

 

[cdb2]

I know this topic has been hit a couple of times. I plan on taking delivery of my 55SC in a week. I originally planned on getting the hydro until I went to the store and the tractor manager told me I壇 be better off with a shuttle.

I am cutting about 8 acres for a horse farm. Mostly pastures. I am also cutting my house lawn, approximately 1.5 acres. Most of the house grass will be cut with a finish mower. I will be clearing some trees and some pretty large rocks in our pastures.

I understand how the hydrostatic works. But I知 not quit sure on the shuttle shift. I just read another forum where it discussed the RK shuttle and someone said it isn稚 a true shuttle where you can shift as you are moving.

Can someone just explain how the shuttle would work as I am moving. I understand I have to stop and push the clutch in to go from forward to reverse. Do I have to clutch in order to shift?

Thanks. And told you I壇 ask some questions.

Don't know if you've already committed to that model yet, but if not you may want to think a little more about which trans. I'm doing a lot of the same work as you listed here with my 55HC. Cutting a bit more than 30 acres, clearing out a couple hundred cedar trees with the grapple, plus moving dirt with the loader and so on. The hydro has been great for all of it. I'm sure it could all be done with the shuttle as well, but seems like most would be more difficult. If the store is not too far away maybe you can test drive of both trans to compare?

 

[Citydude]

She said that; 1. It’s $2,000 cheaper for shuttle 2. I could turn tighter and go slower with more responsiveness 3. It would be easier on mowing to find a better speed Thoughts?

Well, the cost I agree with. The other two points, not so much.

 

[ptsg]

I would if the shuttle involves a dry clutch.

It's a 12x12 shuttle transmission with a dry clutch. Shuttle and main gear shift are synchronized while the range shift is not synchronize like pretty much all the tractors.

You can shift through main gears on the go and you can also shuttle shift on the go but going slower, obviously you don't want to do this going fast.

 

[Pecan Farming]

She said that;

1. It痴 $2,000 cheaper for shuttle
2. I could turn tighter and go slower with more responsiveness
3. It would be easier on mowing to find a better speed

Thoughts?

1) It does cost less no doubt about that.
2) I question this one. I have the 55 Hydro and I mow 10 acres of a pecan orchard. I go around every tree (250 of them). When I am in a row of trees nothing beats the hydro for slowing down to go around them accurately and then speed up to the next one. On a geared tractor I would have to choose a speed slow enough to turn sharp but it would be too slow in between them. I would not shift every time between trees. When I am in between trees I go as fast as I want.
3) Hydro has infinite speed selection from stopped to as fast as the range will allow. Mid range will go faster than you want to mow at PTO rpms.

In open field I like to use the cruise with load sensing. If I get into really tall tough mowing then the tractor automatically slows the travel speed and then speeds back up to my preset cruise setting once the engine unloads. Pretty cool feature I recently discovered. On my geared tractors once the going gets tough I am clutching and down shifting under full rpm (not good for the clutch) but then I have to guess when to up shift (again under full rpm). Like the other posters I can't image what a gear tractor could do better than the Hydro other than the $2,000. But I know you can't beat the hydro when it comes to grapple work for the fine positioning it takes to pick something up.

 

[TripleR]

This may help: Understanding Tractor Transmissions - YouTube

We have or have had one or two of each.

 

[gunny0628]

This may help: Understanding Tractor Transmissions - YouTube

We have or have had one or two of each.

That video was EXACTLY what I needed. I think that as much as I would love the convenience of the hydro, I think for the $2,000 savings I’m going to stick with the shuttle. I’m able to pick up a few more implements that I need. Now that I know the shuttle will match forward and reverse speed it doesn’t sound too horrible.

I was worried it would have been like my old 1978 Ford. Always having to pick the right gear forward and reverse.

Thank you for taking the time to share the information and drop a video link.

 

[gunny0628]

1) It does cost less no doubt about that.
2) I question this one. I have the 55 Hydro and I mow 10 acres of a pecan orchard. I go around every tree (250 of them). When I am in a row of trees nothing beats the hydro for slowing down to go around them accurately and then speed up to the next one. On a geared tractor I would have to choose a speed slow enough to turn sharp but it would be too slow in between them. I would not shift every time between trees. When I am in between trees I go as fast as I want.
3) Hydro has infinite speed selection from stopped to as fast as the range will allow. Mid range will go faster than you want to mow at PTO rpms.

In open field I like to use the cruise with load sensing. If I get into really tall tough mowing then the tractor automatically slows the travel speed and then speeds back up to my preset cruise setting once the engine unloads. Pretty cool feature I recently discovered. On my geared tractors once the going gets tough I am clutching and down shifting under full rpm (not good for the clutch) but then I have to guess when to up shift (again under full rpm). Like the other posters I can't image what a gear tractor could do better than the Hydro other than the $2,000. But I know you can't beat the hydro when it comes to grapple work for the fine positioning it takes to pick something up.

I do remember now that she also said that the hydro generates a lot of heat and that the hydro is a hydraulic system so that if the hydraulic system fails somehow then your transmission fails. I don’t think she was trying to just sell me on a cheaper tractor I think she liked the shuttle shift over the hydro and gave me her opinion.

 

[Pecan Farming]

I do remember now that she also said that the hydro generates a lot of heat and that the hydro is a hydraulic system so that if the hydraulic system fails somehow then your transmission fails. I don稚 think she was trying to just sell me on a cheaper tractor I think she liked the shuttle shift over the hydro and gave me her opinion.

The shuttle is a great choice also. The shuttle is a better than the old transmissions. That video does explain a lot. I found the key to keeping everything working is to frequently clean the radiator/transmission cooler/ac condenser at the front of the tractor. When I am in the tall stuff they got clogged a lot from all the seeds and chaff. You will like the tractor and the extra implements!!