Shuttle shift transmission question

kossetx · Mar 11, 2006

Having only ever had a standard gear transmission but about to get a new tractor, I have a question. With a standard shift transmission when you shifted from forward to reverse at x rpm, reverse was a lower gear than the forwards are so when you back up it's moving slower. Does anyone find that with shuttle shift that when shuttling to reverse, the reverse gear is too fast for what they're doing? Like being in high range 2nd speed. If your using a shreader, that's kinda fast to be backing up. Does anyone find this to be the case or does the shuttle adust for that? I know, get a hydro, but I'm old fashioned and have to take baby steps. Thanks in advance. MP

skipmarcy · Mar 11, 2006

I'd have to dig my manuals out on my tractor, which are all in storage right now but if I remember correctly, reverse is just slightly slower ground speed on my Mahindra. I vaguely remember the gear/speed chart and reverse was just every so slightly slower than forward. I didn't have a bit of trouble getting used to using my shuttle shift and I've done alot of loader & grading work with it the past 4 years, 1001 hours to be precise. Also included in that timeframe is quite a bit of cutting with my 6' rotary. When necessary it's not difficult on my tractor to change the main gear speed to slow down some, seldom do I have to do it when cutting. When I'm doing loader work where I have to travel some with the load, I'll change gears to a lower gear to load the bucket, then shift up 1 or 2 speeds to travel & dump with and return to the pile. It doesn't take long to get quick with it - shifting the main trans. and the shuttle trans at the same time, and it really speeds the job up. I've had limited seat time with a hydro so I can't say much about one, but I know I'd rather have a gear tractor with shuttle and a clutch to do the typical work a land/homeowner does.

JerryG · Mar 11, 2006

Most shuttles will have either the same gear speed forward and back or very slightly different. I’ll throw this out to. There is also a power shuttle. You don't have to clutch to change directions. You just move the shuttle lever. You can also start and stop without the clutch.

Charolais · Mar 11, 2006

My Farmtrac 80 is gear shuttle and rev. is 85% of forward. Real nice for stacking round bales under a roof.

I find the right forward gear and run the engine at 1,500 rpms., then in reverse I just use the foot throttle to make up the difference if needed. In other situations I may shift the shuttle (on the left side) and the gear shift (on the right side) at the same time.

jimmysisson · Mar 13, 2006

Like Charolais said. Pick your gear for the transport speed and forward and reverse are similar land speed. You'll need a different gear for digging into a pile anyway, but that gets to be second nature. A hydro does seem easier right at that point when the bucket enters the pile. The foot throttle is the best way to get control of your ground speed.
Jim

daTeacha · Mar 13, 2006

Most shuttles are geared for efficient loader work. Backing a bush hog or rotary rough mower (is that what you mean by shredder?) into something is another proposition entirely and you should probably be going slower than your forward gear. A lot of non-shuttle gear shift patterns that are likely to be used for loader work have 2nd rather than 1st gear lined up with reverse and the two are geared similarly.