Re: To Powershuttle or not to powershuttle
I can see what both Rick and Robert are saying. The electro-hydraulic power shuttle is very handy and includes the higher volume pump and cooler. It also seems to be reliable, according to my dealer. However, the dry clutch shuttle is also simple to use, and quick once you've gotten used to it.
I tested both and ultimately decided the TN series was too large to fit on large portions of my property. It's no a terribly huge tractor, but I have some steep hills, some wooded, sandy creek bottom, and some open field. The TN really only fit comfortably in the open field, not that I wouldn't have liked it nonetheless.
However, on my varied ground, I found the electro-hydraulic shuttle had a bit too much "drift" when shuttling to make me comfortable. This was especially apparent in tight areas, or near steep drop offs. Yes, you can and will brake to compensate, but I found myself worrying too much as to when the shuttle would reverse directions. I understand there has to be some play and smoothness in the transition, but I was told it was also non-adjustable. In that sense, being able to clutch, brake, shuttle and then clutch was more secure in my applications, even if I did like the hydraulic shuttle better.
The other thing I noticed about the hydraulic shuttle was in low RPM operation in my sandy areas. I don't know what most operators like, but probably due to my tighter quarters I choose to run the engine RPM low and then use the foot throttle to speed up. This allows me to slow down/speed up without having to worry about manually moving the throttle while steering and operating the loader. However, I was running a TN75S cab, which has SuperSteer, which has an electro-hydraulic front diff lock. If the front end locked in, and I was running low RPM, I could not turn the front end with any hydraulic assist against the sand I was cutting ruts in. I had to stop to raise the RPM to get enough hydraulic flow for the various functions operating off the hydraulic systems. To me, that seemed to emphasize that either the SS front end lock, or the hydraulic shuttle capacity was draining some needed capacity from other systems. It could have been just a "bum" tractor as the other tractor I ran had no loader or SS, so I'm not sure. Rick can probably address this further. It was just a concern for me.
With all that said, I still really like the TN series. I wish they had a flatter floor, and a quieter motor [the JD 5000 series is much quieter in the cab], but it's hard to beat the price and performance. They also have a lower cab clearance than the green tractors. My dealer sells alot of them and gets very few back but for minor issues. In fact, they just had a newer used TN75D with 32LA MSL loader come in. Low hours, looks pretty new. I'd guess it was a DOT mowing rig lease return. I can get you details if dealer trading/shipping from mid-MO is not a huge concern.
Later,
Jay