Transmission Question

indebt · Nov 10, 2005

I have only used an old ford 800 with a regular 5 spd transmission before so I have no experience with any other type .What I am needing to know is I plan on using my new tractor for mowing mostly open yard/field and also brush hogging. The problem is i will need to back up most of the steep hills around the field edges to safely cut them. I know the hst is better for loader work but this will be a secondary use and mowing the primary. With the shuttle shift when I am backing up the hill and reach the top when i switch directions does the trany hold the tractor or do need to hold the brake and the clutch when changing directions. Same with the hst will it hold or will I need to hold the bakes.
Thanks for the help.

Soundguy · Nov 10, 2005

I'm not exactly sure what the question was.. I know you mentioned you had gear tranny experience on a ford 850 or 860 and then mentione dmowing, backing up hills, and mentioned that HST was good for loader work.

Were you asking if an HST tranny will be good for you?

For loader work? Yes.. without a doubt.. HST makes easy work for a loader. ( Gear is fine for a loader.. if you like gears.. or don't want to pa$$ for hst ).

Mowing? Personally.. I like gear for mowing.. then again.. i live in florida, and mow mostly open / flat pastures. If I had a very significant amount of backing up to do.. i would deffinately at least consider HST.

Soundguy

BubbaJr · Nov 10, 2005

On HST it will depend on which gear range you have your trans. in, and also the angle of the hill. The HST will hold your tractor on a hill up to a point. Just make sure you use 4WD when doing this so that the HST can be spread out to all wheels. Just remember that all 4 wheels have to have EXACTLY the same traction level, or you no longer have 4WD.

Without more info, I would expect that you will have to use your brake at the top of the hill no matter what transmission you get. Something else to consider, is to make absolutely sure that you have the HST transmission range selector firmly engaged in a gear when working on a hill. If it slips out of gear, you only have the rear brakes to slow you down, you lose all engine braking. On most if not all HST units you have to be stopped to change or re-select the gear range. Under the right conditions that can become an extremely tense ride, with a mandatory change of underwear at the bottom of the hill. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

JerryG · Nov 10, 2005

With a regular shuttle shift you would have to clutch and brake to change gears at the top. With a powershuttle you would need to if it was really steep. If it is not real steep, I don't clutch or brake when backing up a hill mowing. As far as brakes go, it is amazing how many here on TBN have stated that they can't stop their tractor or hold it on a bad steep hill. I am on my second Massey compact (MF 1250 and now MF 1440) and I really think that the brakes would hold the tractor back hanging straight down if the tires wouldn't slip.

Soundguy · Nov 10, 2005

Ditto! Tractor brakes should hold the tractor on any grade that the tractor can stick to. In other words.. wheels should be able to be locked, and the only movement possibly would be thru loss of traction between the tire and the ground.

The exception to this is that I have never seen a tractor brake that is strong enough to stall the tractor.. that is.. I've um.. er /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.. personally tested most of my tractors.. and they will all 'drive' fine with the brakes set. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy

timb · Nov 10, 2005

Yeah but then that funny 'warning buzzer' goes off - you know that one that sounds like something rubbing...

indebt · Nov 10, 2005

Sorry for the lack of info, I typed it but it was lost in the transfer some how. The hills are fairly steep and I would need to make a direction change while on the hill. Which transmission would be better suited for this kind of work?

RedRocker · Nov 10, 2005

With an HST tranny you can go forward or backward just by pushing a pedal in one direction or the other. The rpm's on your cutter will remain where you set the throttle no matter how fast or what direction you choose. You can ease in and out of tight places up or down hills without shifting anything. I think it's a great setup for that type of work.

jimmysisson · Nov 10, 2005

Probably also depends on how your tractor's set up. Some have the HST pedals and the brakes on the same side, and I would guess it's hard to hold the brakes on while manipulating the go pedals. With a clutch you'd at least have the brakes on the opposite side. With a power shuttle, my experience is there is definitely some time when your machine is between gears, with no engine braking 'cause the engine isn't connected to the driveline until the hydraulic clutches lock up. Sounds like your specific situation would do best with something with a foot clutch, though the power shuttle would work fine once you knew it wouldn't hold at the top of the grade without the brakes. Amen on the brakes holding the tractor, my newer Ford is the only one I've ever owned where the brakes actually hold the thing on a hill. It's a great improvement!
Jim