Redbug
Veteran Member
Quite interesting...and glad I asked. Some things I will start doing clutching...changing speed ranges and keeping the clutch locked down when parked for days.
HST wants for the tractor to be completely stopped to shift between ranges. The clutch doesn't seem to make any difference in range shifting. What did make a difference was extending the range shift lever a few inches."On a Kubota B7800 with a hydrostatic transmission (HST), you do not typically use the clutch to change between forward and reverse, but you do need to use the clutch to shift between the high, medium, and low gear ranges."
That's because they use a wet clutch for the PTO with a solenoid valve to engage said clutch.Clutching sometimes makes it easier to shift in and out of 4WD, as well as changing HST ranges.
I also used it on my older Kubotas to momentarily free wheel without shifting into neutral. Both my MX5800HST and L6060HSTC have no clutch. Many newer HST models don't either.
Apparently, with the new electric PTO switch, Kubota feels a clutch is no longer necessary on HST models.
Depending on what you are doing it might not matter. A live PTO -might or might not be clutched, and it also might/might not have an independent PTO clutch.Why all the clutching to engage the pto? All three of my tractors have a live pto. You can engage or disengage any time.