Hydraulic Shuttle vs Manual Transmission - Preferences?

[bhraymer]

Looking to buy a Kioti DK5510 with hydraulic shuttle transmission...today I talked to a service guy at our small local Kioti dealer and he recommended a manual over a hydraulic shuttle...his reasoning was simple, if it has a clutch then use the clutch. Basically, he was against the idea of shifting from forward to reverse without clutching, especially since you need to come to a stop anyway.

This will almost purely be a logging tractor, I don't anticipate doing a lot of FEL work with this tractor. I will be adding forks and moving/loading logs this way, also maybe a front grapple at some point but possibly not. Any thoughts on manual vs hydraulic shuttle? It's really not that much of a $$ issue, I just want the best setup for the work I will do that will provide the most longevity and reliability out of the tractor.

 

[RickB]

Multiple disc wet clutch packs will outlast a single disc dry clutch in the vast majority if instances.

I'll disagree with your local guy.

 

[coolnature]

Get the HS, you will be glad you did.

 

[big bubba]

Multiple disc wet clutch packs will outlast a single disc dry clutch in the vast majority if instances.

I'll disagree with your local guy.

x2 if the HS has a wet clutch pack on kioti. if so, spring for HS, you'll be glad you did. could be all hyd. shuttles are like that, couldn't say for sure. good luck

 

[bhraymer]

Kioti website lists both the 5510 and 5510HS as having wet mutli disc brakes and dry single plate clutch

 

[big bubba]

you might consider posing the question in kioti forum for the hyd clutch configuration. or call central w/that question. sure am glad i went with the HS on my model. good luck

 

[Apsterbobed]

I wanted an HS but I was in the market for a smaller tractor and manual was the only option so I ended up with a hydrostatic, I'm not a big fan of it but it's better than working the clutch! They use HS in front end loaders and many other equipment and pit loaders spend all day switching directions.

 

[ovrszd]

My Kubota M9540 is Hydraulic Shuttle. No clutch pedal required for direction change.

My Ford 3910 is mechanical shuttle. Requires clutch pedal. Movement needs to stop for direction change.

Hydraulic shuttle is decades ahead of mechanical shuttle. No comparison in useability.

 

[vsteel]

The only time I would say you are fine with a single dry clutch is if you were only going to be doing field work where you would engage the clutch and then not touch it again for hours and hours. No loader work or anything where you would be changing direction a bunch. Otherwise get the hydraulic shuttle, and the shuttle is going to be just fine for the hours and hours of field work as well.

 

[jenkinsph]

Looking to buy a Kioti DK5510 with hydraulic shuttle transmission...today I talked to a service guy at our small local Kioti dealer and he recommended a manual over a hydraulic shuttle...his reasoning was simple, if it has a clutch then use the clutch. Basically, he was against the idea of shifting from forward to reverse without clutching, especially since you need to come to a stop anyway.

This will almost purely be a logging tractor, I don't anticipate doing a lot of FEL work with this tractor. I will be adding forks and moving/loading logs this way, also maybe a front grapple at some point but possibly not. Any thoughts on manual vs hydraulic shuttle? It's really not that much of a $$ issue, I just want the best setup for the work I will do that will provide the most longevity and reliability out of the tractor.

If you are operating in the woods and on hill sides I would go with a hydrostatic transmission. Missing a gear on a steep slope can be dangerous and allow the tractor to free wheel down a hill. A hydro tractor will be much easier to maneuver through the woods and trees with too.

My second choice would be the hydraulic shuttle transmission.

 

[ovrszd]

For my uses in steep timber, which I do frequently, I prefer a gear drive over HST. Only exception is if the HST is set up to have the ability to use the brake pedals in conjunction with the HST pedals. Too much lag and movement otherwise. But that's just me.

 

[Apsterbobed]

For my uses in steep timber, which I do frequently, I prefer a gear drive over HST. Only exception is if the HST is set up to have the ability to use the brake pedals in conjunction with the HST pedals. Too much lag and movement otherwise. But that's just me.

I agree with the lag issue on hst. I was thinking it would be like running a skid steer but it's nowhere near as responsive (comparing fwd / rev not the loader)

 

[ovrszd]

I agree with the lag issue on hst. I was thinking it would be like running a skid steer but it's nowhere near as responsive (comparing fwd / rev not the loader)

Yep. I often have a tire on the edge of disaster. Forward or backward creep isn't tolerable.

 

[TripleR]

Pretty much what everyone else says and we have at least one of each. My preference on hills is an HST, but as Richard says, we are all in a bit different situations. My operations are calm compared to his and my skill level less, so I stay the he** away from drop offs etc.; scared myself too many times.:laughing:

 

[DK35vince]

The only time I would say you are fine with a single dry clutch is if you were only going to be doing field work where you would engage the clutch and then not touch it again for hours and hours. No loader work or anything where you would be changing direction a bunch.

Depends a lot most times on the operator.
I've moved many hundreds of tons with the loader, and forward/reversed many, many thousands of times with my dry clutch shuttle.
2000+ hours and haven't needed the first clutch adjustment yet.

 

[jimmysisson]

My Ford 2120 has a hydraulic shuttle AND a single plate dry clutch. Does the Kioti hs not use a clutch to disengage drive and PTO?
Jim

 

[vsteel]

Depends a lot most times on the operator.
I've moved many hundreds of tons with the loader, and forward/reversed many, many thousands of times with my dry clutch shuttle.
2000+ hours and haven't needed the first clutch adjustment yet.

I wasn't thinking dry clutch shuttle, I was thinking manual geared meant push in the clutch and shift each time you wanted to change directions. I have moved a LOT of material that way and it sucks.

 

[jenkinsph]

I wasn't thinking dry clutch shuttle, I was thinking manual geared meant push in the clutch and shift each time you wanted to change directions. I have moved a LOT of material that way and it sucks.

Me too, the first 35 to 40 years I have operated tractors with a clutch and the last 10 to 12 years with a hydrostatic. I don't miss the clutch at all and like most guys in my generation I grew up with it. There isn't anything special about mastering a clutch operation as some would believe, pretty simple operation.

 

[Zebrafive]

Multiple disc wet clutch packs will outlast a single disc dry clutch in the vast majority if instances.

I'll disagree with your local guy.

x2 if the HS has a wet clutch pack on kioti. if so, spring for HS, you'll be glad you did. could be all hyd. shuttles are like that, couldn't say for sure. good luck

My Kubota M9540 is Hydraulic Shuttle. No clutch pedal required for direction change.

My Ford 3910 is mechanical shuttle. Requires clutch pedal. Movement needs to stop for direction change.

Hydraulic shuttle is decades ahead of mechanical shuttle. No comparison in useability.

The only time I would say you are fine with a single dry clutch is if you were only going to be doing field work where you would engage the clutch and then not touch it again for hours and hours. No loader work or anything where you would be changing direction a bunch. Otherwise get the hydraulic shuttle, and the shuttle is going to be just fine for the hours and hours of field work as well.

I agree with all the above guys. My vote hydraulic shuttle!

 

[DK35vince]

I wasn't thinking dry clutch shuttle, I was thinking manual geared meant push in the clutch and shift each time you wanted to change directions. I have moved a LOT of material that way and it sucks.

My tractor is a synchronized shuttle, the clutch needs to be used to shift or to forward/reverse. (most shuttles require the clutch to forward/reverse)
Most hydraulic shuttles or power reversers can be forward/reversed with no need to use the clutch.