CK3510SE HST shifting issue

studebaker · Jul 18, 2022

My tractor has very few hours, less than 20. The HST is hard to put into L-M-H range without feathering the forward/reverse pedals.
if you don't "feather" the pedals, a grinding noise emanates.
Is this to be expected until broken in?

tacticalturnip · Jul 18, 2022

You shouldn't need to feather the pedal, rocking the machine back and forth in neutral should have the same effect. The range selector is quite stiff, but it ought ease up some as time goes along. Even my Deere 1025R would need to be coaxed now and again, and as I said rocking the machine seems to work for me.

rScotty · Jul 18, 2022

A lot of hydrostats I've looked at had range shift levers L-M-H that were difficult to shift. It's not just Kioti and Deere, our Kubota has the exact same difficult range shift. None of the range shifters I tried at the dealers were easy.
To me it felt like the shift lever was too short, the pivots too stiff, and whatever is being moved around down in the transmission is not syncronized. Yes, some rocking back and forth helps but not every time & not completely.

My dealer told me the same thing about how it ought to ease up some with time and use. So far 1000 hrs and 15 years haven't changed our Kubota range shift stiffness at all. You get used to it - but if there is a dependable trick to making range shifts easy I haven't found it yet. However, HST+ is sure nice & that helps.

rScotty

Alien · Jul 18, 2022

Mine has been like that since 2006. It is normal. You need to rock the Fwd/Rev pedal to take the load off the gears to shift it. (Preferably with foot on the clutch I should add.)

Robin Veerman · Jul 18, 2022

Take an extra 3 seconds and cut the engine speed right down to low idle… That’s the trick for my tractor.

Bloodyrun · Jul 19, 2022

Does your shift lever have alot of play in it? They used some pc of crap roll pin to link the two together, I just took the pin out and used a 10-24 screw instead, WORLD of difference in the play

55RRR · Jul 20, 2022

My 2021 CK4010SE HST just passed 100 hours and am only now seeing smoother shifting.

Suggestions to throttle down, feather, rock are all good and really don't require much effort. I also have an oil can of food grade mineral oil I occasionally use to squirt down into the shifter assembly to help with this.

tacticalturnip · Jul 20, 2022

55RRR said:
My 2021 CK4010SE HST just passed 100 hours and am only now seeing smoother shifting.

Suggestions to throttle down, feather, rock are all good and really don't require much effort. I also have an oil can of food grade mineral oil I occasionally use to squirt down into the shifter assembly to help with this.

You're feeding your tractor empty calories.

55RRR · Jul 21, 2022

tacticalturnip said:
You're feeding your tractor empty calories.

True that, but the shifter, ROPS, hitch pins and pedals seem to enjoy the treat.

My first year with a tractor has seriously put a dent in my clothing. I now have an additional sorted pile: one with fluid stains. All too easy to brush up against that nlgi grease.

Zeppelin · Jul 22, 2022

I have to put slight pressure on either pedal to get mine between ranges, I'm guessing it's because the gears are straight cut.

Billrog · Jul 22, 2022

I never use the clutch just press on the brake so the tractor doesn't move and if it doesn't shift turn the steering wheel back and forth a bit and it that doesn't work move the tractor a few inches. Some one here years ago mentioned moving the steering wheel so before I poo pooed I tried it out and it actually works quite often. I so seldom use anything but M It's not a big deal being stiff to shift for me. BTW my tractor is always in 4wd that may have an effect ?

3gunr · Jul 22, 2022

MY hst is practically impossible to change ranges if in 4x4, if i throttle down and lift the front wheels off the ground it will shift easy, if in 2 wheel drive it generally will go into low easy and back to m, by pedal back and forth , over 500 hrs and still the same as new,

tacticalturnip · Jul 22, 2022

I swear individual machines develop there own personalities, and that some are downright moody.

Robin Veerman · Jul 22, 2022

Billrog said:
…. BTW my tractor is always in 4wd ….

Not a good idea. If the tires are ALWAYS on a slippery surface, sure. But if not, you’re putting extra strain on all the mechanical contact areas. For the few seconds it takes to switch into 4 by… But it’s your tractor not mine.

Billrog · Jul 22, 2022

Robin , I've not had my tractors out of 4wd except for 2 or 3 times they drove on pavement. Driving on steep hills in 2 wheel drive is foolish and dangerous. I put 6,000 hrs. on my first tractor 3,000 on the sec. and 700 on my present one. Nothing has ever failed because of it.

Robin Veerman · Jul 23, 2022

Then you shouldn’t say “always”! Someone who doesn’t have similar ground and/or new to tractors might assume it’s always fine…

55RRR · Jul 23, 2022

Billrog said:
... BTW my tractor is always in 4wd ...

Same here. This tractor works on 10 percent grade, and has seen more differential lock than 2wd.

Eagle1 · Jul 23, 2022

DIff lock is just before bucketing back out of the mud hole or backing/sliding down slope that is too wet climb. Love mud season every spring. Must do most things with the ATV because the tractors sink....

rScotty · Jul 23, 2022

55RRR said:
Same here. This tractor works on 10 percent grade, and has seen more differential lock than 2wd.

Sure you can. But your tractor still doesn't have a center differential.

All you prove by running a part time 4WD in 4WD all the time is that either the manufacturer set it up with close to zero F/R overrun, or else you got lucky and it has been slipping enough traction that nothing in the driveline has broken yet.

And maybe it never will break. That still doesn't make it the right way to use one. I can use my Dad's micrometers as "C" clamps, and the pipe wrench as a hammer all year long and they won't break either.

I don't care one bit how you run your machine. But by talking like running in 4wd all the time is OK, you're just setting up a newbie for an expensive failure.... and I don't think that's what anyone wants to do.

rScotty

55RRR · Jul 24, 2022

rScotty said:
... But by talking like running in 4wd all the time is OK ...

From the (2021) CK10 owner's manual, page 6-14:

Use the 4WD to increase traction
when driving on a slope with the
loaded bucket and rear ballast installed.

Whether it's grapple or stump bucket or forks or bucket on the FEL and 650lbs on the 3pt ballast while clearing property, this pretty much describes my use 100% of the time.

You have vastly more seat time than I, and this is clearly important. With the above specific conditions, do you still strongly disagree with the manufacturer for how some of us deploy 4WD?