2018 L2501 HST often difficult to shift into LOW gear

[garagehound3]

Took delivery of my 2018 L2501 HST in late April and now have accumulated about 35 hours of run time. Frequently it is difficult to shift into LOW gear whether from NEUTRAL or MEDIUM using the clutch pedal. Sometimes at engine idle RPM I can smoothly sneak shift into LOW w/o the clutch. I spoke w the dealer who advised me " it may take some time for the HST to break in" Really, I wonder how long it will take if this is actually the issue? I have fully depressed the FWD-REV acceleration pedal back and forth (cycled) hoping it would clear the transmission and allow it to shift properly, no help, good fluid levels. To date the problem remains. Any ideas or suggestions welcomed, thanks.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

My L3901 acts about the same, maybe not quite as extreme as you describe, but I've been shifting them for a lot of years, which doesn't bother me since I've owned over 20 new HST Kubotas and all of them have similar shifting actions. Most didn't have a clutch but those with a clutch seem to require a bit more finese to get them into different gears. Some times they shift slick and some times they don't. My RTV1140 requires the brake be depressed for easy shifting but can be shifted without brake being depressed, sometimes so I now just depress the brake and change gears, no clutch.

 

[Thomas]

Does this problem occur mostly on slight grades?

 

[JPB7745]

I have less than 10 hrs on my L2501 and no issues changing from low to high, most of the time the clutch is not needed as i am at a full stop when switching. Are you in 4wd when switching, not that it should matter, just wondering?

 

[wagne223]

Took delivery of my 2018 L2501 HST in late April and now have accumulated about 35 hours of run time. Frequently it is difficult to shift into LOW gear whether from NEUTRAL or MEDIUM using the clutch pedal. Sometimes at engine idle RPM I can smoothly sneak shift into LOW w/o the clutch. I spoke w the dealer who advised me " it may take some time for the HST to break in" Really, I wonder how long it will take if this is actually the issue? I have fully depressed the FWD-REV acceleration pedal back and forth (cycled) hoping it would clear the transmission and allow it to shift properly, no help, good fluid levels. To date the problem remains. Any ideas or suggestions welcomed, thanks.

My L2501 is exactly the same. 80 hours on it.
I'm pretty sure it is just the way the gears dont line up sometimes.
I have found that the easiest way to engage low gear if it does not go right in is......Engine at idle, apply a little pressure to the gear selector, release the clutch then just touch the HST pedal.
It will slip right in. No grinding no damage.

After a few times it will become second nature. I do it without even thinking about it.

Unlike a regular manual trans, on an HST, the gears are after the HST drive. So fiddling with the clutch does not directly spin the gears to assist line up. You have to have the clutch out and touch the HST pedal to move the gears a little.

Reminds me of old manual trans cars without a synchronized reverse. Had to slip those in gear by playing with the clutch.

 

[garagehound3]

Thanks for your reply, yeh I was afraid of this and it sounds like you have reinforced what I was suspecting since I used to work on cars at times however I was not sure if tractors worked in a similar way. Other than the issue I mentioned the tractor runs find and my implements operate as expected. I will try your shifting suggestion and see what happens. Thanks again

 

[coolbrze]

My L3901 & MX5800 are like this sometimes also... Never a problem though, I just brake & gently putting it into gear, sometimes move fwd. or backwards a few inches...

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

As you can see, it's the nature of the beast and you should go forth with confidence that your machine is functioning "Normal" and you are now out of syncronized car transmissions and into a Kubota tractor HST transmission.

 

[oosik]

My 2009 Kubota M6040 can be tough doing range changes, at times. However - its worlds better than it was the first year. All range changes on my tractor are made at a dead stop. It may become very easy in another ten years or so............

 

[Fallon]

Every HST I've ever driven (economy Kubota, Grand Kubota, premium JD, economy JD, TYM, LS, probably others) has had a clunky shifting 2 or 3 speed transmission. They are cheap straight cut gears that are hard to shift at times, but they are strong & reliable. And the nature of HST means you dont need to shift a lot, so manufacturers keep using them

Bumping the go pedal or letting the machine roll a very little generally let's the gears line up so you can shift into whatever gear is balking.