Bucket work with clutch /shuttle Vs hydro.

[Big-Foot]

It took a couple of weeks of 8-10 hour days, but I used the Mahindra 3016 HST to dig 120+ yards out of a dry creek bed and moved that dirt up to the top of my badly sloping yard to build a driveway ramp and a 30x50 pad for my future shop.
I never pushed the tractor over 2000 RPM and only stalled the engine twice.
I’ve no experience with some of the tractors (shuttle shift) y’all are talking about and am certainly not afraid of anything with a clutch, but I think I would have been at it a lot longer without the HST.
I don’t recommend a light tractor like this for the type of soil (black gumbo clay) I’m dealing with. I’m retired, so time is all mine to use as I see fit, but I could have used a tractor that weighed another 5-700#.
I’ve got deep respect for those that do this on a regular basis.

 

[howardjohn]

Like anything else it is what you are used to. I have a MF with a clutch and a shuttle shift trans and a loader. It is nice when you are driving and do not have to make any stops just set the throttle. I also have a case backhoe with a power reverser no clutch. It is good too. I never liked the pedals on a hydro especially in reverse. Push the peddle too hard by accident and you go a lot faster than you expect. Also pressing on the peddle always tired out my foot more than using a clutch. Just my opinion.

 

[Metalmaster10]

Any clutch guys doing bucket work wish they had a hydro instead?

I have a Massey Ferguson 1736 w 12/12 shuttle trans.
I have moved hundreds of thousands of pounds of dirt with the loader, it's nearly all I do with it the last 3 years.
I absolutely do not miss a hydro.
The extra ground engagement torque is absolutely huge. I'm 100% glad that I got the shuttle over a hydro.
I have spent many hours doing loader work on a 2022 bobcat 4050 compat with a traditional 8/4 clutch trans.
That does get a little bit old.
1000% recommend a shuttle with power reverser!

 

[Hysyde]

One advantage of a hydro I haven't seen mentioned is the ability for precision and creeping up on things smoothly. Great for precision loader work and maneuvering. No power shuttle I've operated comes close to being able to do that.

Maybe my old man harped on me too much back in the day running geared tractors, but it never feels good to slip or ride a clutch to facilitate smoothness and small movements.

I regularly no a Deere 5075E with a power shuttle and we own a NH 4050 with the same. Not a big fan of doing loader work with either, especially if it's something that involves the pallet forks. They're a huge improvement over the geared tractors of yesterday, but once you've become accustomed to something like a HST SCUT/CUT, skidsteer, front-end loader, or even a modern backhoe, they're a pretty blunt instrument.

 

[4570Man]

One advantage of a hydro I haven't seen mentioned is the ability for precision and creeping up on things smoothly. Great for precision loader work and maneuvering. No power shuttle I've operated comes close to being able to do that.

Maybe my old man harped on me too much back in the day running geared tractors, but it never feels good to slip or ride a clutch to facilitate smoothness and small movements.

I regularly no a Deere 5075E with a power shuttle and we own a NH 4050 with the same. Not a big fan of doing loader work with either, especially if it's something that involves the pallet forks. They're a huge improvement over the geared tractors of yesterday, but once you've become accustomed to something like a HST SCUT/CUT, skidsteer, front-end loader, or even a modern backhoe, they're a pretty blunt instrument.

I’ve used backhoes or forklifts that puts it in neutral if you touch the brakes and those can be jumpy. If they’re setup to allow slipping the brakes those torque converter transmissions are pretty smooth.

 

[scootr]

I agree with Hysyde. Hydro is the ultimate in creep control. That means a lot when filling a bucket or digging. It can keep the hydraulic power at max while moving the wheels at any speed you need.
I always had shuttle shifts prior to this oversized lawnmower drive - but it is equally as controllable as a riding mower despite its size and power. I'd have to say loader work is easier with a hydro.

 

[paulsharvey]

I think some of the disagreement, stems from a power shuttle vs shuttle with the need for a clutch to change directions. I dont think anyone (that I know of) has a true power shuttle in sub 60 hp machines. It's also confusing reading a spec sheet, because it seems like each company wants to call it their own. Kubota super power glide shift or whatever, vs massey power reverser vs John deer instant reverse vs whatever. And they aren't all apples to apples.

With all that said, I would take a HST over a clutched shuttle; but if price was the same; I personally would have selected a true power shuttle, with speed selection on the fly, over a HST when I bought my Kioti (even if changing ranges couldn't be done of the fly, or required clutching). Now, where the HST is great, when you need to maintain constant PTO rpm (mowing) but you want variable speed. But, speaking of loaders only, RPM doesn't need to be constant.

 

[st8yd]

I've had a few tractors and operated others. I use the tractor a lot, but not all proffessionally. I will never choose to use a clutch again. I love the HST.

 

[Whitbread]

5/6 of my vehicles are sticks, but you couldn't pay me to go back to a geared tractor for what I do. I will never mow, plow, hay, etc. My current massey was available as a power shuttle, but I went with the hydro.

My tractor is used as an off road forklift, logging with skidding winch, moving brush and running chipper when i do tree jobs, and snowblowing 5 driveways with a front blower in the winter. The ability to creep, pause, and instant direction change is worth its weight in gold to me.
View attachment 820776

 

[bunchgrass]

One advantage of a hydro I haven't seen mentioned is the ability for precision and creeping up on things smoothly. Great for precision loader work and maneuvering. No power shuttle I've operated comes close to being able to do that.

Maybe my old man harped on me too much back in the day running geared tractors, but it never feels good to slip or ride a clutch to facilitate smoothness and small movements.

I regularly no a Deere 5075E with a power shuttle and we own a NH 4050 with the same. Not a big fan of doing loader work with either, especially if it's something that involves the pallet forks. They're a huge improvement over the geared tractors of yesterday, but once you've become accustomed to something like a HST SCUT/CUT, skidsteer, front-end loader, or even a modern backhoe, they're a pretty blunt instrument.

Pallet forks --- the worst forklift ever made. Triple that if you have a cab!