L3400 trannys and PTOs

[daTeacha]

I went to a couple of dealers again yesterday. One had an L 3400 parked next to a B7610. I was amazed how close they were in physical size -- shadow size so to speak. I had more or less ruled out the Ls from looking at some L xx30's, which seem much bigger.

Anyways, the L3400 had the manual box. In comparing features and characteristics with the Agco ST34a synchro shuttle I had just driven at another dealer, I was asking about shuttle capabilities. The label on the tractor says to stop completely and clutch before shifting. The manual says the thing works like a shuttle between Low and Reverse ranges. The salesman was confused about shifting on the go between speeds in the main box. Would someone who uses an L 3400 with the manual gear box please explain how you can shift it? Do you need to stop between all changes? Do you need to clutch between L and R?

On PTOs, the L 3400 GST has a live PTO, the L 2800 has a tranny driven PTO, and the HST has a continous PTO. What is the difference between the live and continuous? Can you shut off the PTO on the HST, or does the shaft turn whenever the engine is running? That would seem to be a real problem to live with.

 

[wushaw]

No the PTO shaft does not run continiously on the HST trannys.
The HST PTO is controlled by a cable actuated lever located on the R/H side. The clutch does not need to be used for PTO disengagement, only engagement.

 

[schole]

I clutch with every gear change on my L3400DT.

You need to be stopped before shifting from Forward into Reverse and back.

As with any manual transmission, you will get used to the ground speed of each gear and be able to shift up on the fly.

This tractor is more like a little sports-car. I've never had so much fun with a 'work' machine. All the old 2wd I grew up with were all work and no play.

shawn

 

[wvmapler]

Shawn,

Are you shifting your 3400 manual trans on the fly, or are you stopping each time before changin gears??

 

[daTeacha]

Shawn -- I shift my B7100 between gears while moving even though it isn't synchronized. It isn't too hard once you get to know the machine, as you said, but it still would be nice if it was like my car with a synchromesh tranny.

Is your L 3400 synchronized to prevent clashing the gears, like that sports car you talked about, or is like the cars made pre WW II, where you could shift it, but it took more skill than a modern stick?

 

[schole]

Mapler -- I don't stop to shift gears if I am shifting up (as Teacha said).

Teacha -- as you said in your second paragraph, the tranny is like the 'pre-syncho' ones. I don't find it to be too much of an issue at the slowish operating speeds I work at. I suppose if you lived in 3 or 4 high all the time, syncho would be more important? I have played with double clutching if the ground is hard and level and I'm moving at a good speed /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif...this is rarely the case though, and it becomes silly at slow speeds as I'm usually stopped before I finish my double clutch /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif!

99% of my operation is choosing a gear/speed, moving one direction, clutch + brake to stop, throw the range/reverse lever and you're off again in the other direction(0.5 seconds?). I tend to control 90% of my travelling speed with the foot throttle.

Do you guys find the same?


Shawn

 

[daTeacha]

That's pretty familiar, but I run a little longer between direction changes. Still, I like the foot throttle to control speed.

 

[rk246]

Do you always clutch with pto engagement? I have not been, I understood with the live pto on the HST there was really no need for the clutch? The dealer was telling me that the clutch was only a safety feature added by Kubota, but there was no need for it?

 

[wushaw]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Do you always clutch with pto engagement? I have not been, I understood with the live pto on the HST there was really no need for the clutch? The dealer was telling me that the clutch was only a safety feature added by Kubota, but there was no need for it? )</font>

Yes I have for engagement only. It's been 6mos since I've used the PTO and I haven't needed to bushhog since (no rain).

 

[rk246]

I would be happy to give you some of our rain.... plenty of mud here.... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[simonmeridew]

I can tell you the way my L4400 gear drive shifts:
You NEED the clutch to shuttle between L and R, and you need to be dead stopped, otherwise you get a big time clash. If you're stopped and clutched, no clash. It just has to be a momentary stop though. The PTO operates only when the little PTO lever is pulled forward, and you don't have to clutch to engage it. Apparently it has some sort of a hydraulic clutch, as the manual puts it. You must disengage PTO in order to start the tractor, as well as have the shuttle R--L and H shifter in neutral. The main 1-2-3-4 tranny shifter can be left in gear when starting however. Same deal with the seat interlock. If you get up and are in gear or PTO is engaged the tractor will shut off, via a short delay, giving you time to pick the seat all the way up and over.
simonmeridew

 

[daTeacha]

Sometimes the safety features built into the machinery get in the way. I disengaged the feature on my small Cadet that prevents mowing in reverse. We need to do a lot of cutting and backing the way the place is laid out and it just seemed hard on the blade clutch to continually have to restart the mower.

I can see the reason for the seat interlock with the transmision, but I can also see where it could be really annoying with the PTO -- running a generator or something. Is that the reason for the delay? Is there some way to keep the PTO spinning while not on the seat?

 

[rk246]

I read in the manual the other day that if you are running the PTO while you are off the machine to put the seat all the way forward, toward the wheel? I am not sure it that does something to over ride the safety or ?