L5450 hydraulic shuttle not engaging fully

geneP · Dec 27, 2017

Yesterday i was pushing up some saplings that the recent snow storm bent over. I pushed the clutch in, shifted direction, and when I let out the clutch the tractor didn't respond. I rev'd the engine and it moved a little. I checked for obstruction on the valve under the floorboard and it was ok. I finally got it to move enough to get back to the shed but the clutch never did fully engage. Back at the shed I moved the orifice selector back and forth and it seemed to be moving better. Today is messy outside so I haven't been back to see how it works. Any ideas on what is causing this? I hope I didn't damage the clutch driving back to the shed with it not fully engaged and slipping.

big bubba · Dec 27, 2017

is yours a hyd or shuttle shift? you say that you depressed clutch to change direction. i've had a few hyd shuttles with issues similar to your description. in all those cases, it was a shuttle cable related issue that required either cable adjustment (relatively easily done) or replacement of the cable itself due to sticking & not fully engaging the wet pack clutches (fairly big job).

anyway, i'd start by looking @ cable adj. others here may want to describe the procedure, basically removing the steering column cover and adjusting the turnbuckle for rev/forward engagement. it is a sensitive adjustment. dealer told me the "slipping" you describe is not harmful to the wet clutch pack given it's design. however on a clutch operated shuttle that may not be the case. good luck

geneP · Dec 27, 2017

It is a hydraulic shuttle. The fwd/rev linkage doesn't involve a cable on this tractor, it is an all rod connection but I suppose it could get out of adjustment. I think this problem is in the orifice valve because I shifted it between the three positions and after moving it back and forth in the shed it seems to be working normally. I don't know if the orifice adjustment got bumped slightly off one of the positions would cause this, I didn't think to verify it was dead on position before I moved it.

Thank you for your reply, especially the encouragement that I might not have damaged the clutch pack. I will re-check the linkage adjustment.

big bubba · Dec 28, 2017

yeah, i should have known yours is hst. all my hyd shuttle maintenance is on gear models.
hopefully a linkage rather than valve issue, best on that and yes, doubt any damage has been done.

rbargeron · Dec 28, 2017

geneP said:
It is a hydraulic shuttle. The fwd/rev linkage doesn't involve a cable on this tractor, it is an all rod connection but I suppose it could get out of adjustment.......

Hi Gene - yes, its all rods, no cables, no hst, just gears and a fancy valve on the wet clutch packs (hydraulic shuttle). My first L5450's shuttle linkage got dry and stiff - I took off the covers and lubed all the joints.

I've not experienced partial engagement or slipping drive on these tractors. Was there a difference between forward and reverse? If they act the same it points to a valving issue. F & R clutch packs are identical but separate and independent. If both are affected, the valve system may not be building pressure.

If it responds to exercising the shuttle linkage that's an important clue. Uncover the linkage, select 2wd, set one rear brake, jack up the other rear wheel and work the shuttle, orifice, and inching valve back and forth to see how everything acts. Might find some loose or binding linkage joints.

geneP · Dec 28, 2017

Hi Bob. It did act the same in fwd/rev. All the linkages act normally and free. I had to build higher rpms to get any movement. I took it back to the tractor shed and moved the orifice selector back and forth, checking each position for tractor movement. It seemed to be working so when the rain let up I took it back out for a trial. It is working normally now. I can't explain the slippage. Maybe the selector got bumped off position a little or some trash got in the orifice, I don't know. I feel certain it was in the orifice selector because that is all I moved. I'm sure glad it is back to normal. I've had the tractor three years now and this is the first hic-up from it except for the pump suction light coming on that was cured by new oil and filter. I've put some heavy loads on it removing stumps and pushing up trees. Thank you for your on-going assistance. I hope your retirement is going well.

mikester · Dec 29, 2017

My experience with the new holland electronic hydraulic shuttle shift was that the operator manual said to only use the clutch to shift gears, engage pto, or stop. When switching from forward to reverse don’t clutch, just pause briefly at neutral first. Keep the engine rpms low and it shifts smooth as butter. Use the clutch and you can get hurky jerky starts or missed direction changes because a sensing switch didn’t get engaged properly. Took me a while to get used to that going from a complete manual to EHSS tranny. Check your operators manual for proper operation on your Kubota.

Maritimer · Feb 22, 2021

Hi Guys,
So i have been having some probs with my Tractor shifting from Forward to reverse. I have been having problems for the last year or so, but today it refused to move forward or backwards. My tractor is a L5450 with an ever clutch. The loader also was very slow and jumpy. The pump seamed to be starving for oil. It wouldn't steer or shift. Also the rear Hydraulics very slow and jumpy. For the last few months i have noticed a loud clicking noise when i move the Steering wheel. After it warmed up (30min) i put it into gear and still nothing . after moving the steering wheel back and forth, it started to steer a little better, then it began to move. the oil is new from Kubota and very clean, Level is where it should be, new filter installed in November. I'm beginning to lean towards a new pump. There are two pumps i hear, but the one i think i need is the front one on the crank. I put my hand on it while it was making the noise and could feel the vibration in my hands. So, very slow and jumpy front end loader, jumpy rear three pt hitch and not shifting forward or reverse. the loader seamed to come out of it a little after It warmed up. And it did shift a little, but the delay between forward and reverse was very sporadic, meaning sometimes it would work, other times it would take 15 or 20 times shifting back and forth before it would go forward or reverse Any thoughts fellas what my problem may be?

ptsg · Feb 23, 2021

Check if your tractor has an hydraulic screen/strainer. If it has never been cleaned and it's dirty, can cause starvation of the pumps.

rbargeron · Feb 23, 2021

Maritimer said:
Hi Guys,
So i have been having some probs with my Tractor shifting from Forward to reverse. I have been having problems for the last year or so, but today it refused to move forward or backwards. My tractor is a L5450 with an ever clutch. The loader also was very slow and jumpy. The pump seamed to be starving for oil. It wouldn't steer or shift. Also the rear Hydraulics very slow and jumpy. For the last few months i have noticed a loud clicking noise when i move the Steering wheel. After it warmed up (30min) i put it into gear and still nothing . after moving the steering wheel back and forth, it started to steer a little better, then it began to move. the oil is new from Kubota and very clean, Level is where it should be, new filter installed in November. I'm beginning to lean towards a new pump. There are two pumps i hear, but the one i think i need is the front one on the crank. I put my hand on it while it was making the noise and could feel the vibration in my hands. So, very slow and jumpy front end loader, jumpy rear three pt hitch and not shifting forward or reverse. the loader seamed to come out of it a little after It warmed up. And it did shift a little, but the delay between forward and reverse was very sporadic, meaning sometimes it would work, other times it would take 15 or 20 times shifting back and forth before it would go forward or reverse Any thoughts fellas what my problem may be?

Hello Michael, one of the L5450's fans here, I think the pump's DRIVE SHAFT may be the problem.

The L5450 has a single front pump for the whole hydraulic system. It has a warning light if the pump is not getting oil. If the light comes on with the key but then goes out after startup, the pump is getting oil - but it may not be pushing it out. The pump turns by a shaft off the crank. Kubota's front pumps are very robust but the drive shafts don't seem to be as good. They have a lot of parts (couplings, flexible disks, T-sections, fasteners). Maybe something is giving up. (related OTT thread here).

The pump itself could still be fine. If the red light comes on, but goes out, its a good sign the pump isn't damaged from lack of oil. My copy of the L5450 WSM doesn't show the pump's drive shaft. Inspecting it may mean watching it (be careful) as a helper starts the engine. Its parts layout is shown on the attachment below from K's website. Post back what you're able to find out. Take care, Dick B.