question for shuttle shift owners

[phantom309]

Hi all-

At this point, my experience/knowledge about Branson tractors is limited to what I've read/seen online. Stumbled on a video that has me wondering...

In this video (about 4:50 in):

... the RK37 owner complains about sloppy shift linkage and jumping out of gear. I think that the RK37 is a re-badged TYM 394. Well, I'm looking at a "legacy" Branson, so I don't need to worry about problems with "real" TYM tractors, right? Well, maybe, but if the Bransons and TYMs run the same engine, they might also run the same transmission, linkage, etc....? (shift levers look similar)

I think he's only complaining about the F/R shifter. Funny thing is, when I was a kid, I drove a few vehicles with "three on the tree", and they tended to have lots of slop in the gear shifters with all of the linkage necessary to connect steering column shifter to transmission.

A nice, clean shifting, "precise" manual gear shift like I have on my daily driver (older Mazda) is fun to use. Sloppy or balky manual transmissions? Not so much.

So what are the F/R and 1-4 gear shifts like on the Series 3 Branson (and TYM???) tractors?

TIA

 

[ptsg]

While Branson and TYM are technically one now, the tractors are actually fairly different.

Branson tractors are actually better built all around compared to the TYM ones.

The castings are heavier built, controls are a lot sturdier, the front axle provides a lot more support to the knuckle and I've recently discovered by going through service manuals that TYM uses ball bearings on the rear axle while the Branson uses tappered roller bearings which are much better on an axle that sees so many forces in so many directions.

Here is a picture comparing the front axle on the 15 series vs a T474:

Anyway, back to the shuttle lever. The RK37 uses a bowden cable, which can get more play and doesn't give that snappy shift feel. Not really a fan of it.

The Branson 20 series, uses a bit more complex linkage but shouldn't have that much play at all. Its a vertical shaft, that goes through a couple U joints and then a short linkage. In this one, you have to lift the lever slightly to move from all 3 positions ( forward, neutral, reverse)

The 15 series, like mine, uses a straight rod from the dash to the bell housing, then a short lever and fork moves the actual fork to change directions. Really nice and crisp shift. Even makes that satisfying clunk when it shifts.

 

[5030]

It's a friggin tractor, not a sports car....

 

[phantom309]

While Branson and TYM are technically one now, the tractors are actually fairly different.

Branson tractors are actually better built all around compared to the TYM ones.

The castings are heavier built, controls are a lot sturdier, the front axle provides a lot more support to the knuckle and I've recently discovered by going through service manuals that TYM uses ball bearings on the rear axle while the Branson uses tappered roller bearings which are much better on an axle that sees so many forces in so many directions.

Here is a picture comparing the front axle on the 15 series vs a T474:

View attachment 3712592

Anyway, back to the shuttle lever. The RK37 uses a bowden cable, which can get more play and doesn't give that snappy shift feel. Not really a fan of it.

The Branson 20 series, uses a bit more complex linkage but shouldn't have that much play at all. Its a vertical shaft, that goes through a couple U joints and then a short linkage. In this one, you have to lift the lever slightly to move from all 3 positions ( forward, neutral, reverse)

The 15 series, like mine, uses a straight rod from the dash to the bell housing, then a short lever and fork moves the actual fork to change directions. Really nice and crisp shift. Even makes that satisfying clunk when it shifts.

Thanks ptsg. As always, your post was very informative.

 

[phantom309]

Well, the 5520 dream is dead.

I looked at one in person this weekend and took it for a test drive.

Gear shift felt pretty good. It was kinda stiff, but I bet it'll loosen up over time.

Shuttle F/R lever was "ok".

The killer was the cramped operator's station. I'd read that the 5520 is heavy for it's size. Hey, that's good, right? (I thought so)

Another way to look at it is that it is small for its weight. I was fine with that also, but sadly, I did not fit in the operator's station.

The problem was due to the new 4-speed range selector. With the 'H' shifter in 'C' range (where '3' is on a four speed trans), the lever is at it's furthest forward AND furthest right point of travel ... and that has that lever encroaching on the operator's left leg.

Here's a picture that I happened to take before I test-drove the 5520 that does show the problem.

Note the considerable distance from the fender to the far side of the shift lever. I didn't park the tractor there and don't know for sure what gear the range selector was in at the time of the picture, but I'm guessing 'C'.

So when running in range 'C', my left leg is squeezed between the range shift lever on the left and the steering wheel on the right, and there's just not enough room.

I'm not sure, but I guessed that I would be in a low gear in 'C' range when mowing (which would be the primary use of this tractor). So I don't think I can just use the other ranges and live with it.

It's a shame that if they hadn't upgraded from 3-range to 4, I would have fit since all three ranges would be in a row with the range selector shift lever up against the fender.

Other than that, I definitely liked what I saw in the 5520!

 

[ericm979]

Maybe you could cut and weld the shift lever into a better position.

 

[ptsg]

What Eric said or even just heat it and bend it to another position. Not an ideal situation but it it what it is. For how well built those tractors are, I think it's worth it.

 

[phantom309]

Thanks for the feedback. It might work out that I take a second look at the 5520. I'm a hobby welder and could probably adjust and/or shorten the range select lever a bit.

Even with that done, the small-ish operators station has me again considering the 5835. I had the chance to take one of those for a quick spin around a parking lot a few weeks back and seating/etc seemed fine.

So that brings me back to my original question in this thread. I have no experience with power shuttle shift. Searching for power shuttle shift in general brings back rave reviews. But searching for Branson/TYM power shuttle shift brings back mostly reports of problems. It appears to be the case that these problems were "programming related", and have been fixed for some time, but since I've read precious few positive comments about TYM power shuttle shift, I'm still a bit nervous about going that route.

I've not done much looking, and have noticed only one user on this list with a 5835 (he was having trouble with his PSS). I sent him a note to ask for a follow-up, but ... didn't hear back.

Decisions, decisions...

 

[ptsg]

If I remember correctly, the early 5835's had a little bit of trouble with the controller for the Power shuttle, but that should have been corrected since then.

The new T4058 is the old 5835. I imagine they've corrected a lot of things.