Slow hydraulic shuttle shift cold, M5040

roygage · Dec 22, 2011

Bought a used 2008 M5040 this past year,700 hours, even in the summer the shuttle shift is a little slow to engage when first started, Since it has gotten colder, down to 0, much more noticeable, four of five count before it engages. Once warmed up or it kept inside, no problem.

Normal? Have not seen a diagram of the shuttle shifter but imagine it is a hyd. clutch pack much like used in automatic transmissions.

Slow engagement cold on auto transmissions is not a good sign. Typically clutch pack seals leaking.

Fluid has not been changed but looks clean and clear. Little nervous.

What has your experience been? TIA, Roy

Martian · Dec 22, 2011

Don't have a Kubota or know if this is normal but you should be letting your tractor warm up a lot more before starting to even try and move in that cold of weather. Like 5 minutes before mine move after being in that cold and they are barn kept so they are warmer anyway.

KennyV · Dec 23, 2011

The hydraulic fluid is Cold... and very thick when cold.
Let it warm up and it will be fine...
You could change fluid, switch to a Full Synthetic hydraulic/transmission oil... it will pump better.

BTW the clutch pack is nothing like an automatic transmission ... KennyV

easygo · Dec 23, 2011

The hydrostatic drive on my machine is really jerky when not warmed properly. When it's that kind of cold (0 or less) I plug in the block heater for at least an hour then let it run in the garage for a couple of minutes before I move the tractor outside. Then I let it run at about 1200-1300 RPM for another 15 minutes before doing anything. It works a lot smoother and I think it's good for the machine.

DK35vince · Dec 23, 2011

Sounds normal to me.
Any equipment I have ever run the hydraulics are sluggish till they warm up.

rbargeron · Dec 23, 2011

On the early Kubota hydraulic shuttles there was a 3-position orifice valve for adjusting the speed of engagement - the dealer could set it for warm, medium or cold climates. Maybe there's an adjustment like that on the M5040? On the L4150 it was inside the cowl area.

roygage · Dec 23, 2011

rbargeron said:
On the early Kubota hydraulic shuttles there was a 3-position orifice valve for adjusting the speed of engagement - the dealer could set it for warm, medium or cold climates. Maybe there's an adjustment like that on the M5040? On the L4150 it was inside the cowl area.

Thanks to all for the heads up on letting it warm up better. I am a auto tech and the slow engagement is so much like a leaking clutch pack on a auto transmission it right away got me thinking I had a problem coming on.

Regarding the adjustment. Maybe best I buy the service manual for it so I have a better idea of how everything works. Figure on having til the day I die so might as well get one.