What is correct way to drive an M7040 with hydraulic shuttle shift?

[sixdogs]

Thanks to all. Great info here and now that I know how to operate it I like the tractor even more. The M7040, or really any of the larger Kubotas are really some of the finest tractors ever made. I believe they will work for decades and lose very little in value over time.

 

[TripleR]

We really like ours, we bought our M8540 six years ago and it's been trouble free, much better than any other brand we have bought new.

For some real good modifications, check out Richard's (ovrszd) threads.

 

[Jay4200]

I'm not sure I understand the correct way to operate the hydraulic shuttle shift. The owner's manual doesn't say much.

I know if I'm going slow, like in first or second gear, I can shift F-R with no clutch. I got that. But, am I supposed to let off the pedal, to get the idle way down, and then do that shift from F to R? In other words, to not shift under load? That's what I figure is right.

If I'm backing out of the barn in a higher gear such as 5th (out of 8) can I hyd shuttle shift to neutral, wait a moment and then shift to F? Or should I be in one of the first one or two lowest gears?

Can I have the tractor idling in hyd shuttle neutral and then, without clutching, shift to F or R or do I wait until after I am moving?

You don't have to EVER use the manual clutch for anything. I've had my tractor for 10 years and I've only stepped on the pedal about 3 times. Don't shift F to R when you're still moving, however - I pop it into neutral, give the brakes a quick stab if I have to (though the tractor usually stops itself), then shift the rest of the way to change direction. I also try to chop the throttle any time I shift to make the transition easier on the clutch packs, but when I'm doing something like snowblowing, where chopping the throttle at the wrong time can lead to catastrophic results, I just leave it WFO and use the shuttle as it was designed. Believe me, the guys that run the big loaders all use shuttles, and you bet they beat the crap out of them - and they all last 8000-10000 hours or more.

 

[ovrszd]

You don't have to EVER use the manual clutch for anything. I've had my tractor for 10 years and I've only stepped on the pedal about 3 times.

So if you are hitching to an attachment you just quickly engage/disengage the shuttle lever to move an inch?? Or parking the tractor within a few inches of an object, you use the same method??

 

[KennyV]

So if you are hitching to an attachment you just quickly engage/disengage the shuttle lever to move an inch?? Or parking the tractor within a few inches of an object, you use the same method??

That Is what I do.... KennyV

 

[ovrszd]

That Is what I do.... KennyV

There's gotta be more to this story than I understand....

Does your tractor have a dry clutch or wet clutch??

The base tractor this discussion started with is a wet clutch. I have no experience with a GST. Can you educate me?? Thanks!!!!

 

[oosik]

I agree with ovrszd. I tried that procedure only once and one of the carport doors has a hole in it to prove it. Even at idle its got to be really chancy -trying to inch a tractor back with the shuttle shift lever when connecting an implement. There has got to be more........

 

[Rustyiron]

I have the hyd shuttle and try to use it as if it were a non sycro reverser, it's just not quite as fussy about a full stop. Basically, I'm just looking for longevity.
As to the OP's question about what gear, my take is if your load or terrain is such that you wouldn't be able to "get things moving" without a slow engagement of the clutch, use a lower gear. The hyd shuttle seem's to accommodate a "too high" gear to some extent, but I don't believe that it comes with no consequence.

 

[Fallon]

There's gotta be more to this story than I understand....

Does your tractor have a dry clutch or wet clutch??

The base tractor this discussion started with is a wet clutch. I have no experience with a GST. Can you educate me?? Thanks!!!!

Kubota Glide Shift Transmission (or a John Deere PowerShift too) functions almost like an automatic transmission in a car (especially the new sports cars with the flappy paddle gearboxes), no clutching needed ever. Select gear, it will shift to the right gear & let out the clutch. If you hit the shuttle lever it will shift & clutch forward, neutral or reverse as selected.

Idling down before shifting direction or putting it in neutral & coming to a stop helps prolong the wet clutch, but isn't required for proper operation.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Glide Shift is not constant mesh like PowerShift is and has only fork shifted synchronized gear sets with ECU modulated hydraulic multi disk clutches.

David