Grain hauling shift-on-the-roll Power Director

Helped a new-by to grain hauling the other day. He was using a 7040 tractor with Power Director transmission. His complaint was getting the loaded wagon going down the road by slipping the clutch a lot in 5th gear, and was concerned about damaging the clutch with this technique. So, here's the way to do it and it works well. Get the tractor and wagon out on the road where it's level. Shift to 3rd gear High range (low button) and set the throttle at 1700 RPM. Ease out steadily on the clutch and it will get the load rolling. Use the foot throttle and govern the engine out fully to high idle. Release the foot throttle and pop the gearshift into neutral. As soon as the tach hits 1700 RPM the gearshift will drop right into 5th gear. Take it from there. This works very well. If you're not gifted when it comes to doing this sort of thing, then don't do it. Black chassis tractors need a well lubed shift lever to accomplish this. 8000 series not near as easy without a foot throttle. I've built one foot throttle for an 8050 and it works fine. This assumes an accurate tachometer. Maybe try it first without a wagon behind you to get the hang of it. 

Amos wrote: I find I just shift them like the semis, no clutch, and start out in 1st, use foot throttle as you would any manual transmission, yes the 8000 series requires a lot of swatting flies movements in the cab with no foot throttle

???
Seriously?!

Tbone95 wrote: Amos wrote: I find I just shift them like the semis, no clutch, and start out in 1st, use foot throttle as you would any manual transmission, yes the 8000 series requires a lot of swatting flies movements in the cab with no foot throttle ??? Seriously?!

Let me say two things here, 

Practice helps. A knowledgeable instructor like DrAllis is a huge asset to a newby operator. The floor gear shift stick in the 7040 PD would allow a better feel to operator that’s roll-shifting as stick is a direct link to transmission shift collars. So it’s a good setup for a newby.

In the later model tractors with cable linkages it helps if cables/swivels/pins are in good shape & lubed well. But like Amos stated, each tractor’s transmission usually has small quirks about what slides or doesn’t.

Can usually be done with most any manual transmission given enough practice.

Edited by AC7060IL - 15 Nov 2023 at 7:53pm

Double clutch shifted my 2-135 White for years that way from 4th to 6th. A foot throttle would definitely mad it easier. I can't imagine how many clutches I would have went thru otherwise. Any constant mesh transmission should be able to be double clutch shifted. 

1963D17 wrote: Double clutch shifted my 2-135 White for years that way from 4th to 6th. A foot throttle would definitely mad it easier. I can't imagine how many clutches I would have went thru otherwise. Any constant mesh transmission should be able to be double clutch shifted.

I’ve tried double clutch, didn’t seem to help?

its all about the right rpms when you shift up or down , when the rpms are right it will suck the shifter right out of your  hand and slip right in no grinding no clanging and banging ,   it does help to have spent many hours behind the wheel of a 1969 mack (way underpowered and allways way overwieght )  with a 5x4 transmsisions 

7580 with a Detroit but shifts thru the gears pretty smooth.

Edited by SLee(IA) - 16 Nov 2023 at 1:35pm

DougG wrote: Just like round baling with a One Eighty or 190,,, come to a stop ; wrap the bale , slide the main transmission from 2- or 3 rd, to reverse without grinding at all - using the famous Allis Powerdirector of coarse !  Gotta play with it and fine tune a little but it works

Well, not just like that though. PD is a different setup.

Maybe I’ll give double clutching another try. I assume that’s what is being done in the 7580 video? That and get my tachometer working and give docs method a go. The heaviest load I’ve hauled is a 400 bushel cart, 375 realistically, and I didn’t have that far to go so just used like 3rd or 4th.

DrAllis wrote: DON'T touch the clutch !!!

I like the idea of your method.

But….the 7580 is doing more than 1 shift right? How? And somehow Amos starts in first, and never uses the clutch! I can’t imagine the pain put into gears over the course of learning that feel!

DrAllis wrote: Just TRY 3rd to 5th and see how it works. I realize the 7580 is HEAVY, but 3rd gear ain't that tall to start out in. 1700 RPM might be a little slow if your high idle is 2800.  Might try 18-1900.

Yessir, like I said, I like your method, will be the first I try. Just gotta get my tach working, and lube my cables.

I just did some quick math here to backup my claim. A 7040 with 18.4 x 38 tires at 2550 RPM high idle in 3rd gear high range (LOW button) is moving 11.2 MPH.   5th gear high range (LOW button) at 1694 RPM is 11.2 MPH.     If the engine runs 2800 high idle (7080/7580) the shift number changes to 1850 RPM.   Setting the hand throttle to the specific correct number is key. You just wait until the engine drops and the governor catches it and pull it into 5th. Don't think you can watch the tach !! The tach needle doesn't move at the same speed as the engine decelerates. If you're going to error on that low set shift speed, it's better to be 50 RPM too slow than 50 RPM too high.