JimJimmyJames
Big Time Feeder Driver
To shift our Tractors you have to learn to "double clutch". I'll take a shot at explaining this. From a dead stop, with the shift lever in first gear, clutch lever depressed, slowly let out the clutch pedal and go until your engine speed is approximately 1800 rpm. Once you reach 1800 push in the clutch and move the gear shifter to the neutral position. Push the clutch back in and as the rpms fall, shift the lever to second gear. The rpm level when your shifting to second can be anywhere from 1600 to 1200 rpm; when your at the right rpm for that gear it will "snick" right in. You do this whole process very rapidly. Repeat the process for all 9 to 10 gears (some tractors have 9, some 10).
You also have to double clutch to downshift though the process is a little different. For example, if you want to shift from 9th to 8th you would do this: first, the tractor needs to slow down enough to require the downshift. When your RPM drops to around 1100, push the clutch in and put the gear level in neutral. Depress the throttle rapidly but do not exceed 1800 RPM. As the RPMs drop back down, push the clutch back in and put the gear lever in the next lowest gear, in this case 8th. This is again done very rapidly.
I also have to mention that our gear selectors have a dual range design. There is a switch by the top of the shift lever that lets you choose if you want to be in either the 1st through 5th, or 6th through 9th (10th) gear range. You proceed through the first range of gears (1-5), flick the switch, than proceed through the next set of gears (6-9,10). You do the same in reverse order for downshifting.
I have to agree with chev, shifting is hard to explain! My semi-clinical explanation is not a substitute for actually doing it.
You also have to double clutch to downshift though the process is a little different. For example, if you want to shift from 9th to 8th you would do this: first, the tractor needs to slow down enough to require the downshift. When your RPM drops to around 1100, push the clutch in and put the gear level in neutral. Depress the throttle rapidly but do not exceed 1800 RPM. As the RPMs drop back down, push the clutch back in and put the gear lever in the next lowest gear, in this case 8th. This is again done very rapidly.
I also have to mention that our gear selectors have a dual range design. There is a switch by the top of the shift lever that lets you choose if you want to be in either the 1st through 5th, or 6th through 9th (10th) gear range. You proceed through the first range of gears (1-5), flick the switch, than proceed through the next set of gears (6-9,10). You do the same in reverse order for downshifting.
I have to agree with chev, shifting is hard to explain! My semi-clinical explanation is not a substitute for actually doing it.