Opinions on Shuttle Tractors

[B.Ikard]

Hello All, I am looking at a 3414 shuttle drive tractor and wanted a few opinions on this drive setup. Most of what I have heard has been negative. I do have a 712 hydro parts tractor with a complete final drive for a possible swap. Any advice, opinions , or info would be appreciated, Ike

[Guest]

I've never used a shuttle drive, but I know they are not as desirable. If I were looking at one, I'd ask the guys who do all the pulling; for one thing I've heard they steer away from the variable speed drives and not sure if they like the hydrostatic. Then I'd consider how I was using it, lots of back and forth work the hydrostatic is great; I like the hydrostatic for the ease and dozing capabilities. On the variable speed tractors, I really don't use the variable speed adjustment unless cutting the lawn; even then I rarely use it. The manual shift tractors I don't really use to much, but I did some garden plowing with a B10 and that was good; my B112 plowed better than my B10, but it had weights.

[IronPony]

I have an AC712 Shuttle that I really like. It is great for that back and fouth snow plowing and works good for both mowing and tilling. I would not shy away from another one. I re-powered it to 16HP with no problems. Howeever, I would like to get a hydro to play with.:D Dan

[rs07]

I never personally owned a shuttle, but almost bought one a few years ago at one of my local Simplicity dealers. He was honest enough to tell me that they require alot of adjusting now and then and he preferred the hydros over them any day. He said the shuttles were offered as a substitute to the hydros, for those people who wanted the convenience of an automatic transmission, but didn't want to spend the extra money for a hydro. With that said, I didn't buy the tractor!:)

[maxtorman1234]

I've owned several and They're not great, but not too bad either. Nothing beats a hydro, especially if its done with belts like the shuttle. They keep going out of adjustment, 4th gear is slow, and belt seems to slip pretty easy. Usually have to gear down to at least 3rd to do real work. Great for cutting grass though.

[Roy]

I have a 7013S and don't really care for the shuttle. As maxtorman1234 said, they are geared slow. First is a true stump pulling creeper. Second and third are a little slow for mowing and fourth is bit fast for mowing but slow for a "top" gear. The shuttle forward/reverse and "no clutch" shifting is convenient but throws another lever into the mix of shift lever and clutch pedal. I get confused sometimes and end up "crunching" gears unintentionally. My experience, Roy

[10HorseMan]

I cant speak for the hydro since I don't own one yet. The shuttle needs a lot of adjustment from time to time. They are good for mowing. But when it comes to pulling there is nothing like the ole three speed.

[Brent_Baumer]

I briefly owned Roy's 7013S and thought it was better than a 3 speed but not as good as a hydro. I also breifly owned a variable speed but the variable didn't work right (out of adjustment). I only keep hydros to used myself and sell the others, but for sure I liked the shuttle much more than a plain 3 speed. Brent

[HubbardRA]

I have a shuttle, a hydro, and a 3-speed. I rate the hydro as best. I can't think of any drawbacks to the hydro, especially the Simplicity hydros with the foot clutch. If necessary, the foot clutch on the hydro can be used just like it would be with a 3-speed. I rate the shuttle next as far as overall usability. I love the shuttle for mowing in tight places. The shuttle lever is much smoother and easier to get used to than the quicker acting hydro lever. I am using the shuttle as my primary mower at the moment, because the hydro is being used for other things. The only advantage of the 3-speed is when towing heavy loads. It has a larger size belt and will not slip nearly as easily as the shuttle. Because of this, the 3-speeds are prone to easily pull wheelies.

[B.Ikard]

Thanks guys for the replies, Seems like I saw somebody that grafted in a sunstrand hydro in one of these shuttle tractors-I remember the pics.... One thing I did notice is there is no mounting boss present on the earlier 3000 series tractors for the long hydrostatic lever as used in the 700 and 900 tractors. I assume the rest of the frame is the same. The hydro install is a plan if the tractor deal works out. This tractor has straight sheetmetal and looks garage kept. I'm kinda spoiled to the hydros here:) Thanks, Ike

[Chris727]

I have a 7013S but only had it briefly running. I liked the shuttle when I did drive it. Never used it for any particular task so I can't comment on how it would preform. If you have a lot of hydro's you might like the hydro better but you could give the shuttle a try. If its not worn out you shoudn't have too much trouble with adjustments.

[Bunky]

There's a lot of negative talk about the Shuttles But I have a 3410S that I really like especially for my Johnny Bucket.. If they go bad you I don't think there much parts available new... I will run mine until it breaks then I will Change the rear end with a 3 speed...

[RonRobinson]

Hi, My grandfather had a 3410S (1972) and never had an issue with it. We skidded trees, plowed, blew snow and generally had a great time using it. In fact that tractor is the reason I bought a simplicity. Ron

[HubbardRA]

Ike, Some frames have the extra bushing welded in for the hydro lever and some don't. The Homelite T13S that I used as part of my AC713 build had bushings for both shuttle and hydro levers. My AC 716H also has both bushings. Another frame I had from a 710 three-speed did not have the hydro lever bushing. Don't really know why some had the lever mount and some didn't. It wasn't the year, because the T13 was older than the 710. I know they were making the 716H at the same time as the 710. Both had the lights in the grille. The T13 had the four small lights on the outside of the grille. I don't know the actual years of any of these. If you want to make the bushing and weld it in, I can get the size and location measurements from one of my frames for you.

[KVANDY12]

Guess with all the comment about the shuttle I'll have to get the 7013 out and gave it a try on mowing and plowing etc. like the hydro for mower a lot better than the 3 speed.

[MikeES]

I have a 1974 3414S Baron, it does NOT have the frame bushing fitment for the hydro. Also 1st gear in the shuttle is a little too fast for rototilling. 4th is a little faster than a 3-speed 3rd gear. It does make a good mowing tractor.

[Karl_Brandt]

I have two shuttle drive tractors. A Simplicity 7013S & Allis Chalmers 712S. They both work great,the 7013S I used a few times to mow the lawn & pull a dead tractor around. I also have several tractors with hydro drive,3 speed,and one variable speed. [url]www.simplicityva.com[/url] Karl

[a7117puller]

They could be better..slippage and neutral issues. Have a shuttle rear on the back of the geo re-power, but have to pull back to go forwards and upwards for reverse cause the way the engine rotates. Wonder if they'd let me pull in reverse ;)