Dex wrote:How do you operate a direct drive? Is there a clutch pedal like in a manual transmission car? How does the process of selecting gears and directions of travel work?
There is a manual selected 6 speed transmission gear shift lever on the right side of operator deck, also a direction/neutral lever "reverser" on the same side. The main engine flywheel clutch is not on the floor plate, its a lever on the left side of the operator platform.
The process is this... Push the master clutch lever forward to engage the clutch brake then select a gear in the main transmission, also select the direction with the "reverser" forward/backward "or neutral" ... Engage the master clutch to the indent and away you go. If you want to change directions but not gears, release master clutch lever by pushing forward out of the indent, then forward to engage clutch brake, use reverser lever to change directions, "this puts main transmission power to the finals" then engage the master clutch and once again off you go. If you want to change gears, disengage clutch, engage clutch brake then select one of the other six gears and then engage clutch again. Its just like any manuel transmission but add the "reverser" and make it a hand clutch....The trick is to learn how to change gears on the fly under a heavy load... this is where experience come in, just like smooth shifting an old farm tractor. Good operators used to direct drive tractors make this a very smooth operation.....
Oh yeah, also on the floor on this machine is a "decelerator" just like on powershift tractor. Set the hand throttle wide open and use your foot to control the throttle. Pushing down slows engine RPM's just opposite of a car "accelerator". You can add this to the mix when changing gears or direction if you choose to..
