diference between power and shuttle shift on a tractor

Looking at a mid '90's Ford 1720 with a frontloader and it has a shuttle shift lever on the steering column. Some one told me that you can go back and forth while using the frontloader without having to change gears in the tranny from , say 1st gear to reverse. I was told you still need to use the foot clutch though before moving the shuttle lever from Forward through neutral to reverse. Really don't see much of an advantage here, over a standard transmission , either way you have to use your foot for the clutch each time you change direction. What is the advantage of the shuttle shift?

I have a sciatica problem with my left leg so looking for less clutch work, might have to go for a hyrostatic drive.

I was told a power shift just lets you shift from a lower gear to a higher gear without having to stop the tractor but "on the fly"

Are both of these descriptions correct? Thanks

Pushing a clutch and not having to shift a gear lever is still faster. You might want to look into parts availability on the tractor. I think it was a rebadged Shibaura Ford brought in and engine and some other parts may be problematic. Decent tractor just want may sure parts are available.

Thanks Welder Dave. Yes, you would save a couple seconds each time but seems like it is just an extra thing that can get broken. Tractor has 3700 hours on it, looks pretty good in the pictures but is asking $7900 for it which i think is out of line for the age and hours.

I don't know about the ford in question. In tractor backhoes, a "shuttle shift" will be a lever that is F-N-R, or two foot pedals one forward- other reverse, both behind a torque converter, no clutch.

A powershift will be an "automatic" that can be shifted through various reverse and forward on the fly.

4000 hours and $8,000 is way out of line. If you're looking for a true power shuttle Ford, look for a 445/545 model tractor with a torque converter. No manual clutch to deal with. If you are looking for a machine about the size of the 1720, look around for a Kubota with a hydraulic shuttle. The rule back then was, if you're going to buy a Japanese tractor, buy a Kubota. The quality far exceeded all other brands.

Well, this tractor does have a lever on the steering column with a F N R on it but also has a stick transmission with 4 forward gears and a high, medium and low range. I agree, Kubota was and may still be unless they farmed out to China, one of the best foreign tractors. Yanmar made a pretty respectful diesel engine and of course it is found in a lot of the smaller Deere tractors. There is a newer Yanmar, for sale in Portland with a 31 HP diesel and a power shift with a lot less hours, I think around 700, also asking $7 K but it is just 2 wheel drive but has the rear differential lock.

Hoghead said:

Well, this tractor does have a lever on the steering column with a F N R on it but also has a stick transmission with 4 forward gears and a high, medium and low range.

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What you just described is tractor that you can change travel directions by using the F-N-R lever.
It has to be in neutral to change speeds in the gear box.

That IS a Shibaura with a synchronized transmission. and parts can be a problem to acquire. It is straight mechanical so there is a sliding gear or collar that has to engage with the driven gear of selected direction. A power shuttle (front loader,TLB, modern farm tractors) uses two hydraulicly engaged clutch packs that can be shifted without a clutch. A shuttle such as this cannot. You must declutch and come to a stop before shifting.