Bern
Well-known Member
- Location
- Mount Vernon, WA
Correct, the SOS does not have a conventional dry clutch, rather it uses a slip clutch in the flywheel to absorb shocks in extreme
conditions.
The inching pedal opens and closes a hydraulic spool in the control valve to feather the engagement oil to various clutches so as to mimic
the operation of a conventional clutch. As the name implies, it was designed to be used primarily in confined areas such as hooking up
hitch pins.
As for whether or not a SOS is better than a manual transmission, it's mostly personal opinion. I have an SOS myself and frankly would
never go back to a crashbox where field conditions continually change. The only advantage to a manual is better fuel economy, and some
would say, better reliability.
Yes, you can shift from forward to reverse without using the inching pedal. In fact, the shifter mechanism was designed for shuttle
shifting with built in stops that you can adjust to suit your liking.
As far as repair and splitting the tractor, it's no different than most any other components on the machine. Some service operations can be
performed without splitting, however the majority of internal work would require at least one split.
As for maintenance, they do require a more frequent oil and filter change schedule, along with the occasional band adjustments.
In summary, there are pros and cons to an SOS over that of a conventional trans - you have to consider what you do and what you're willing
to put up with. I've included a pic of me with my 6000 SOS. My right hand is shifting on the fly as I navigate some tight spots in the
corner of a field. I'd grit my teeth doing something like this with a 5000 8-speed.
conditions.
The inching pedal opens and closes a hydraulic spool in the control valve to feather the engagement oil to various clutches so as to mimic
the operation of a conventional clutch. As the name implies, it was designed to be used primarily in confined areas such as hooking up
hitch pins.
As for whether or not a SOS is better than a manual transmission, it's mostly personal opinion. I have an SOS myself and frankly would
never go back to a crashbox where field conditions continually change. The only advantage to a manual is better fuel economy, and some
would say, better reliability.
Yes, you can shift from forward to reverse without using the inching pedal. In fact, the shifter mechanism was designed for shuttle
shifting with built in stops that you can adjust to suit your liking.
As far as repair and splitting the tractor, it's no different than most any other components on the machine. Some service operations can be
performed without splitting, however the majority of internal work would require at least one split.
As for maintenance, they do require a more frequent oil and filter change schedule, along with the occasional band adjustments.
In summary, there are pros and cons to an SOS over that of a conventional trans - you have to consider what you do and what you're willing
to put up with. I've included a pic of me with my 6000 SOS. My right hand is shifting on the fly as I navigate some tight spots in the
corner of a field. I'd grit my teeth doing something like this with a 5000 8-speed.
