School Me On The Hand Clutch Power Director
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=207762
Printed Date: 14 Aug 2025 at 9:37am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: School Me On The Hand Clutch Power Director
Posted By: leeave96
Subject: School Me On The Hand Clutch Power Director
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2025 at 6:33am
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I’ve got a 4x4 JD round baler - string tie. Makes a good tight bale, but tying the bale manually (the only option) is time consuming. I’m OK with the time it takes, but not crazy about holding in the clutch for an extended period or putting the tractor in neutral and grinding back into gear after the bale is dumped. There’s got to be a better way… I seem to recall the hand clutch (I assume the power director is the same thing? ) on an Allis Chalmers is a heavy duty clutch in an oil bath, designed to be cycled on and off with minimal wear? If I had an AC, could I dispense with the foot clutch when it’s time to tie and dump the round baler by simply pulling the hand clutch to neutral (PTO stays on all the time), tie, dump and move forward again with the hand clutch? If I needed to back up to dump the bale, again, I could use the hand clutch? School me on the hand clutch/power director. Also - can you recommend an AC for is round baler. Need about 45-50 PTO hp and two hydraulic remotes. Diesel preferred. Any particular models to avoid that tend to jump out of gear? All sage advice is much appreciated! |
Replies:
Posted By: darrel in ND
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2025 at 7:18am
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You can do exactly what you've described there with a power director equipped tractor, and it works great. In order to get it with a diesel, and have the horsepower you need, you'll need to look for a 180/185/190(XT)/or a 200. Myself, I bale with my 190 XT or my 200. Probably made 15 thousand 5 X 6 bales with my XT. I run an auto cycle challenger baler now with a good bale kicker and net wrap, so length of time during netting cycle isn't all that long, but still, the power director is used rather then the foot clutch, and it's nice. Prior to this baler, I did have twine tie and a bale kicker that did require you to back up if you were facing downhill at all, and with the PD in neutral, changing gears could be done. Important to remember about changing gears though, was it was best done after the transmission was warmed up, and shift very quickly. I had no gear clash or grinding doing it. Finding one of these tractors with a hydraulic PTO clutch is a plus, but not necessary. My 200 and 185 have it, XT doesn't. My 185 isn't quite enough HP for my 5 x 6 baler, but I think one would be for your baler. And if you are concerned about ending up with a gear jumper, check it out before buying. Darrel |
Posted By: DanWi
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2025 at 8:25am
| Depending on the tractor shifting gears with the power director into reverse and back works on some . Usually have to have warm oil. But you can tie the bale with it. Then just use the foot clutch to shift forward to reverse. It won't grind then because the tractor is stopped. Then put in forward gear. And start baler with foot clutch then use the powerdirector to move the tractor. It just takes a little hand foot coordination. |
Posted By: Leon B MO
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2025 at 9:34am
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For this application, a 175 with the Perkins diesel may be another option. Wet hand clutch, used as stated above. Way more than 50 hp and very good fuel economy. Not quite the belly clearance as the 185. Leon B Mo ------------- Uncle always said "Fill the back of the shovel and the front will take care of itself". |
Posted By: Clay
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2025 at 3:03pm
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A 180 diesel with hydraulic power director hand clutch works very well with Vermeer 605 series balers. Vermeer 605K weight is 6600 pounds and requires 70 H.P., according the the operators manual.
Horse power is important but do not forget about the stopping potential of the tractor brakes. |
Posted By: DiyDave
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2025 at 3:30pm
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If you want to go the low power, old gasser route, a D-10/12 and a hesston 5530/530 will spit out round bales all day long, and it doesn't have a PD clutch! It has a live(independent) clutch... As for the hesston baler, that series of baler has been made by 4 different companies and is made to this day. Catch is its a meter wide bale, up to 54" in diameter...  ------------- Source: Babylon Bee. Sponsored by BRAWNDO, its got what you need! |
Posted By: ac160
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2025 at 4:03pm
| A 175 would be good for your needs. We ran a JD 4x5 baler for many years behind a 175. The baler was hydraulic tie and had a bale kicker on it. |
Posted By: DougG
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2025 at 5:58pm
| I luv the Allis Power - Director design , but now a days you can pick up a good 6060 pretty resonable , and dont have to use the PD,,, |
Posted By: AC720Man
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2025 at 7:06pm
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I have multiple D and 100 series with power director and they are great tractors. But the need to reverse to dump a bale, our AC 6060 does a better job on an our JD410 round baler. Live pto and synchronized transmission makes it a breeze to round bale especially when you have to reverse. ------------- 1968 B-208, 1976 720 (2 of them)Danco brush hog, single bottom plow,52" snow thrower, belly mower,rear tine tiller, rear blade, front blade, 57"sickle bar,1983 917 hydro, 1968 7hp sno-bee, 1968 190XTD |
Posted By: Gary Burnett
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2025 at 8:43pm
| When I baled with my 185 I put the PD in neutral to tie the bale leaving the tractor in gear and after I dumped the bale if it was too close to close the bale door I'd just edge the tractor forward a little with the PD enough to clear the bale.Engage the PTO and go to baling.Although overall I'd rather bale with my Oliver 1650. |