13 Speed: Probably a stupid question, but...

Wait, thats real? ####. I though that was a joke

 

It works like this: You know it's doing the automatic range shift, the part that's not obvious is that the middle and right gates use the same gearsets. Here's the progression Low Range 1st (in the main box,) Low split-High split (it's just a splitter with a much greater ratio spread than the 13/18,) 2nd L-H, 3rd L-H. Now the auto range shift, and while the lever moves over, the main actually just goes back into 2nd, just in high range. Same for the 5th position, it's really 3rd in the main.

It's confusing, I know. Think of it as an 18 with only 3 gears in the main and a very wide split.

 

On the other hand it seems logical that the button back would be direct, because you can't switch into low range with the button forward.

 

I'm pretty sure I drove an 18-speed like that. I believe it was an underdrive. That was long ago and far away, so I could be wrong. The engine and transmission also ran the pump on this piece of equipment. It originally had an automatic, but after the third time the transmission puked it guts out, they went with the manual.

 

BTW, the reason the Super-10 got such a bad rap is that guys would throw the lever to neutral at too high a speed, not realizing that caused a range shift. This had a tendency to spit out the pins in the synchronizer preventing a range shift.

 

Always made me think of the old Deere's with the shifter up by the wheel, They were almost that bad.

 

Easy now I can shift that with my eyes closed,

 

I drove a 4 speed on the column, does that count.

 

Kind of like the first you drive a 7 speed...

 

They made a 4 speed on the column?