What Is A Yanmar PowerShift Transmission

The Yanmar PowerShift transmission is, essentially, all of the good things about a manual transmission with the addition of being able to also shift gears without using the clutch pedal if you want. 

All of the same components of a normal Yanmar tractor manual transmission are there. It still has a clutch pedal, clutch disc, pressure plate, throw out bearing, shift levers, range shift levers... BUT the main shift lever operates hydraulic clutch packs instead of mechanically sliding two gears together like a normal manual transmission. 

This means that you can operate the powershift exactly like a traditional mechanical transmission if you would like. You can depress the clutch, shift gears, slowly release the clutch for precise movements like hooking up a mower, but you can also use the main gear shift without using the clutch if you would like. You can shift from neutral to 1st, 2nd, 3rd (some have 4th), and reverse without using the clutch. This is very handy while using a loader where there is repetitive direction changes or while mowing where you can change speeds without stopping the mower. 

The Yanmar PowerShift clutches do not 'slip'. The shifts are nearly instantaneous and can be very abrupt if done at anything more than an idle or close to it. The PowerShift is extremely durable and reliable and does not require any additional maintenance.   

The Yanmar Power-Shift transmission is often confused with a Hydro-Stat but it is actually nothing like a HydroStat. In a HydroStatic transmission (oversimplification warning!) , the engine turns a large hydraulic pump. Your foot moves a valve that directs oil to a large hydraulic motor that turns the wheels.  Hydrostatic tractors are great (I own 3 of them) but they are tremendously inefficient due to the changes from mechanical to hydraulic and back again. Powershift tractors are very efficient and much more like a traditional gear transmission... with benefits.