The D 17 Series IV has the low pressure high volume hydraulic system that is closer in design to the rest of the industry, They will work much better with other brands hydraulic systems. The earlier untis used a lower volume. much higher pressure system, will seem "slow" if used on larger diamete cylinders and the higher preessures can and will cause expensive failures. The "hand clutch" pto set up does take some getting used to, but once you spend a life time running them it isn't all that bad.
I still use a 175 AC which is really nothing more than a late D 17Series IV with a 248 Perkins diesel.