Help me decide from your experience (Hydrostatic or Shuttle Shift)

[AdamCanterbury]

I am on the fence on choosing a Hydrostatic transmission or going with the Shuttle. I have demoed both and really like the Kioti tractor the best but they do not currently offer the "power" Shuttle like MF does on the 1600 series. The Kioti HST is really smooth and I like it very much. I will mainly be pulling a finishing mower and doing light loader work. My yard has some hills. Will the Hydro fall short for me? Thanks!

 

[case245]

I would get the hst tranny I have a shuddle im tired of it doing loader work shuddle gets old really fast on the leg I would get one size larger tractor if I were you been there done that

 

[AdamCanterbury]

Thanks for the input. I found a few good deals around. I really like the ease of use for the HST.

 

[case245]

you welcome I had a 38hp tractor traded up to a 70hp

 

[Grandad4]

For the kind of work you mentioned, the HST is great. Don't know what model HST Kioti you're looking at, but suggest you find one with 3 speed ranges instead of 2. With the 2 ranges, you're always shifting between Hi and Lo because one is geared for pulling power and the other for high travel speed. The 3 range setup has that Mid range that's a good all-around balance of reasonable speed and OK pulling power, so you don't have to be shifting ranges for most work. Not the biggest problem in the world, but it improves your productivity a little.

 

[DutchHenryBrown]

My first two tractors were shuttle units the one I have now is HST and for me no going back! :2cents:

 

[GManBart]

If you're not doing something where every PTO horsepower counts, HST is pretty hard to beat. For loader work there's no comparison, and even using a finish mower, or brush cutter, they're really handy. One of the regular posters here just traded in a nearly new LS R4041 Shuttle to get an R4047 Hydro almost entirely because he started to really hate the shuttle. You know that had to cost him a few bucks, and he still did it.

 

[scoutcub]

With your applications, I would also opt for the hydro. I tried a shuttle shift last year, but really didn't like it in the woods, and doing loader work.
I also traded it back in for the same tractor with hydro.
Mine also has cruise control, a very nice feature for a hydro...

 

[Piston]

In my opinion, having operated both types like many others, an HST wins hands down. It is very hard to beat a hydrostatic transmission.

 

[TripleR]

I run both, go with the HST.