Buying Advice HST vs Gear Transmission - which would you recommend on this tractor ?

[PCABE5]

A geared machine would easily do that in Medium range in any of the 4 gears. Heck, it even might do it in 1st gear in High range.


You're very slowly getting to the point of Messicks video. Yes a HST will pull almost as much as a geared tractor but you have to drop it to low and it will still make a lot of noise and heat with very little work done. While the gear tractor will do it in Medium range or even High range.

Your point is good but look at what you are pointing out. A hydro gearbox has two or three fixed gear ratios via the range selection and a geared tractor can have multiple range ratios and multiple gears to choose from and will have a mechanical advantage. Would it be different if a hydro had the same gearbox to choose from?

The test that Neil performed needs to account for the gear ratios in each tractor and get as close as you can to matching each other. If the ratios are close the results will probably be closer, maybe.

End of the day, who cares if someone buys a hydro or a mechanical. Each has pros and cons depending on what it will be used for.

Hydrostatic transmissions have been around since the 1930's or 40's and can be found in a lawn mower, combine, excavator, dozers and a lot in between. Larger equipment with larger hydros can push/pull enormous loads.