Hi .. Just need some guidance. I'm soon buying a new Massey Ferguson 34 HP with loader. Trying to decide on Hydrostat or Gear Transmission. I'll be Brush Hogging about 15 Acres a few times a year and using a Tiller for a couple acres of food plots.. Most of the use will be for these two things , but will use the loader at times for different chores , including snow removal.. The tractor does not have a cruise control function for the HST so foot pedal will be used for the few hours of steady brush hogging. Any recommendations from you guys who own either kind of transmissions ?? Thanks for any help you can give me.
Rather than issue an opinion on HST vs gear, I would just suggest that you check out the LS tractors which I think maybe MF are built by LS in that size (I haven't been keeping up with the trend lately but LS once built MF, New Holland and Case tractors in that size). LS tractors will have lots more available goodies that are standard than all the LS built for other brands will have (does that make sense). I don't know why that when LS builds them for other branded sellers that they leave off lots of options, maybe it is at the request of the buyer or maybe it is just so they can sell them cheaper to other branded dealers..
Anyway, for the same size tractor in the LS models, you likely will have a cruise control.
By the way, I do love my Kubota HST tractor for doing anything that requires F/R. I wouldn't like it much for bush hogging due to having to hold the pedal down (no cruise)because I am always gradually letting up on it so I tend to slow a bit till I realize I am slowing then I stomp it down again and the cycle repeats.
I bush hog with my gear tractor and if I hit a tough spot, I just downshift on the go. No problem other than needing to clutch. I would say likely that for your uses, either transmission would work nicely but you have to weigh the costs vs the ease of working. Also don't forget that in addition to added purchase cost, the HST will require oil/filter changes more often than a gear.
Everyone had given some pretty good pros and cons of each type of transmission. No one here can evaluate your needs vs cost like you can so you have to decide for yourself if the additional cost are worth it for the added convenience of F/R on the fly shifting.