How safe is Manual Trans vs HSD

[BrierPatch]

Question.. How is the PTO ran on the gear version of the B2320 ??

 

[Reg]

Most of the time "surprises" come fast and furious. Like the time I was helping a neighbor remove a large tree limb that had fallen over his fence line. As the bucket lifted the limb off the wire, the tractor came up suddenly on one rear wheel! I immediately backed off power and the HST went to neutral causing the wheel to fall back on to the ground. My mistake was lifting at a bad angle--but the nature of HST quickly got me out of trouble.
Thats what I like about HST, instantaneous stop. I think the OP was really trying to say "Sometimes you just don't have time to think." We've all been there. Mike.

'

That sounds like a case of not thinking it through ahead of time.
MUCH better to think it through and know ahead of time what you will do if x, y, or z happen than to be SUDDENLY faced with an "Aww Ship, wadda I do NOW ?" and depend on a dead man's handle "feature" to get you out of trouble you shouldn't have gotten into.

I dive; I don't run out of air at 100 ft with a d'comp obligation.
Stop, think, act.
{implicit in that is know ahead of time what the right acts are}
Don't EVER ask a dive instructor what you should do if/when you run out of air.

 

[Mike Costello]

That sounds like a case of not thinking it through ahead of time.
MUCH better to think it through and know ahead of time what you will do if x, y, or z happen than to be SUDDENLY faced with an "Aww Ship, wadda I do NOW ?" and depend on a dead man's handle "feature" to get you out of trouble you shouldn't have gotten into.

I dive; I don't run out of air at 100 ft with a d'comp obligation.
Stop, think, act.
{implicit in that is know ahead of time what the right acts are}
Don't EVER ask a dive instructor what you should do if/when you run out of air.

Actually, lifting that limb was thought through and I felt I had the right angle of attack--but other unforeseen factors changed things quickly. It was then having HST, and making use of it, to avoid a problem that counted. No one can cover all the potential "what if" scenarios while attempting something, and anyone who thinks they have it all figured out is only fooling themselves. Just when you have x, y, and z possibilities factored in--along comes w that creates a new set of problems.

 

[Johndeere3720]

HST is nice since it gives you more speed control. I want to get a used tractor some day but its hard to find one with HST. When I got my riding lawn mower, I spent about a year looking on craigslist until I found a HST for a low price. I got a JohnDeere L118 for $550 because it was way out in the middle of nowhere and nobody wanted to drive out to get it. Now how many 13 year olds have nice riding mowers? Im pretty lucky. I would go HST.

 

[lawn_king]

Having owned both, international gear and kubota hydrostats, i will take the hydro every time. Today i was working on athletic fields, spreading and spraying some very expensive pest control products. I set the cruise control and was able to pay close attention to the proper application of product, without thinking about shifting.

 

[DK35vince]

Today i was working on athletic fields, spreading and spraying some very expensive pest control products. I set the cruise control and was able to pay close attention to the proper application of product, without thinking about shifting.

Once you set your speed and throttle on a geared tractor doing the same job, why would you need to shift ???

 

[newbury]

Go HST if you are going to have to change gears often. Gears give you some more power, "auto" gives convenience.

 

[lawn_king]

Once you set your speed and throttle on a geared tractor doing the same job, why would you need to shift ???

Perhaps athletic fields was a bad example. Lets say working on rolling hills with some serious grade changes, you do have to shift the gear machine?

 

[Reg]

Actually, lifting that limb was thought through and I felt I had the right angle of attack--but other unforeseen factors changed things quickly. It was then having HST, and making use of it, to avoid a problem that counted. No one can cover all the potential "what if" scenarios while attempting something, and anyone who thinks they have it all figured out is only fooling themselves. Just when you have x, y, and z possibilities factored in--along comes w that creates a new set of problems.

Where 'w' is for "Wasn't considered" ?
{Check your checklist - for completeness}

There has been a great deal of hospital safety improvement in recent years to avoid the sort of "Mistakes" that cause amputation of the limb opposite to the one intended.

One of the "revelations" was when someone pointed out that (paraphrased):
Things like this happen because, when things like this happen, we say "Things like this happen".
It is a self perpetuating problem.
I don't accept the SH*T HAPPENS mind set, neither do I accept the "accidents happen" mind set as an excuse for not avoiding them.

I suggest you review your near miss ("near hit" ?) for what you did wrong, it will make you safer.
Forget (for the moment) your preconceived notion that the HSD saved the day (& your bacon).

 

[texasjohn]

I vote for HST... all day long...

I try to do all the suggested things... think ahead, go slow, etc.....

nevertheless, I frequently thank my stars that I have an HST....

the precision speed control.... SLOW CREEP under high load.... it allows more precision under more conditions than I have ever found with any other tranny.... from a SAFETY standpoint alone, I believe the HST is worth the extra expense.

Other than price, I can't think of any negative points and could list more than 10 positive ones.