How safe is Manual Trans vs HSD

[dfkrug]

For someone that has never had an HSD to get a gear drive is one thing but after having had one, in my opinion, you will be one sick puppy. Most people that don' like the HST haven't had one. I believe you will get responses from most people that have owned both to go for HST. I'm sure you'll get responses from people that haven't and don't own one to push for gears to feel better about their choice. Ask those for gears if they've owned an HST. My 9th one is coming tomorrow and it's HST as were the previous 8. My WRX is straight transmission but I don't have a FEL on it.

Well-put, JOHN. There is certainly a place for gear trannies (from crash
boxes, to syncho-boxes, to hydraulically-shifted units), but hydrostatic
drive is unarguably safer. As I head towards owning and operating my
second dozen tractors, I only want hydros. I sure wish I had more guidance
when I was a newbie...not a long time ago, but before TBN or TractorPoint.
I certainly got no in-person help, so I made some mistakes, which make
me cringe in retrospect. No injuries, thankfully.

As for cars/trucks, we only have manual trannies here.

 

[mswlogo]

I've had an HST and I just ordered a manual unit, should have it friday.

BX24 certainly wasn't the best thing I've ever driven with the herky jerky transmission. I must have looked like an idiot operating it. Since I didn't do a lot of FEL loader work it was not a big deal. Doing the box blade was fine although when I wanted to do box blade in higher gear it made me nervious I was cooking something. I think I'll be able to better feel load on engine with direct drive.

For the work I do

80% boxblade grading it will be fine, more horses to the ground the better.
10% pulling boat in and out, more horses to the ground the better.
10% FEL loader work it may be worse, but I can't imagine it being much worse than BX24 Herky Jerky. I realize their are better implementions of HST than what was in the BX24. And the B2320 HST transmission was WAY better than the BX24.

Less maintenance.
$3K-ish in my pocket.

Can't wait to try the dual brake turning

After a lot of reading, I'm convinced HST is safer. I will have to be more careful with it. As another post said "Gear models in idle can drive through brick walls" and another quote "Gear drives can easily over power their brakes".

 

[Egon]

Less maintenance.

How so??

 

[aczlan]

After a lot of reading, I'm convinced HST is safer. I will have to be more careful with it. As another post said "Gear models in idle can drive through brick walls" and another quote "Gear drives can easily over power their brakes".

I can overpower the brakes on my FIL's B7510 (HST) if it is in low range... it is all a matter of gearing.

Aaron Z

 

[Duffster]

I can overpower the brakes on my FIL's B7510 (HST) if it is in low range... it is all a matter of gearing.

Aaron Z

At an idle?

 

[aczlan]

At an idle?

Slightly over (IIRC), I will check next time I am over there.

Aaron Z

 

[BrierPatch]

That is also one part of my reason for going with gear. I like the simplicity.
Do you think these HST's will still be running like 50-80 year old Geared Fords and Simplicity tractors. I doubt it.

I really don't want start another disscussion, but thought I had to at least comment on the longevity of hydro's. I have a 40+ year old IH Cub 123 that probably hasn't had the hydro fluid changed in over 20 years and is still running great. I have a 30+ year old IH Cub 1450 that probably hasn't had it fluid changed in the last 13 years and is running great. I also have a 30+ year old full size (12k-14K lbs) IH TLB that is a hydro, while it has had it's fluid changed in the last couple of years, but it is still running strong as well. I also sold my 23 year old Kubota B7200 HST and I would say the hyrdo on it worked better than my new B2620. As far as maintaince, I have replaced more clutches, pressure plates, and throwout bearings than I ever have hydros. Actually I have never changed out a hydro yet.

All being said, I think the important thing here is that you like what you bought and it suits your needs and driving style.

So to all, happy and safe tractoring.

 

[pitt_md]

pitt_md .... I'm glad that you are experienced and hope that you will always and forever stay out of any sort of trouble in your tractoring and working life.

You're being overly harsh on Mike... I read all his posts in this thread..I agree with them all..he is experienced and approaches tractoring with caution, as we all should. The posts are reasoned, measured and realistic expressions of his personal experience and opinions..... rather than justifying HST, he was explaining how it improved his safety factor in a particular situation he encountered. Others, myself included, who have owned both gear and HST tractors, indicate their preference for HST .... for a variety of reasons.

There is nothing wrong with a gear tractor, but there are differences in actual operation that are important to understand, consider one's own skill, needs and tasks, then select the right tranny for the person and jobs.

I had no intension of being harsh on anyone. I still stand by what I said. HST or Gear you have to be careful.

 

[pitt_md]

1*It would be bad if car brakes worked like this as hitting the brakes is supposed to slow the car down even if the clutch is not hit.
2*If it moved the brakes would not be rite.
3*Why would you depress the clutch every time you hit the brakes on a stick shift car?

If slowing down is what you want then take your foot off of the gas. You will have engine braking and if you need more stop than that use the brakes WITH the clutch pushed in. Why would NOT push in the clutch when using the brakes?

 

[dfkrug]

As far as maintaince, I have replaced more clutches, pressure plates, and throwout bearings than I ever have hydros.

In looking for my first tractor, I was concerned about a HST having more
potential for costly failure, vs. a gear. But rarely more maintenance. Both
require periodic change of many gallons of hyd fluid, and you can certainly
damage a HST machine easier than a gear unit if you do not keep plenty of
clean oil in there. An HST might have one more filter, but not always. I
have long since gotten over this early misconception.

So I agree, Jeff, most users will run into changing a clutch on a gear tractor,
but never have to do repairs on a HST.