Manual vs Hydrostatic

TripleR · Apr 5, 2010

Yankee said:
A couple of points:

First, a hydro tractor WILL speed up (or slide) on a steep enough hill, especially in high range, as I can witness today in my own back yard - I did a little of both. Think you'll be able to change the range in that situation? Think again.

Second, a gear tractor with a foot throttle is almost as easy to modulate, speed-wise, as a hydro, the constraint being primarily the upper end of the selected gear's speed range.

Well, I can't imagine being in High Range on a steep hill, but one of the first things I did when I got my L5030HSTC was try the stopping power of the HST on the steepest inclines on my property and it stopped in Mid and Low Range without any problems. If there is any lag, just rock it into reverse and you will get 4 wheel "braking". As to "sliding", that is going to be a traction issue, not HST/geared.

I have geared tractors with foot/hand throttles and while modulating speed via throttle works OK while traveling, it will screw things up when running a cutter or other implement off the PTO.

I own and operate "traditional" geared and HST and prefer HST. I will have to defer to Builder on the newer types of geared units; never used one. I did recently speak with one of our renters who runs tractors from 47 to 325 HP and he really likes HST, but can't get it on the bigger machines; guess it depends on the individual.

Jay4200 · Apr 5, 2010

Reg said:
Wide Open Throttle.

Errr, a VP might express the other one as "Wide Friggin' Open"

JFTR - WFO is actually a legitimate term (at least in the motorcycle world) - means "Wide Full Open". I think it's a UK term.

JayC

Bedlam · Apr 5, 2010

I prefere manual. Had a hydro for one year and didn't care for it.

FallbrookFarmer · Apr 5, 2010

dex3361 said:
Reg you have to come to good ole WV and let me show you what I mean.
Yes I have been guilty of fumbling and well other things but I speed up and slow down for a lot of reasons on the hills.
Mainly because my hills do not all have a place to turn around at the top or bottom and it requires going straight up and backing down or vise versa. No turning around except at preplanned locations. Sometimes when clearing brush with the grapple and edging close to the edge or even nosing over a bit to grab a bit of brush I need back up at this point. I have owned and operated geared equipment all of my life and I enjoy gear jamming with the best of them but this is a safety issue for me and for what I do it works great. Here are a few pics of one of the hills and not the steepest that I am talking about(just happened to have handy).

Thanks:
I really do agree with you vis a vis safety.
BTW Your hills would be called "bumps in the ground"
around here