Anything but a hydro...why?

[ArtMech]

I'm a drummer and have pretty good independence

JayC

I was a drummer too nearly 20 years ago and it helps me now to operate a mech shuttle shift transmission. :laughing: Hope if your second tractor will be not a HST, it'll help you to feel your body in good shape within the rehearsals. Think twice ... :laughing::laughing:

 

[jenkinsph]

Having geared and hydro tractors currently I would say the only time the geared tractor is used is when I make a concious effort to give it some run time. All of us older guys had gear tractors, that's all we had until recently to use. We made it work but hydro transmissions are much easier to control the motion with. Most of the smaller cuts are hydro, because that is what most people want and I agree with "most people".

Most of the gearheads have never operated a hydro tractor long enough to get aquainted with them from what I have read here. A hydro tractor will do everything I want a tractor to do better than a gear tractor. In my landscaping business I seldom go over 150 feet without changing directions.

 

[jinman]

I'd say look no further than this thread to see why all CUTs are not hydro. Some folks want gears and would not buy a tractor without them. CUT manufacturers would eliminate a huge market if they went all hydro. They'd also be beset with thousands of complaints. There's plenty of things a geared tractor does better to keep that market very profitable. However, if you use a backhoe, loader, and do lots of directional changes with a mower/RC, then you will love the hydro. Once you discover that you can concentrate 99% of your attention on the task and only 1% on moving your foot on the hydro pedal, you'll see why we hydro owners love our tractors. You don't have to think about the tractor and go through the extra movements for a geared tractor. It doesn't matter how automatic those movements are, you still have do them.

I have a full-sized TLB with an electric shuttle, electric clutch, and torque converter drive. When I want to change directions, I just press a button for my clutch and throw the shuttle lever. It's very convenient, but nothing like my hydro.

 

[s219]

I have always been inclined towards geared transmissions because hydros rob a noticeable amount of power. This was very obvious to me about 12 years ago when shopping for a small mower/tractor -- the geared model was like a hot rod, while the hydro model felt like it was running on molasses, and was just pathetic. So I bought geared then, and that tractor continues to serve me well for mowing and lawn maintenance.

I did a fair amount of work on a JD 3005 over the summer/fall of 2011 cleaning up from Hurricane Irene, and the geared transmission/clutch combo worked fine for everything we did. To me, it confirmed my preference for geared.

However, when shopping for a new tractor for myself recently, I went hydro because it seemed like a better choice for what I wanted to do -- a lot of front loader work, landscaping, some tree work, and some light logging/skidding in tight quarters in the woods. Those things either require a lot of fwd/reverse motions, or very gentle controlled creeping, or both. After having used the tractor for a couple months, I am glad I went with HST this time around and think I made the right choice.

In this case, I consciously went for a higher horsepower tractor to offset some of the power loss of the HST, jumping from a 26HP B2620 to a 29HP B2920 (the tractors are otherwise identical). It seemed a little odd to pay another $700 just for 3HP, but to me that was the best way to get an HST and offset one of the known downsides.

 

[Shooter45]

I've always owned geared tractors so I really didn't even consider the hydro when I bought my latest tractor 4 months ago.

 

[k0ua]

I've always owned geared tractors so I really didn't even consider the hydro when I bought my latest tractor 4 months ago.

And you are probably happy as a clam.. do not EVER use a hydro tractor, especially for loader work or tight mowing or anything that requires a lot of directional changes, because all it will do is cause hate and discontent. Don't ask me how I know

James K0UA

 

[kiotiken]

I have always been inclined towards geared transmissions because hydros rob a noticeable amount of power. This was very obvious to me about 12 years ago when shopping for a small mower/tractor -- the geared model was like a hot rod, while the hydro model felt like it was running on molasses, and was just pathetic. So I bought geared then, and that tractor continues to serve me well for mowing and lawn maintenance.

I did a fair amount of work on a JD 3005 over the summer/fall of 2011 cleaning up from Hurricane Irene, and the geared transmission/clutch combo worked fine for everything we did. To me, it confirmed my preference for geared.

However, when shopping for a new tractor for myself recently, I went hydro because it seemed like a better choice for what I wanted to do -- a lot of front loader work, landscaping, some tree work, and some light logging/skidding in tight quarters in the woods. Those things either require a lot of fwd/reverse motions, or very gentle controlled creeping, or both. After having used the tractor for a couple months, I am glad I went with HST this time around and think I made the right choice.

In this case, I consciously went for a higher horsepower tractor to offset some of the power loss of the HST, jumping from a 26HP B2620 to a 29HP B2920 (the tractors are otherwise identical). It seemed a little odd to pay another $700 just for 3HP, but to me that was the best way to get an HST and offset one of the known downsides.

My Kioti CK30HST has 30 engine hp and 22 PTO hp. The geared version is 30 engine hp and 23 PTO hp. That not a big difference and I don't find it sluggish in anyway shape or form. I've never tried the gear version, it was never an option, so I can't compare. My argument would be that if I needed 23 PTO hp to run an implement, I should have bought the next size up, regardless of gear or HST, that's just cutting it to close. As far as putting the power to the ground, I think I'm at the perfect balancing point between hp and traction (with loaded tires and 1200 lbs bh), and that exactly where you want to be.

 

[Mark Page]

Geared tractors are great if your doing field type work like mowing. I run my 231s in high range 1st gear for hours with out touching the clutch.
My 1648 is hydro and can't be beat for loader work. You only have to worry about the wheel and the loader but never about speed, it becomes second nature. Far, far less fatiguing than reaching for a gear lever, presing down the clutch, slowing the engine down so the gears will synchronize, and selecting the right gear.

 

[cdaigle430]

Geared tractors are great if your doing field type work like mowing. I run my 231s in high range 1st gear for hours with out touching the clutch.
The 1648 is hydro and can't be beat for loader work. You only have to worry about the wheel and the loader but never about speed, it bcomes second nature. Far, far less fatiguing than reaching for a gear lever, presing down the clutch, slowing the engine down so the gears will synchronize, and selecting the right gear.

Hydro is my prefference as a homeowner. For farming or field work i would go manual. For heavy duty construction, shuttle shift.

 

[ruffdog]

The hydro allows you to creep slowly when using attachments like a tiller or snowblower. I grew up with all geared tractors and they were not as "handy" as the hydro I have now. Sometimes I need my wife to drive me close to a building or tree when I'm in the bucket. I feel much "safer" being that the tractor is a hydro with her driving. Also, it is much more precise when positioning a post hole digger exactly where I want it. I still use the neighbors old furgason and allis wd tractors when I help him bale hay. They are just more of a pain to use unless you are out in the field.