What is the biggest thing you've dragged with your MX5100 HST?

k0ua · Jun 2, 2014

Mirboo said:
I was concerned that this might be the case but my place is not steep, my tractor won't have to do any hill work. I think (hope) the advantages of a HST tractor outweigh the disadvantages.

Any HST tractor I have owned has always been able to spin its wheels in LO or MED even loaded and pushing into a immovable object (like a tree or a huge pile of gravel). HST transmissions positive aspects far outweigh any negative aspects. If they didn't they would not be the number 1 choice for the majority of SCUT and CUT owner/operators. HST tractors excel at pulling loads as you can start the load in a steady controlled manner without jerking or wearing out clutch facings. I am not saying you cant do these things with a gear only machine but HST just makes life easier, and many jobs safer and with less operator fatigue.

KiwiBro · Jun 2, 2014

k0ua said:
Any HST tractor I have owned has always been able to spin its wheels in LO or MED even loaded and pushing into a immovable object (like a tree or a huge pile of gravel). HST transmissions positive aspects far outweigh any negative aspects. If they didn't they would not be the number 1 choice for the majority of SCUT and CUT owner/operators. HST tractors excel at pulling loads as you can start the load in a steady controlled manner without jerking or wearing out clutch facings. I am not saying you cant do these things with a gear only machine but HST just makes life easier, and many jobs safer and with less operator fatigue.

Would the cost of ownership of an HST tractor vary much from a shuttle or power shuttle tractor? Sure, there's a bit more HST maintenance but nothing too massive (?), but what other transmission related items might be expected to fail if it gets some good use, say, over 5000hrs? Am trying to compare to, say, replacing the clutch a few times (I plan on keeping this next tractor until I'm pushing up daisies) over its lifetime.

I don't mind trading some HP or PTO HP and slightly higher fuel costs if it will still handle towing on hills, PTO chores with ground engagement implements all day long, etc without being too close to the ragged edge of its specs, and the costs don't add up too much over the tractor's lifetime. Essentially, then it boils down to the sticker price premium for HST's being the only cost difference, which is more than worth it, all other things being roughly equal.

k0ua · Jun 2, 2014

The only cost premium for maintenance is the extra filter for the HST.. maybe $75 every 200 hours of operation. There should not be any clutch wear. Power shuttles have hydraulic clutches. Probably a wash on the extra filter costs and clutch repairs. There is no Maintenance on the Hydrostat itself. It will wear out eventually, but can be rebuilt. But many owners go thousands of hours on them without major overhaul. The MX5100 HST does have a clutch, but its purpose is to engage the PTO and it has a safety switch on it so that you push it in for engine starting. My Kioti does not even have a clutch. The PTO is engaged by an electric/hydraulic unit.

motownbrowne · Jun 2, 2014

Are you sure that you need to clutch to engage the PTO? My mx4700 had a clutch, but I'm pretty sure the PTO is described as "fully independent, hydraulically activated". The lever to engage it doesn't say anything about using the main clutch.

Please let me know if I'm doing something wrong by engaging the PTO at low engine speed without clutching.

k0ua · Jun 3, 2014

motownbrowne said:
Are you sure that you need to clutch to engage the PTO? My mx4700 had a clutch, but I'm pretty sure the PTO is described as "fully independent, hydraulically activated". The lever to engage it doesn't say anything about using the main clutch.

Please let me know if I'm doing something wrong by engaging the PTO at low engine speed without clutching.

You may be right, I was going on how the smaller standard L's operate, where you need to disengage the clutch then throw the lever then slowly let out the clutch.. but if yours is hydraulic then the MX5100 likely is too.. that is how my Kioti works also.

DK35vince · Jun 3, 2014

motownbrowne said:
Are you sure that you need to clutch to engage the PTO? My mx4700 had a clutch, but I'm pretty sure the PTO is described as "fully independent, hydraulically activated". The lever to engage it doesn't say anything about using the main clutch.

Please let me know if I'm doing something wrong by engaging the PTO at low engine speed without clutching.

I'm wondering what is the purpose of the clutch on a HST if not for engaging the PTO ?

k0ua · Jun 3, 2014

DK35vince said:
I'm wondering what is the purpose of the clutch on a HST if not for engaging the PTO ?

That is a very good question. Mine doesn't have one. Someone once said something about "teats on a boar hog", but I dunno.

ddb123 · Jun 3, 2014

DK35vince said:
I'm wondering what is the purpose of the clutch on a HST if not for engaging the PTO ?

My awesome HST tractor (thanks in part to some very wise prodding by James) has a clutch. It also has push-button PTO. The clutch can be used to slip the PTO if I'm using my heavy brush hog, but it's not necessary. I usually do with only that implement for smoother engagement.

Where I did find the clutch extremely handy was the other evening while I was finish mowing. It was dark and I was mowing with the headlights on. The mower caught something, stopping the blades dead and immediately smoking the belt while also dragging the engine RPMs all the way down. I stabbed the clutch by reflex just as the engine was down to about 1500 rpms. That killed the PTO and relieved the stress on the engine. Probably not great for the clutch, and I'm not sure if it really saved any damage to my engine or mower, but I can definitely see how it could have in a similar situation. At the very least it saved enough of the belt to finish mowing

Of course, I could have done the same by pushing the PTO button off, but the foot clutch was a more natural reflex for me.

k0ua · Jun 3, 2014

ddb123 said:
My awesome HST tractor (thanks in part to some very wise prodding by James) has a clutch. It also has push-button PTO. The clutch can be used to slip the PTO if I'm using my heavy brush hog, but it's not necessary. I usually do with only that implement for smoother engagement.

Where I did find the clutch extremely handy was the other evening while I was finish mowing. It was dark and I was mowing with the headlights on. The mower caught something, stopping the blades dead and immediately smoking the belt while also dragging the engine RPMs all the way down. I stabbed the clutch by reflex just as the engine was down to about 1500 rpms. That killed the PTO and relieved the stress on the engine. Probably not great for the clutch, and I'm not sure if it really saved any damage to my engine or mower, but I can definitely see how it could have in a similar situation. At the very least it saved enough of the belt to finish mowing

Of course, I could have done the same by pushing the PTO button off, but the foot clutch was a more natural reflex for me.

Yes, those of us that grew up with gear tractors and clutches, always "stab" for that clutch when in trouble. Years ago I also rolled up a huge rock with the front of an old Ford finish mower and pretzeled one blade and "smoked" the belt pretty bad.

I hope you are as happy with that HST equipped tractor as the day I talked you in to it!
It was just the other day, when I was holding a 20 foot cedar log up against an embankment with my grapple, until I could get off and drill it and pound in some rebar to hold it there permanently I was glad I had a HST equipped tractor make the small precise movements to get the thing lined up like I wanted it to be.:thumbsup: