Hydro vs Gear Drive ??

[oldpilgrim]

I'm 68. I'll worry about the fix-ability in 20 years.

 

[motownbrowne]

I want to point out that someone will say, hydro's are better for inching around and switching from forward to reverse. Then someone says that a power shuttle with lots of gears is just as good (which still is a stretch but okay). Then someone says that gears are less complicated and more durable. Again, fine, if you say so, but that is for standard crash boxes. A power shuttle is darned complicated and I don't think any more durable than a hydro.

So, you gear guys make valid points, but you can't have your cake and eat it too.

Straight gears, durable, simple, easy to fix, efficient hard to use.

Power shuttle, efficient, easier to operate.

Hydro, really, really easy to operate and safer for beginner users in addition to other benefits like being able to vary ground speed on the fly independent of PTO speed.

 

[TomSeller]

I think you hit on an important point here. HST is a jack-of-all-trades tranny and is a huge convenience for those of us that use our tractors for a lot of different tasks. It's the best for some things (such as FEL work), but not for everything.

Gear tractors are better at some things. I just think that most people who own COMPACT tractors don't use their tractors much for those things at which a gear tractor excels.

I'm talking about being on the tractor in the field all day long, day after day after day. And I'm talking about earning your living by doing it, not playing around with a compact tractor making your homestead look prettier.

Well said

 

[chopped]

I want to point out that someone will say, hydro's are better for inching around and switching from forward to reverse. Then someone says that a power shuttle with lots of gears is just as good (which still is a stretch but okay). Then someone says that gears are less complicated and more durable. Again, fine, if you say so, but that is for standard crash boxes. A power shuttle is darned complicated and I don't think any more durable than a hydro.

So, you gear guys make valid points, but you can't have your cake and eat it too.

Straight gears, durable, simple, easy to fix, efficient hard to use.

Power shuttle, efficient, easier to operate.

Hydro, really, really easy to operate and safer for beginner users in addition to other benefits like being able to vary ground speed on the fly independent of PTO speed.

Oh gosh your right, I did forget to warn -people that like with my 12 speeds (gear) Is a dis advantage with a snow blower. even the slowest speed isnt slow enough with alot of snow. Now If I had the optional creeper that would work. but yes there is a bad point of geared tractors. Im my opinion. But I can live with it.Something for a future gear purchaser to think about..

 

[crazyal]

Like many here I have all three and each has their place. I personally don't like gear anymore. Back in the day I loved to shift gears but now I guess you could call me lazy but I like doing other things while on the tractor and just pushing the pedal. Power shift seams to be more popular with larger tractors and construction equipment. There are a couple of disadvantages over HST though IMO. First with HST you can stop on a slope, hop off and move a rock while grading your driveway without doing anything. The HST will not let the tractor roll down the hill, it might creep a little but that's it. With PS you need to set the hand brake, not a big deal but one more added step and one more thing to forget to release. The second is when doing loader work. With PS you have to make a choice. Let the engine idle and deal with a slow loader or shift into neutral and rev the motor to increase the speed. The third option is to leave it in gear and rev the motor up while holding the brakes to fight the motor. This will heat up the fluid if done repeatedly.

Over all I like the HST the best but it does take time to get use to it. I have used my 4240 to drag logs almost 3' in diameter and 20' long without any problems. Traction is the only issue. I like having the engine speed decoupled from the tractor speed. When using an attachment like a rototiller or snow blower you can set the RPM for the attachment and then use the pedal to adjust the speed as needed.

 

[Deerherd]

There are a couple of disadvantages over HST though IMO. First with HST you can stop on a slope, hop off and move a rock while grading your driveway without doing anything. The HST will not let the tractor roll down the hill, it might creep a little but that's it. With PS you need to set the hand brake, not a big deal but one more added step and one more thing to forget to release. The second is when doing loader work. With PS you have to make a choice. Let the engine idle and deal with a slow loader or shift into neutral and rev the motor to increase the speed. The third option is to leave it in gear and rev the motor up while holding the brakes to fight the motor. This will heat up the fluid if done.

Personally, I make it a strict habit that ANY time I exit a tractor, regardless of transmission and whether it's running or not is to set the parking brake. It's a great habit to get into and takes less time than dealing with an "accident".

You must be talking about a standard shuttle, not a power shuttle when you are talking loader work. Choice one, if your sitting there idling you either are in neutral or you have the clutch pushed in. If you are in neutral push your right foot down on the accelerator and it will go up faster. No need to push in the clutch.

Your third option is looney because the only way to do what you describe is leave it in gear, step on the brake and use the hand throttle to rev the engine. Why would you do that, it sounds dangerous?!

How about you drive into the pile of dirt the same, regardless of transmission. With the PS, when you have filled your bucket, you take a 1/4 second to flip the lever to neutral. If you need to curl/raise the bucket faster before reversing, just press down your right foot.

Let up on right foot, take another 1/4 second and put in reverse, make sure it's clear behind you and go. Try that, you will like it!