Hydrostatic trasnsmission vs. gear drive

[cruz54982]

I have a 2013 tym 503 and it has syncro tranny with 4 gears so I can and have changed often while mowing plus I do not have to sit with my foot on a peddle to make it move = manual tranny for me !

 

[Redneck in training]

Gear models are great for spreading fertilizer and sprays as you have a constant speed you can dial in.

HST is no different. Most of them have "cruise control". Set the speed, press the Cruise button and as long as the engine maintains constant RPM it will move at constant speed. Speed will drop only when the engine is overloaded but that is the same for gear.

 

[murphy1244]

HST is no different. Most of them have "cruise control". Set the speed, press the Cruise button and as long as the engine maintains constant RPM it will move at constant speed. Speed will drop only when the engine is overloaded but that is the same for gear.

I did not say HST's are different ,just not as efficient as gear for farming.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

We have the old 265 MF that the FIL bought new in 1976 and it is an awesome tractor but I am sure for our use a HST would be much more efficient. Getting the left knee to bend enough means I have to lift my butt sometimes to get on the clutch fast.

 

[texasjohn]

Hermio, I'm with you re your safety thoughts for HST. And admire your even handed commentary regarding various post responses.

I've driven two gear tractors and HST. Years on each.

I have previously posted in TBN that I consider HST to be a safety feature.

Reasons:
extreme speed control, particularly slow. Good for when around people, carrying extreme weights, in critical slope/balance conditions.
Yes, it will stop when you take the foot off the pedal. This was a benefit to me within the past two weeks. Heat problems caught up with me unawares and I nearly fainted while driving the tractor. When I came out of it, tractor had slowed from about 5 mph to extreme crawl as my foot had become very light on the pedal.

Agreed, people can always do dumb things. However, I think that for my type of tractor work an HST provides an extra margin of vehicle control with less personal effort than I experienced with either of my two gear tractors.

Gale Hawkins, agreed, my MF165 exhausted me to drive it all day...Constant clutching and shifting left my legs and arms weak at days end.

 

[redman135]

Observation :Nobody has mentioned this,
30+ tears of driving gear tractors wears a deep groove/reflex. I had a hst tractor (borrowed) and it was good for loader work BUT in other situations the gear reflexes took over (moderate grades) and I could have got in trouble if I went to gear tractor experiance limits (much steeper).
I think that most older operators will have this problem until they have accumulated the hours to bed in a new reflex for a given situation.

 

[Hermio]

OP, do you drive a manual transmission daily in your car? How often and how much do/have you driven manuals? Makes a huge difference in how you view the ability to quickly stop a stick.

At the moment, no, though I have driven many over the years. The fact is, though, you must push in the clutch and step on the brake, versus just letting up on a pedal. But there are two major differences between a tractor with manual transmission versus a car: 1) If you push in on the brake on a car, the engine is at idle and the gear ratio is not that low, so you will simply stall the engine, with little effect on the stopping distance or time. With a tractor, the engine is set with a throttle, so you are not at idle, and the gear drive is at a much lower gear, so it is almost impossible to stop the tractor by brakes alone if you fail to push in the clutch. 2) Cars are not commonly in a rollover situation. If you are beginning to rollover in a tractor, I think there is a fair chance you will noit get your feet to the clutch or the brake before rollover occurs, while you are being tossed out of your normal operating position.

 

[Hermio]

Observation :Nobody has mentioned this,
30+ tears of driving gear tractors wears a deep groove/reflex. I had a hst tractor (borrowed) and it was good for loader work BUT in other situations the gear reflexes took over (moderate grades) and I could have got in trouble if I went to gear tractor experiance limits (much steeper).
I think that most older operators will have this problem until they have accumulated the hours to bed in a new reflex for a given situation.

I guess I don't have that problem, because I have spent roughly equal time on gear and HST. Also, my HST does have a foot clutch, so if I have a gear drive reflex, it has the same result. I understand the Mahindra HST has no foot clutch, however.

 

[Buckgnarly]

At the moment, no, though I have driven many over the years. The fact is, though, you must push in the clutch and step on the brake, versus just letting up on a pedal. But there are two major differences between a tractor with manual transmission versus a car: 1) If you push in on the brake on a car, the engine is at idle and the gear ratio is not that low, so you will simply stall the engine, with little effect on the stopping distance or time. With a tractor, the engine is set with a throttle, so you are not at idle, and the gear drive is at a much lower gear, so it is almost impossible to stop the tractor by brakes alone if you fail to push in the clutch. 2) Cars are not commonly in a rollover situation. If you are beginning to rollover in a tractor, I think there is a fair chance you will noit get your feet to the clutch or the brake before rollover occurs, while you are being tossed out of your normal operating position.

Mine has a gas peddle or a hand throttle, so the not being able to stop with brakes is not 100%.

We could also argue peddle malfunctions, slips, etc vs a clutch that will shut down the whole drivetrain. Hydros and their peddles add a variable that does not exist with clutch peddles. I just cannot see safety being a selling point or advantage, but I guess that's why they make both....different strokes for different folks!

 

[DK35vince]

At the moment, no, though I have driven many over the years. The fact is, though, you must push in the clutch and step on the brake, versus just letting up on a pedal. But there are two major differences between a tractor with manual transmission versus a car: 1) If you push in on the brake on a car, the engine is at idle and the gear ratio is not that low, so you will simply stall the engine, with little effect on the stopping distance or time. With a tractor, the engine is set with a throttle, so you are not at idle, and the gear drive is at a much lower gear, so it is almost impossible to stop the tractor by brakes alone if you fail to push in the clutch.

Most all model compact gear tractors have a foot throttle.
I always use the foot throttle when working in tight or rough areas so I have total control of the throttle and RPMs at all times.