mbohuntr
Platinum Member
If you have ever brush hogged in trees, you will never go back to a gear tranny....
i've been watching you
- Thread starter smokin aces
- Start date
- Views: 3708
k0ua
Epic Contributor
Guys that have never operated a Hydro tractor (not just drive one around on a tractor lot) just don't understand how superior they are for so many tasks. The ability to infinitely vary your ground speed/direction in a fraction of a second can be really handy. I grew up with gear tractors too, but in my old age I work smarter, not harder.
meyerld
Member
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2015
- Messages
- 36
- Location
- Adairsville
- Tractor
- John Deere 160 John Deere X485 John Deere 5065E John Deere 5085M H260 Loader John Deere MX8 Cutter
Hi Smokin,
If you want to go John Deere, there is a great dealer in Scottsboro Alabama who has good prices. Just go down I-24 to exit 152 and then follow the highway for about an hour to Scottsboro. The name of the dealer is Tri-Green. I think there is one in Ft. Payne also. I have bought a few tractors from them. Regarding hydrostatic, I have one with and two without. John Deere offers a power reverser option that lets you go from forward to reverse without clutching or stopping and is meant for loader work. I have this on my 5065E and it works great. When you get the power reverser option you also get a wet clutch, economy PTO, and 12 forward and reverse speeds. So, if you are worried about hydrostatic there is an alternative out there to consider.
If you want to go John Deere, there is a great dealer in Scottsboro Alabama who has good prices. Just go down I-24 to exit 152 and then follow the highway for about an hour to Scottsboro. The name of the dealer is Tri-Green. I think there is one in Ft. Payne also. I have bought a few tractors from them. Regarding hydrostatic, I have one with and two without. John Deere offers a power reverser option that lets you go from forward to reverse without clutching or stopping and is meant for loader work. I have this on my 5065E and it works great. When you get the power reverser option you also get a wet clutch, economy PTO, and 12 forward and reverse speeds. So, if you are worried about hydrostatic there is an alternative out there to consider.
Gear, synch shuttle, power reverser, CVT, HST--tremendous variety of transmission options out there, and all with millions of hours of time that have helped refine them. Gear is the oldest technology, and most proven over time, but HST has been around for decades. In the size you're looking for, I'm pretty sure its the most popular configuration for ease of use, and the option is pricier for manufacturer and consumer. I wouldn't let one opinion make up your mind. Old mechanics can tell you better than salespeople what they've seen for transmission problems most often--abuse and lack of maintenance will probably be what they say.
Good luck shopping, and take a bunch for a test drive--hopefully the dealer will have some piles, obstacles, and field to go through the paces and see whats most comfortable. Loader work, parking lots and tight quarters, the HST is hard to beat for ease of direction change and slowing down--they slow down/stop if your foot slips or you do nothing--gear has to be disengaged and braked to stop the progress. If your work is wide open and there's no fine work areas or rapid cycling of direction changes, the gear puts the most HP to the PTO--5-15% loss to go HST. I have HST on mine and love the ease of use and precision it offers.
Good luck shopping, and take a bunch for a test drive--hopefully the dealer will have some piles, obstacles, and field to go through the paces and see whats most comfortable. Loader work, parking lots and tight quarters, the HST is hard to beat for ease of direction change and slowing down--they slow down/stop if your foot slips or you do nothing--gear has to be disengaged and braked to stop the progress. If your work is wide open and there's no fine work areas or rapid cycling of direction changes, the gear puts the most HP to the PTO--5-15% loss to go HST. I have HST on mine and love the ease of use and precision it offers.
