Buying Advice Glide shift transmission versus hydrostatic

Oldoak · Apr 15, 2017

David_Kb7uns said:
I am thinking the same way you do on the GST but the 2 things that would have me lean a little towards HST are the snowblower and rototiller.

David

Well, have no fears about a GST and a rototiller. I have a 6' Landpride rototiller and no problem what so ever finding the right gear and ground speed while running the PTO at 500 RPMs. As for a snow blower, I don't have one for my Kubota, so I can't say the same from actual experience. But I don't believe there would be any issues there either.

By the way, I love my Landpride rototiller. Even on old hayfield ground I only have to make two passes, one in one direction and then one pass in the opposite direction and the ground was ready for planting.

bilrus61 · Apr 15, 2017

I've had three GST kubotas and loved and love every one of them. I"ve tilled at least 100 hours (that is a lot of tilling) with them and find that the GST and tilling go great together. Plenty of low speed with the 12 gear GST. I had a gl4200 and now I own a G5040 and a GL3540. I would get AG tires if I was you. No comparison in traction in mucky conditions. One thing I like about my GST trans is going down hill in gear with low engine RPM it holds it's speed. My mom's B3030 with HST will sometime start to go faster down hill if you have it in med range and low engine RPM. I put 650 hours on my GL4200 and Now I have 400 on my GL5040 and 150 hours on my GL3540. All trouble free.

mike69440 · Apr 15, 2017

Wow, never seen so much love for the GST transmission! Doubt there is a bad choice here as both the GST and HST+ are among the best "gear" and Hydro transmissions.

teg · Apr 16, 2017

mike69440 said:
Wow, never seen so much love for the GST transmission! ....

My friend's GST will grind if you shift on a hill... it's fine on flat ground but if you have hills HST is my only choice. Also, hooking up implements, IMO, HST wins hands down.

Not that this is safe but standing on the ground, I can push the seat back (safety switch) and the peddle to move the tractor back or forward to hook equipment up with precision... It beats the heck out of having to climb back on a tractor to move it an inch.

Oldoak · Apr 16, 2017

mike69440 said:
Wow, never seen so much love for the GST transmission! Doubt there is a bad choice here as both the GST and HST+ are among the best "gear" and Hydro transmissions.

Just a matter of individual preferences.

I also find the new transmissions in Yanmar's new YT3 series tractors intriguing. It looks like the best of both worlds. Although I didn't think it was right to get into that on this Kubota specific forum and not what the original topic was about.

mike69440 · Apr 16, 2017

teg said:
My friend's GST will grind if you shift on a hill... it's fine on flat ground but if you have hills HST is my only choice. Also, hooking up implements, IMO, HST wins hands down.

Not that this is safe but standing on the ground, I can push the seat back (safety switch) and the peddle to move the tractor back or forward to hook equipment up with precision... It beats the heck out of having to climb back on a tractor to move it an inch.

IF moving slow on a steep hill the my GST may roll back shifting, but never grinds GST needs fast response and Paddle shifter!

David_Kb7uns · Apr 17, 2017

teg said:
My friend's GST will grind if you shift on a hill... it's fine on flat ground but if you have hills HST is my only choice. Also, hooking up implements, IMO, HST wins hands down.

Not that this is safe but standing on the ground, I can push the seat back (safety switch) and the peddle to move the tractor back or forward to hook equipment up with precision... It beats the heck out of having to climb back on a tractor to move it an inch.

No grinding on the GST, on gears 1-6 I will direct shift, 7 and above I will start at 7 and work up using the throttle peddle through the gears just like a truck.

On the BX I will tap the HST peddle for 3 point hookups. On the L3130GST I will set 1 or 2 notches on the parking brake and leave it in 1st and just bump the shuttle for 3 point hookups and kicking to neutral before the kill timer kicks in.. Do not tell the tractor police please.

If properly run I can beat with my GST any HST in any many to medium to longer distance loader runs. As I can go directly from loading gear (2 or 3) to travel speed 7+ most times the HST needs L or M for loading full buckets. Short distance the HST will beat me slightly.

David

David