Buying Advice HST vs Gear Transmission - which would you recommend on this tractor ?

[4570Man]

Used?? I probably own more hydrostats than you do tractors, along with more than a couple gear drives...

The more you post the more it's obvious, why you call yourself 4570 instead of 220 SWIFT! ha ha ha

SR

If you hate them so much why do you own them? And do you not acknowledge that some whine more than others? And I do have to agree that cowboys guns aren’t very practical but they’re fun.

 

[Gary Fowler]

If I didn't have a MF dealer a stones throw away, I might take a look at some other tractors with more options for the same price range..

Please don't let the location of the dealer be the only thing influencing your buying. Many if not most of us who buy new tractors never have to take it back to the dealer for repairs. Unless you intend to have the dealer do your normal servicing (very much high $$$$) then likely you wont ever need to take your tractor back. You can get all your normal service parts like filters and oil at the time of purchase and depending on the number purchased, you may be good for 5 years or 500 hours or more.

More importantly than dealer nearby is if the dealer has a repair truck that can come to you if you need some minor repair done under warranty. Many dealers don't have this and you may have to haul your tractor back to his shop for him to troubleshoot and maybe just replace a fuse or some other simple issue which could readily be fixed at your place.

If you have a trailer to move your tractor yourself, then 1 mile or 50 miles is not that much of an issue. Most of the moving time involved is loading, tie-down and unloading unless you are more than 30 miles from your dealer. This brings me to another issue, it would be great if you find a dealer that will come pick up your tractor for free if it needs a warranty repair. There are a few that do that, so that is something else to ask about before buying. Also if not free, ask about the mileage charges which could vary from $1- to as much as $3 per mile each way.

 

[kenmac]

I have a geared and now this HYDRO. For my use (some plowing, some brush cutting, some grading, some bucket work) I really don't see where my geared tractor has an advantage over my hydro. The HYDRO does have an advantage over the geared. I don't have to use the clutch !

Now, If I can just quit using the clutch on the HYDRO, I'll be ok

The best thing to do is just go to the dealer and try out both.

 

[sawyer andy]

Because the geared models will still be going when the hydro is dead

 

[Citydude]

I have been in hilly situations pulling logs out of ravines where precise forward/reverse control is a must. Even if very familiar with clutches A little to much clutch release, over you go. A hydro is better for minute movements....or RPMs are up and you take your foot off the pedal you stop, vs. take your foot off the clutch, you are gone.

Had my competent BIL load some 8' logs in my pick-up from the side. Small CUT Gear shift with the tractor nose 4 inches from fender of truck. It worked out but I sure was nervous as precise control is needed and would have been so easy to dump the clutch accidentally.

I have a cruise control and I never use it, I change speeds to often even on a long lawn. I i hit a bumpy patch I don't want to keep driving through, I just lighten up the gas a little.


HST hands down.

Stepping on a hydro peddle a little too much couldn't provide the same " over you go"?

 

[4570Man]

Because the geared models will still be going when the hydro is dead

That’s the least of my worries on a new tractor. HST has proven to be fairly reliable. What about the emissions crap and other electronic crap?

 

[Buckchaser]

You guys are hilarious.. Yesterday was my first time on this site..I was the one who originally posted this question about gear vs. hydro and I've gotten a lot of good advice, a lot of things to think about and a whole lot of laughs.. Great site to ask questions..very helpful.. Thanks to all of you..If you still have opinions on the gear vs. hydro I still have one day to make up my mind.. Thanks.!!!

 

[Erik M]

I don’t think you buy any tractors at all and instead spend your day being the internet tough guy. And what’s the definition of real tractor? It seems to be 1970s worn out junk.

You guys kill me with all this quibbling. Whatever floats your boat but I am with Sawyer Andy as my old “real” tractor is simple, reliable, and I can leave it to my kids if I want to in the certainty that with normal maintenance it will **** near last forever. Yup, I will take my standard shift and the clutch is no impediment.

 

[arrow]

I was a die-hard gear guy. I still am but less hard so I will preface "was". What I have learned operating both are several things:
1. Hydro seems more effective to me for heavy tasks if you have larger framed tractors of 40-45 hp or more.
2. I am "wired" for the intuitive "pressing the pedal down makes more power". This is not always true for a hydro where sometimes you need to "let up" on the go pedal. I am coming from a drag racing background but this is enough to make me nuts. How are you wired?
3. Hydro is infinitely easier to operate and much more efficient for back and forth work imo. I wish I had one by a long shot this past fall when I was leveling my bil's indoor arena.
4. Try out your tractor you are looking at first. 34 hp may be insufficient for your needs with hydro. I tried out the same tractor in geared and hydro. Both of lower hp of under 30. For the work I do mostly (skidding and plowing snow), the geared acquisition was a no brainer for me. The hydro was screaming its guts out to do the same work the gear was loafing with in 3rd gear. The pic shows the tractor pulling a 30' oak stem up an incline in 3rd and about half throttle. The hydro version had no chance of doing this wasting more fuel and much noisier.
5. If I had to buy a tractor today and for what I do, I'd get a 45-50 hp machine with hydro. Hydro does come with a premium price tag but that evens out in convenience.
6..This site has a few of what I call "sheriffs" telling you when to shut up and how to think. Regard these personalities as needed.

 

[Teachu2]

I had to make a similar choice when I bought my 34hp Kioti. My right knee has been over 40 years of problems, and hated staying in one position for long. The gear transmission made more sense for me - and gave me more usable power and cost less, as well. As an added bonus, the clutch keeps the wife from wanting to drive it much.

I should note that I had a partial knee replacement since I bought my tractor. I have also cleared a few trees out. If I were buying another today, it would be 45-55hp, HST w/cruise.