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

[Jstpssng]

Of course if you get off a gear machine and leave it running it needs to be in neutral, so no difference when left running.

That's what I was going to say, you beat me to it. I always make sure that my bucket and/or implement are grounded before I get off. Of course my seat has a safety switch to shut the engine off as soon as I take my weight off it. I'm not sure why that doesn't work. (It's rather difficult to run my winch or backhoe without the engine running.)

 

[s219]

Can we find some common ground and at least agree that HST is better for loader work and geared is better for ground engagement?

That was certainly the intent of my post early on. Seems to me the OP's needs are leaning more towards ground engagement and mowing, both tasks well suited to a gear tractor. If he said heavy loader work with a lot of back and forth, then no question HST would be better overall.

This is the way I look at it -- HST is better for repetitive loader work and can do tasks like mowing and tilling OK. Gear is better for tasks like mowing and tilling, but is not even close to HST for loader work when it comes to productivity. If it was me, I could sort out the pros and cons based on those statements and that would be the end of it.

I'm talking as someone who uses HST and gear tractors regularly. I am also suspicious of anyone who has a strong opinion one way or another. I am in the situation where I have to hop on several different tractors in different locations to get work done. I don't have time for opinions that get in the way of progress. Don't let opinions get in the way of learning how to operate different types, brands, transmissions or distracting from the actual task. Tractor use is often about being open minded and finding common sense solutions.

I remember recent threads arguing about twin-pedal versus treadle for HSTs, and that's another argument I don't understand, as I own both and have to operate both. Focusing on the job at hand, the pedal/treadle totally fades from the forefront and both work fine for me.

Unless you have a physical handicap or injury that eliminates one type of transmission or control arrangement, the bottom line to me is that any open minded and semi-skilled operator can use any of these machines for any task. Some arrangements are just more productive than others.

The alternative is to ditch the tractor and get a donkey. Then you can argue with the beast about the best way to operate. The donkey will win that argument every time!

 

[4570Man]

After reading all of this stuff, I'm almost afraid to add another comment to the original thread. However.... I did think of one thing I am concerned about with my HST. The parking brake. When you get off of the tractor and set the brake, if you kick the brake while getting off of the machine and you happen to be on a slope.... away goes the tractor. At least, mine would, particularly when you are leaving the machine running because you have to put the range lever in neutral before you get off.

That’s a terrible “safety” feature IMO for reasons you mentioned. My HST doesn’t have that switch and I can leave it it gear running. Leaving it in gear while running is no substitute for a parking brake because it does creep but it it’s not going anywhere fast. I’m not sure how this is very useful to the topic though a gear and HST in neutral do the same thing.

 

[Buckchaser]

Well said and what you say makes sense. I guess it's all in what a person uses his equipment for and what feels best while using. I have 2 lawn tractors . One is an older gear tractor and one is newer HST.. I like them both for different reasons.. I looked at all the responses to my original question about HST vs. gears on a new MF tractor and took them all into consideration. I'm leaning toward the HST.. I test drove both of them yesterday.. I was concerned about brush hogging with the HST because of not having cruise control function , but one of the guys on the post said he has Cruise on his and doesn't use it very often while brush hogging..I found this to be true on my HST lawn tractor because of the speeding up and slowing down that takes place..If I had 50 acres to brush hog I might be concerned. I did own an older JD with gear transmission at one time and didn't mind it. It had 8 gear positions and I did a lot more clutch work with it , but if your foot slipped off the clutch or you jumped the clutch by accident in tight situations..usually meant trouble. Thanks to everyone who responded to my original question. When you're trying to buy a new piece of equipment it's great to have other opinions especially when your forking out good money..There have been a lot of good pros and cons in response to my original question and only time will tell if I made the right decision, but I'm probably going with the HST.
Once I have had a chance to use the tractor on brush hogging, tiller work and loader work I will certainly be glad to give my opinion on my decision..If it helps someone else that's on the fence I would be glad to help out. Thanks again for all the advice from everyone.

 

[kenmac]

Well said and what you say makes sense. I guess it's all in what a person uses his equipment for and what feels best while using. I have 2 lawn tractors . One is an older gear tractor and one is newer HST.. I like them both for different reasons.. I looked at all the responses to my original question about HST vs. gears on a new MF tractor and took them all into consideration. I'm leaning toward the HST.. I test drove both of them yesterday.. I was concerned about brush hogging with the HST because of not having cruise control function , but one of the guys on the post said he has Cruise on his and doesn't use it very often while brush hogging..I found this to be true on my HST lawn tractor because of the speeding up and slowing down that takes place..If I had 50 acres to brush hog I might be concerned. I did own an older JD with gear transmission at one time and didn't mind it. It had 8 gear positions and I did a lot more clutch work with it , but if your foot slipped off the clutch or you jumped the clutch by accident in tight situations..usually meant trouble. Thanks to everyone who responded to my original question. When you're trying to buy a new piece of equipment it's great to have other opinions especially when your forking out good money..There have been a lot of good pros and cons in response to my original question and only time will tell if I made the right decision, but I'm probably going with the HST.
Once I have had a chance to use the tractor on brush hogging, tiller work and loader work I will certainly be glad to give my opinion on my decision..If it helps someone else that's on the fence I would be glad to help out. Thanks again for all the advice from everyone.

You will like the HST. Sorry some took your post to another level that had nothing to do with your question

 

[Billrog]

My first tractor with HST after 25 years 4500 hrs. with no problems and a pleasure to use convinced me I now have a Kioti HST with 600 hrs. on it a love it to. For loader work, brush hogging and plowing snow I don't have to mess with finding the right gear. But I do realize standard transmissions have their place.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Well said and what you say makes sense. I guess it's all in what a person uses his equipment for and what feels best while using. I have 2 lawn tractors . One is an older gear tractor and one is newer HST.. I like them both for different reasons.. I looked at all the responses to my original question about HST vs. gears on a new MF tractor and took them all into consideration. I'm leaning toward the HST.. I test drove both of them yesterday.. I was concerned about brush hogging with the HST because of not having cruise control function , but one of the guys on the post said he has Cruise on his and doesn't use it very often while brush hogging..I found this to be true on my HST lawn tractor because of the speeding up and slowing down that takes place..If I had 50 acres to brush hog I might be concerned. I did own an older JD with gear transmission at one time and didn't mind it. It had 8 gear positions and I did a lot more clutch work with it , but if your foot slipped off the clutch or you jumped the clutch by accident in tight situations..usually meant trouble. Thanks to everyone who responded to my original question. When you're trying to buy a new piece of equipment it's great to have other opinions especially when your forking out good money..There have been a lot of good pros and cons in response to my original question and only time will tell if I made the right decision, but I'm probably going with the HST.
Once I have had a chance to use the tractor on brush hogging, tiller work and loader work I will certainly be glad to give my opinion on my decision..If it helps someone else that's on the fence I would be glad to help out. Thanks again for all the advice from everyone.

I agree with Ken on HST. I have a New Holland 96 HP gear tractor and LS 55 HP HST tractor. Both serve their purpose but I’d really like both to be HST. The LS is my 3rd HST tractor. All three have had cruise control.

The prior allegation that HST tractors are “slower” is a ridiculous generalization that is not supported in fact whatsoever.

I do use my “cruise control” on my LS XR4155HC often and especially while mowing with rotary cutter or rear finish mower. On mine, cruise control is enabled with switch on dash and disabled with switch or by tapping on brake pedal.





Good luck with your selection and check back with your results.

 

[4570Man]

“HSTs are complicated”. “HSTs break down all the time” “HSTs are slow” “HSTs don’t pull as hard” “HSTs are expensive to maintain” Thats all myth and no fact. If any of the above are proven not true I’ll admit I was wrong.

 

[k0ua]

I agree with Ken on HST. I have a New Holland 96 HP gear tractor and LS 55 HP HST tractor. Both serve their purpose but I’d really like both to be HST. The LS is my 3rd HST tractor. All three have had cruise control.

The prior allegation that HST tractors are “slower” is a ridiculous generalization that is not supported in fact whatsoever.

I do use my “cruise control” on my LS XR4155HC often and especially while mowing with rotary cutter or rear finish mower. On mine, cruise control is enabled with switch on dash and disabled with switch or by tapping on brake pedal.

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Good luck with your selection and check back with your results.

Agreed, good luck with what ever you get. I used to finish mow an open field, it looked like a lawn after a while with a little hydrostat New Holland. It did have cruise and I used it all the time with finish mowing. But with finish mowing you don't have to slow down for "rough stuff" as there is no rough stuff. But if if you did have to take off the cruise, it was electric just like the above, either press the button or touch the brakes and it comes off just like any car or truck. This is the way it works on my present Kioti also. It is just a magnetic coil that holds the forward pedal in one place by energizing a magnetic field and attracting the steel pedal shaft.

Anyway, good luck and glad you came by the forum. Let us know what you selected, and how you like it.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
You know, I use to get pizzed on because I don't list my tractors/equipment and everything else I own, like the rest of you do, I don't see that for a good reason to be doubted or pizzed on...
<snip>

I've found reading the listing of equipment helps me judge the poster. ASSuming it's truthful.
Like putting in your location helps tune reponses.
I doubt someone like jeff9366 would have much need for a snowblower.

Well said and what you say makes sense. I guess it's all in what a person uses his equipment for and what feels best while using. <snip>

Also what one can afford and what is offered. I NEEDED a bigger tractor for moving logs. For the money appropriated at the time, $15K, I could have gotten a 30+HP Kubota w/ HST. Instead I got a 50HP geared, older M4700 for $11.5K. And remember it used to be ALL the larger Kubotas were geared, they didn't offer HST much above 50 HP.

 

[4570Man]

I've found reading the listing of equipment helps me judge the poster. ASSuming it's truthful.
Like putting in your location helps tune reponses.
I doubt someone like jeff9366 would have much need for a snowblower.



Also what one can afford and what is offered. I NEEDED a bigger tractor for moving logs. For the money appropriated at the time, $15K, I could have gotten a 30+HP Kubota w/ HST. Instead I got a 50HP geared, older M4700 for $11.5K. And remember it used to be ALL the larger Kubotas were geared, they didn't offer HST much above 50 HP.

I sold my Kubota because I “needed” a backhoe. Big iron definitely gets more done per dollar. My point has been the whole time has been a high percentage of the people here don’t need to get more done. They want to mow grass, take care of their garden, grade their driveway, and such as that.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I've found reading the listing of equipment helps me judge the poster. ASSuming it's truthful.
Like putting in your location helps tune reponses.

Have you looked at some of the "list", guys are posting here? AND some of the comments on "their" list??

In most cases it's become, like a "bragging board"! lol

AND "if" I listed everything I own, like most do here, most likely Richard would come along and accuse me of bragging forsure!

Long time ago, I saw on here where a guy even listed his damdogs! lol lol

I have to admit, THAT one, really cracked me up!! lol

BTW, I already know if "I" need a sno-blower. lol

OK, thanks for posting, but no thanks on the list...

SR

 

[4570Man]

I don’t care what chainsaw someone has or stuff such as that but it’s helpful to know what someone has to work with when they ask a how to question.

 

[goeduck]

You guys kill me with all this quibbling..

This is not our first rodeo (on this subject) and won’t be our last

 

[crazyal]

I'm sure the OP didn't realize the can of worms opened when starting another HST vs gear thread. Hopefully he can make a choice as there was some good information mixed with some personal opinions that works for him. I have had gear tractors (since you could buy old tractors for cheap decades ago) and now have an HST. To me anything to do with the PTO is just easier. I set the engine speed for how fast the attachment is designed to operate at and there's no shifting gears because I need to change speeds. For snow blowing being able to speed up and slow down as you go around turns and through drifts without having to shift makes doing it a lot easier. Both will work, both will last a very long time, one is designed to make life easier.

 

[goeduck]

Long time ago, I saw on here where a guy even listed his damdogs! lol lol

I do not have any damdogs. All mine have the last name of dam-it. And the last name is spoken louder than the first name.

 

[k0ua]

I bet there is 100 hydrostat vs gear threads on this forum if there is a single one.! This has been going on long before I arrived here in 2009, and will be going on when I am long dead.

 

[4570Man]

I bet there is 100 hydrostat vs gear threads on this forum if there is a single one.! This has been going on long before I arrived here in 2009, and will be going on when I am long dead.

They should probably add this topic along with politics and religion.

 

[goeduck]

I bet there is 100 hydrostat vs gear threads on this forum if there is a single one.! This has been going on long before I arrived here in 2009, and will be going on when I am long dead.

The definition of insanity, is, doing the exact same freaking thing over and over again, expecting shiit to change. Why stop,at 100?

 

[k0ua]

The definition of insanity, is, doing the exact same freaking thing over and over again, expecting shiit to change. Why stop,at 100?

There could easily be more, it was just a guess, but it seems like there have been so many of them. All the same. Someone stops by and says "hey what is best gear or hydro". And then the fight began. Of course there is the ever present, "hey AG or R4 tires?" About as bad. And what ever the he77 you do, don't even say Chevy, Dodge or Ford. Many people have been killed over that one.