Hydro or Gear?

[Sawyer Rob]

I also have both, the only time I would choose hystat over gear, is if all I did was mow yards...OR maybe blow snow...

For all else, including loader work, I prefer gear.

Also, that hystat tranny drives me nuts with it's constant whiiiiining!! AT LEAST when you are mowing grass, the blades are louder than the whine!

SR

 

[k0ua]

IF you have to ask...........

 

[pmsmechanic]

A HST eats up 15% of your HP. But it's way more maneuverable & so much easier to operate with precision. A good operator can make a gear work well but wont be as fast & will be worn out doing loader or precision work.

The 15% makes a big difference in a big field pulling a plow all day. But I find the increased flexibility & usability makes up for it & more in my mowing, loadering & dirt work stuff.

From tractordata.com

Kubota L2501 Power:
Engine (gross): 24.8 hp [18.5 kW]
Engine (net): 23.9 hp [17.8 kW]
Gear PTO (claimed): 20.5 hp [15.3 kW]
Hydro PTO (claimed): 19 hp [14.2 kW]

Show me the math for a 15% power loss.

 

[ptsg]

From tractordata.com

Kubota L2501 Power:
Engine (gross): 24.8 hp [18.5 kW]
Engine (net): 23.9 hp [17.8 kW]
Gear PTO (claimed): 20.5 hp [15.3 kW]
Hydro PTO (claimed): 19 hp [14.2 kW]

Show me the math for a 15% power loss.

Those are most likely measured on a PTO dyno so all the engine power is pretty much dedicated to the PTO.

Now if an HST tractor is moving while doing heavy PTO work, it's a totally different scenario.

 

[RickB]

From tractordata.com

Kubota L2501 Power:
Engine (gross): 24.8 hp [18.5 kW]
Engine (net): 23.9 hp [17.8 kW]
Gear PTO (claimed): 20.5 hp [15.3 kW]
Hydro PTO (claimed): 19 hp [14.2 kW]

Show me the math for a 15% power loss.

You have to look at data for drawbar hp. That’s where the parasitic loses of hydrostatic transmissions will show up.

 

[pmsmechanic]

So if most of your work is done through the pto it's really not that much of an issue then?

 

[RickB]

So if most of your work is done through the pto it's really not that much of an issue then?

That’s a fair statement. Certainly it will be less of an issue than if doing predominantly draft work.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Shuttle shift gear all the way. I had a smaller B series hst and hated it. My 3301 is gear drive and is amazing. None of that hst whine and full throttle noise. ANY seasoned tractor owner can move dirt, do any fel grading with a shuttle as well and fast as any hst owner. Go for the extra power.

 

[Threepoint]

As for the noise difference between HST and gear, is that really much of a factor if we're all wearing ear protection?

 

[PsRumors]

Sold my hydro so I could buy a gear....but for me, even more important is how much cast aluminum is being used in the newer tractors. I sold my newer tractor to get an older tractor, gear drive and all cast iron