Comparison MX5400 Shuttle vs hst

[rScotty]

I知 pulling the trigger tomorrow on an MX5400. I still haven稚 made up my mind on a shuttle or hst. The tractor will be doing mostly loader work with a bucket and grapple. I will also be mowing pasture. Mowing will be flat to tank damns and some hills. I guess I知 worried about longevity of either. Which may be better? I also worry about pushing brush and doing dirt work with the hst. I致e always had a shuttle and never owned a hst. Advise would be appreciated!! Thanks!

No wonder you have a difficult choice. I think that if longevity was the only issue then the nod must go to the shuttle. They are well proven to last the life of a tractor. For convenience and easy operation there is no doubt the HST is the choice. And HST longevity - probably not as long as a shuttle - may well be longer than you will own the tractor anyway.

Are those the only choices? There is a good intermediate choice on some models... the HST plus transmission. It has an electronically shifted two speed rear axle that it doubles the number of gears. A 3 speed HST becomes 6F & 6R. That eases the load on the HST pump and will probably help to reduce wear because the HST variable pump doesn't have to cover so wide a range. Less off-axis forces.

I like our HST+. It has been solid for 15 years now. But would say it also comes down to how you enjoy using a foot clutch. If you are comfortable with a foot clutch they work fine & there is certainly nothing wrong with the geared transmission choice.
My own favorite all time transmission was probably a 12 speed power shift with creeper gears, a foot clutch, and a reversing lever on the column.
rScotty

 

[RickB]

Dry single disc clutches for certain and in many cases forward / reverse synchronizers are by no means lifetime components.
A constant supply of clean, cool oil of the proper spec will allow an HST transmission to live thousands of hours.

Given proper care and use the choice is one of preference and suitability to the tasks at hand.

 

[big bubba]

although all i've owned are gear tractors, i would favor those recommending HST. i once owned an MX5000 gear shuttle. i found the shuttle very primitive that requires clutch depression. plus (on that model) 1st & 2nd gears were not synched, only 3rd, 4th. if you are doing repeated fel work, you'd be forever shifting. plus, as mentioned above, the clutch is single plate/dry. it's going to wear out w/repeated use over the years. i'll let the HST people give more detailed info on that system
i found the MX to be a robust bare bones tractor & would not get the primitive gear model again.... i highly recommend the HST best of luck

 

[skipperbrown]

For loader work and mowing, you can't beat HST. Instant forward/reverse, precision stops/creeping, and varying speed while mowing due to terrain/grass thickness make the HST a superior product. The only time I would recommend gears is if you needed the last horsepower to do the job at hand, or are doing a lot of ground engaging work, or don't have the extra $$ for HST.

 

[SDT]

Dry single disc clutches for certain and in many cases forward / reverse synchronizers are by no means lifetime components.
A constant supply of clean, cool oil of the proper spec will allow an HST transmission to live thousands of hours.

Given proper care and use the choice is one of preference and suitability to the tasks at hand.

Agreed, Rick.

Though early HST tractor transmissions, e.g., 60s/70s vintage IH Hydro models, were commercial failures (for multiple reasons, some having little to with technology), modern HST tractor transmissions can be expected to last the life of the tractor, given proper maintenance.

That said, unlike vintage gear type transmissions, HST transmissions are not tolerant of dirty or improper oil or filters.

I bought a new B1750HSDT in 1993 and have serviced it religiously since. After 27 years, it is still ticking like a clock.

SDT

 

[ericm979]

When my 5400hst is struggling going up hills, I find additional rpms don't seem to make much difference. I mostly settle at 1500 when I'm moving around with or without loads, and 2500 rpms for the PTO stuff.

We all have a lifetime of car driving training us that more pedal = more power. But with HST, more pedal = higher gear, which isn't the same thing. I still have to remind myself about this. When I'm going up a steep road I set the cruise to a small amount of HST and practice my patience.

Tractor engines are designed for "torque rise". Meaning that as the engine rpm falls from operating rpm (generally PTO rpm), torque rises. So if you climb a hill at PTO rpm the engine will resist being pulled down to a lower rpm. If you're running it at or below the torque peak, then the engine will more easily be pulled down to lower rpm.

 

[AndyMA]

Having had several of both types, for loader work the HST rules.
My MX5200 with HST hasn’t faltered in 2 years

Andy

 

[oosik]

My first tractor - Ford 1700 - was straight gear shift. Current tractor - Kubota M6040- hydraulic shuttle shift. I do the same tasks a the OP. Never found the shuttle shift to be lacking. It's all in what you have and become competent with.

I had the Ford for 27 years. The Kubota for 11 years.

 

[big bubba]

My first tractor - Ford 1700 - was straight gear shift. Current tractor - Kubota M6040- hydraulic shuttle shift. I do the same tasks a the OP. Never found the shuttle shift to be lacking. It's all in what you have and become competent with.

I had the Ford for 27 years. The Kubota for 11 years.

agree, same set up as my M8540. but there's a big difference between hyd shuttle & the manual clutch operated shuttle shift on the MX. big difference.
as i mentioned earlier, the shuttle gear system on my previous MX5000 i found to be primitive & labor intensive w/not much advantage over a conventional gear system of your Ford 1700, etc.
the OP should test drive both models & the ease of operation of HST should be apparent. regards

 

[Bullwinkle123]

I had two additional reasons for buying my HST model which at least partially don't apply to the OP (since he's an experienced tractor operator):

1. I'm a noob, I wanted things to be as easy and error free to operate as possible, so I could focus on avoiding getting into other kinds of trouble.
2. I wanted it to be simple for my wife as well so she could use it (or at least move it), and who has no intention of learning all manner of tractor stuff.