LS MT225 Synchro vs HST

[pmhowe]

I would like those of you who have LS tractors (especially those with MT series) with the 12 speed synchro transmissions to give me feedback on your experience and what you like/dislike about them.

Some background: I have been looking into the purchase of a small tractor/loader. I have considered Massey Ferguson, Kioti, New Holland, LS, and Kubota. For a variety of reasons, I have pretty much decided upon a LS MT225. The prices are fair, there are dealers that seem responsive within driving distance, the tractor size is right, and I have been impressed with the reviews and comments on this forum.

Now I need to decide: Manual/synchro or HST. I'm guessing that most people who buy tractors in this size range buy HST. When I lived in the mountains west of Denver, Colorado, I had a Kubota L4240HST. It was a great tractor and met my needs at the time. My one complaint was that the transmission was noisy: It whined - a lot.

I used that tractor for a mix of work. Some loader work, digging and moving dirt about, digging up big boulders, stream management, brush removal, snow removal, and lots and lots of tree management and firewood work. I now live in mountains again, in northwestern North Carolina. I'm now older (not necessarily wiser) and am opting for the smaller tractor to do the same functions on a smaller scale. I grew up on manual transmissions, and am comfortable with them. I learned to drive on a Ford 8N.

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Phil

 

[Roadworthy]

It is my understanding the whine is typical of all HST transmissions. You will also lose a couple of PTO horsepower due to the HST as opposed to a gear transmission. I've always had gear transmissions until my Kubota L2501. I don't like the whine but I do like running the engine at PTO speed then varying ground speed with the pedal. You're into a personal preference option there. I'm happy with my choice. I hope you make the right choice for yourself.

 

[hks003]

I have an LS with the synchro shuttle, and I don't mind it. Recently been doing a lot of dirt work with a box blade, and I feel like not having to keep my foot on a pedal allows me to watch behind me a little easier. But, when doing loader/grapple work, an HST would be nice. If you're going to be doing a lot of stop and go loader work, I'd say HST. If you're doing 3 pt hitch work where you just drive forward and occasionally stop and back up, shuttle would be fine, and you get that extra couple HP back.

 

[Avenger]

I prefer the gear over HST. But like you, I know how to drive a manual. HST's are easier for beginners and people that might have issues with a clutch. One reason I prefer my synchro-shuttle-gear tractor over the HST equivalent is the placement of the brakes. On an HST, the brakes are on the wrong side. That simply messes me up. The brakes belong on the right side, clutch belongs on the left.

My tractor also have a bit of a whine, but only at very low ranges/gears with high RPM. I dont really notice it anymore.

Also, service time. HST's have an additional filter. That filter is additional cost and time. Its probably not that much more, but it is more.

I do a bunch of loader work and forest management with my tractor. Its just as easy for me with a gear tractor than it would be with an HST. I am just as fast, and I feel like I have more control. Now, I do not have the HST equivalent to measure against, but I grew up with them. Even as a kid, I preferred the gear tractors.

My wife, however, does not like my gear tractor and resists using it. She has logged maybe an hour total since we got it years ago. She said we made a mistake getting the gear tractor, once she learned of the HST variant. But I have doubts she would operate the HST any more than she is currently with the gear tractor.

In all, it is personal preference. Many people prefer HST, as well as automatic cars and semi-trucks. But for some, having that manual transmission is worth it's weight in gold.

 

[Walter L]

I also learned on a gear tractor but have owned one HST tractor and like Avenger i didn稚 like it, in my case I prefer the shuttle. The HST cost is about a extra $1000 bucks more and the shuttle works for me and the cash savings made me smile.

 

[Underdog57]

I drove Truck for 40 years, don't want to shift & clutch no more!!:cool2:

My R4041H doesn't whine much at all!! I love it for the work I do. Very easy to control machine in tight quarters.
The only shifting I have to do now is for the 3 ranges.

Hydro for me, all the way.

 

[Waffles]

I have the 225 HST. I don't notice any whine. Medium range struggles on my steep hills of 20 to 30 degrees where the manual had no issues.

I would pick based on the type of work you are doing. If you're going to use the loader a lot or need slow and precise movements in tight places I would go with HST. Open fields and pulling work at constant speeds is way better with manual.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

When I had the MT125, the HST whine was LOUD.... drove me nuts! After a few hours working on it, it would give me a headache. My XG3025 (MT225E) is a shuttle/gear. I like it a lot better. Using it for grading the 1/2 mile long drive, it is a real pleasure.... find the right gear / speed and just go. Allows me to concentrate on using / adjusting the 3 point attachments. Same goes for mowing... select a correct speed, sit back and enjoy the ride.

What is nice about the HST is the ability to make really small movements, like when hooking up 3 point attachments. I have done a bunch of loader work on both types, to me, the gear seems to be able to "push" into piles easier. It takes a second longer to go into reverse.... not much of a difference to me.

It is going to be a tough decision on your part, to me, the gear version "feels" like it has more power. The HST might be a little easier to use.

My neighbor has the new MT225-S (smaller tractor) and I definitely don't like the HST. Very touchy... I have watched him run into things forward (lightly), and run over things backing up.... might just be him, but I found it to be very sensitive to input....

 

[PCABE5]

All comes down to personal preference. If it was a power shuttle it might have been more of a debate for me (maybe).

 

[ChuluTrac]

I would like those of you who have LS tractors (especially those with MT series) with the 12 speed synchro transmissions to give me feedback on your experience and what you like/dislike about them.

Some background: I have been looking into the purchase of a small tractor/loader. I have considered Massey Ferguson, Kioti, New Holland, LS, and Kubota. For a variety of reasons, I have pretty much decided upon a LS MT225. The prices are fair, there are dealers that seem responsive within driving distance, the tractor size is right, and I have been impressed with the reviews and comments on this forum.

Now I need to decide: Manual/synchro or HST. I'm guessing that most people who buy tractors in this size range buy HST. When I lived in the mountains west of Denver, Colorado, I had a Kubota L4240HST. It was a great tractor and met my needs at the time. My one complaint was that the transmission was noisy: It whined - a lot.

I used that tractor for a mix of work. Some loader work, digging and moving dirt about, digging up big boulders, stream management, brush removal, snow removal, and lots and lots of tree management and firewood work. I now live in mountains again, in northwestern North Carolina. I'm now older (not necessarily wiser) and am opting for the smaller tractor to do the same functions on a smaller scale. I grew up on manual transmissions, and am comfortable with them. I learned to drive on a Ford 8N.

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Phil

LS tractors come with cruise control on the HST. It is a lever on the right side that you can push down with your left foot to set the speed. I have a MT225e with HST and it performs well, but it does make a lot of noise. No big deal to me, but at first I was concerned there was something wrong. The only other minor issue is that you have to turn up the RPM's in order to use high range or it will stall the motor. Low range has plenty of power for digging into sand with the loader. So there really aren't any major issues with it and it is really easy to use.

 

[Username Taken]

I think if you're going to do much loader work, the Hydro is a better choice. Plus, I've read of issues with transmission clutches on people doing loader work with the synchro.

Worth reading --

XR 3135 synchro shuttle or hydrostatic transmission??

I'm a newbie, I have 1720 with a clutch-gear tranny and want to move up a bit in power... Seriously considering a XR3135 with FEL AND turf tires. We'll be using it mostly for mowing, brush hogging and occasionally loader usage. I've had smaller lawn tractors with hydrostatic but not at all...

www.tractorbynet.com

All I know is what I read but it can't hurt to look into it before you pull the trigger

 

[3gunr]

I have both , I had to grade my road today and dig out the ditches. my shuttle is at my house and i was wishing for my hst which is at my farm. no comparison. I ran my shuttle for 15 yrs and thought it was great until i got an Hst. I could not believe how much easier it was to do loader work and mow or brushhog around lots of trees. Better for everything except heavy pulling. Plows disks and the like.

 

[LittleBill21]

I think hst whine noise is tractor specific, every single hst kobota i could hear it whining for miles. my mahindra HST is dead quiet, just the way i am use to it. i can drive a stick with 0 issue, i would never own one, where i wasn't going in straight lines for a long time.

 

[aaronrkelly]

Think its well covered but the whine....normal. Different pitch or volume maybe between brands/models - but they all whine. My Kubota whined just as loud and as annoying as my LS. The Deere is actually LOUDER then my LS.

In a tractor this size, HST.....I see no real disadvantage over gear.

Bigger tractor....well, there's a reason you cant get a MT573 in HST.

 

[Texasmark]

I would like those of you who have LS tractors (especially those with MT series) with the 12 speed synchro transmissions to give me feedback on your experience and what you like/dislike about them.

Some background: I have been looking into the purchase of a small tractor/loader. I have considered Massey Ferguson, Kioti, New Holland, LS, and Kubota. For a variety of reasons, I have pretty much decided upon a LS MT225. The prices are fair, there are dealers that seem responsive within driving distance, the tractor size is right, and I have been impressed with the reviews and comments on this forum.

Now I need to decide: Manual/synchro or HST. I'm guessing that most people who buy tractors in this size range buy HST. When I lived in the mountains west of Denver, Colorado, I had a Kubota L4240HST. It was a great tractor and met my needs at the time. My one complaint was that the transmission was noisy: It whined - a lot.

I used that tractor for a mix of work. Some loader work, digging and moving dirt about, digging up big boulders, stream management, brush removal, snow removal, and lots and lots of tree management and firewood work. I now live in mountains again, in northwestern North Carolina. I'm now older (not necessarily wiser) and am opting for the smaller tractor to do the same functions on a smaller scale. I grew up on manual transmissions, and am comfortable with them. I learned to drive on a Ford 8N.

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Phil

I was looking at another brand of tractor because I was tired of my non synchronized manual shift transmission I purchased when buying that brand. I accidentally wound up dealing with an LS dealer. I asked him what did LS have in a Synchro Shuttle. In short, he talked me into the MT 225S hydro.

Well this is my first hydro tractor in 43 years of learning how to farm, going through some couple dozen tractors to 100 hp in the process...all my lawn mowers are hydro's however. Well with this tractor there is no whine!, Access is remarkable. Tranny is a dream. After running this thing for several weeks now, I am glad I listened to him and went with this model with this tranny....seems old dogs can be taught new tricks and like it. Wink!

 

[Mrsig]

I have HST and mine dose not sound loud compaird to the other tractors I test drove. I like this system and did not wont to have to change gears.

 

[Texasmark]

I would like those of you who have LS tractors (especially those with MT series) with the 12 speed synchro transmissions to give me feedback on your experience and what you like/dislike about them.

Some background: I have been looking into the purchase of a small tractor/loader. I have considered Massey Ferguson, Kioti, New Holland, LS, and Kubota. For a variety of reasons, I have pretty much decided upon a LS MT225. The prices are fair, there are dealers that seem responsive within driving distance, the tractor size is right, and I have been impressed with the reviews and comments on this forum.

Now I need to decide: Manual/synchro or HST. I'm guessing that most people who buy tractors in this size range buy HST. When I lived in the mountains west of Denver, Colorado, I had a Kubota L4240HST. It was a great tractor and met my needs at the time. My one complaint was that the transmission was noisy: It whined - a lot.

I used that tractor for a mix of work. Some loader work, digging and moving dirt about, digging up big boulders, stream management, brush removal, snow removal, and lots and lots of tree management and firewood work. I now live in mountains again, in northwestern North Carolina. I'm now older (not necessarily wiser) and am opting for the smaller tractor to do the same functions on a smaller scale. I grew up on manual transmissions, and am comfortable with them. I learned to drive on a Ford 8N.

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Phil

I have shuttle on my Branson 6530...65 hp size 30 frame. I was going to get the geared 225 (It is synchromesh and the Branson wasn't) but the dealer first of all steered me toward it rather than a similar size/model I thought I wanted and he said that he could work an HST all day without getting tired.....hmmmm. All of my half dozen lawn mowers are Hydros...wouldn't have it any other way...just a mindset change...never thought about a tractor being a hydro......well "Pilgrims" (John Wayne caption) times have changed.

I bought the 225 to replace a manual shift Branson 2400 and one of the reasons I was trading was to get away from the manual (vs synchromesh) tranny for a little do everything around the place "handy-man". The second reason was the getting on and off the Branson was a pain. The 225s solved both problems nicely. For a 25 hp tractor with a Yanmar diesel, that is a stout little sucker...hands down! I think this supports what I said above...didn't check.

 

[kormidoit]

I have many years driving gear vehicles...10 years driving tractors with HST. My environment (tight turns, hilly, tons of trees ) I live in and do tractor work...HST is a great option.

 

[Texasmark]

Think its well covered but the whine....normal. Different pitch or volume maybe between brands/models - but they all whine. My Kubota whined just as loud and as annoying as my LS. The Deere is actually LOUDER then my LS.

In a tractor this size, HST.....I see no real disadvantage over gear.

Bigger tractor....well, there's a reason you cant get a MT573 in HST.

My 225 Doesn't whine...period. Sorry!

 

[Texasmark]

LS tractors come with cruise control on the HST. It is a lever on the right side that you can push down with your left foot to set the speed. I have a MT225e with HST and it performs well, but it does make a lot of noise. No big deal to me, but at first I was concerned there was something wrong. The only other minor issue is that you have to turn up the RPM's in order to use high range or it will stall the motor. Low range has plenty of power for digging into sand with the loader. So there really aren't any major issues with it and it is really easy to use.

"The only other minor issue is that you have to turn up the RPM's in order to use high range or it will stall the motor." Daaaaaa really?

Who would have ever thought putting a vehicle in high gear and letting out the clutch would stall the engine................at idle rpms no less.