How does an HST compare in pulling power with the same tractor and a gear trans?

[3gunr]

Totally FALSE. And the clutch/gear fanboys are always quick to spew that garbage.

Simply saying inefficient or less efficient without a clarifier in inaccurate and incomplete. Inefficient at WHAT?

Less efficient at transmitting power to the ground? Sure.....but thats IT. How does one define efficient?

The definition of inefficient is:


When you mow with a gear tractor, and have to waste time on turns and direction changes and gear changes......that certainly sounds like a textbox definition of inefficient to me.

A zeroturn is a hydrostat. They make geared lawn tractors. Is anyone out there arguing that a gear driven lawn tractor is more efficient than a zeroturn?

Skidloaders are HST. Precision of control, speed, direction changes, etc. Is anyone out there claiming them to be inefficient at moving dirt?

IF you are plowing a 100 acre field with a bottom plow.....sure a gear tractor is the efficient choice. But how many of us with a under 60hp tractor are doing a SINGLE task like that where speed and direction changes arent common?

I agree on all points, Before i bought my hst i thought there no way anything would be better than my shuttle, I was wrong , Love my hst, I talked my buddy into buying his first hst and he thanks me all the time,

 

[Molalla1]

I agree on all points, Before i bought my hst i thought there no way anything would be better than my shuttle, I was wrong , Love my hst, I talked my buddy into buying his first hst and he thanks me all the time,

For a homeowner with 5, 10, 20 acres etc. Hst. is the way to go . . . unless they are not just a homeowner but have commercial acres.

 

[DaBear3428]

For a homeowner with 5, 10, 20 acres etc. Hst. is the way to go . . . unless they are not just a homeowner but have commercial acres.

depends, i'm fine with a HST but it came down to a lighter HST tractor with less capabilities and higher cost or a shuttle with more weight/capabilities and less cost. for me the decision was clear and for someone else the decision may also be clear but different than my clear decision. on certain tasks using an HST may also require more HP.

 

[Molalla1]

depends, i'm fine with a HST but it came down to a lighter HST tractor with less capabilities and higher cost or a shuttle with more weight/capabilities and less cost. for me the decision was clear and for someone else the decision may also be clear but different than my clear decision. on certain tasks using an HST may also require more HP.

DB, as far as I know if it is the same model the difference between HST and Gear weight is near nothing?

 

[DaBear3428]

DB, as far as I know if it is the same model the difference between HST and Gear weight is near nothing?

You are correct and the hst is heavier but I was talking about different models
My decision was between a
2638 and my 5145 the 2638 was same or close to same price with a lot less capacity to get close to same but not quite there capacity I would have had to go to the 2660 which is significantly more expensive. Another choice that I almost made was an LS MT342 it comes in HST or shuttle with the Hst being the same price as my 5145 but much less capability or weight.
Just to be clear I have no issue with the HST transmission but there are valid reasons why some one would prefer a shuttle over the HST. I also do not have to worry about my wife wanting to use it with the shuttle.

 

[4570Man]

depends, i'm fine with a HST but it came down to a lighter HST tractor with less capabilities and higher cost or a shuttle with more weight/capabilities and less cost. for me the decision was clear and for someone else the decision may also be clear but different than my clear decision. on certain tasks using an HST may also require more HP.

If someone wants to buy a gear trans tractor because it’s cheaper and admits that as the reason I have no problem at all with that compromise. That’s how life works. But when someone buys a gear tractor be it’s cheaper and then starts trying to convince other people it’s better like they have already done themselves that’s when the argument starts. Unless you live in a country that still uses compact tractors for farming there’s not a single hood reason to buy gear trans compact tractor over a HST other than cost.

 

[K5lwq]

I wanted a gear tractor and price had nothing to do with it. I like putting it in the gear I know works for whatever task I am doing and no need to change anything. I do not like the whine of HST. But that is just me. Most people probably do need HST and good for them. No issues whatsoever with that. If they are inexperienced or going to do a lot of loader work, then HST is the way to go.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Like I already stated, the deere dealer told my neighbor he would love a hydrostat, he hated it and a month later they took it back and found him a gear drive tractor, money had nothing to do with it!

I have both, money has nothing to do with it, I prefer the gear drive for everything except for mowing my lawn with my zero turn.

SR

 

[4570Man]

Like I already stated, the deere dealer told my neighbor he would love a hydrostat, he hated it and a month later they took it back and found him a gear drive tractor, money had nothing to do with it!

I have both, money has nothing to do with it, I prefer the gear drive for everything except for mowing my lawn with my zero turn.

SR

What was your neighbors complaint with the HST?

 

[Egon]

That entirely depends on the surface you are on and the type of tires you have as well as tractive effort (weight of the tractor) more than anything else, so I disagree with your premise. Besides, power transmission on a gear drive tractor isn't instant at all. There is a ramp up as the clutch is engaged or the wet pack travelling clutch engages and that is an always occurrence. Driving power to the wheels is never an on-off situation.

Even with my gear drive units, transitioning from forward to reverse (hydraulic wet pack shuttle) is always a progressive motion as the wet pack attains clamping pressure and locks the plates.

Either you apply full torque almost instantaneously ( clutch ) or it can be applied as needed to retain traction as with an HST.