dumb question about HST

[LouNY]

It's much easier then that, just take two tractor as close as possible to the same to a transfer sled tractor pull.
Most local pulls will allow exhibition pulls.
They can weigh the tractors to verify the weights, measure the drawbar heights, set the tire pressures the same and then see what happens.
Do so in 2wd and 4wd.

 

[Gregster613]

Interesting. Not the case with any new models except the little ones.

To be fair, I'm almost always in M. I use L sometimes. I have nowhere that makes H practical. I tested it out once. Maybe if I ever get around to leveling the ground in the few spots that aren't trees.

I can easily believe and understand that. I'm sure if mine was 3 range I'd probably be using M mostly also. For me, low is geared really well for most of everything I do; H is only for speeding from the garage to where the attachments are parked and the job is at. Most of what I do is loader work or bush-hogging and low seems most appropriate for them.

 

[RjCorazza]

My first 2 tractors were straight geared, next 2 HST. I could never go back to a geared machine for my use. I road my tractor between jobs a lot in High, do the majority of work in Medium, only use Low for stump grinding and pulling real heavy stuff.
I have a Hi-Lo in each range which is a big plus.

 

[Torvy]

My first 2 tractors were straight geared, next 2 HST. I could never go back to a geared machine for my use. I road my tractor between jobs a lot in High, do the majority of work in Medium, only use Low for stump grinding and pulling real heavy stuff.
I have a Hi-Lo in each range which is a big plus.

Great example we can all learn from...solutions are not one size fits all. We all use our equipment as it suits are situations and abilities.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

1) those who advocate throttling as an advantage for gear don’t understand the negative on a modern DPF machine where you need to keep it at or above 2000 rpm. The old days of throttle control for speed are gone
2) whine? Change to premium hydraulic fluid and the whine goes away
3) rob power? Check the specs they will tell you exactly what you lose. In the kioti 3510 I have my hst has 28.x at pto, gear has 29.x (I can’t remember exactly it’s been years since I’ve looked). One hp.
4) mowing on MY land I can’t imagine not having an hst. I go from heavy thick prairie weeds to nice coastal Bermuda. I also go up and down over 3’ swales. I’m constantly feathering and advancing my ground speed to accomodate. Without an hst I would be stuck in a lower speed or continuously shifting. (I do have cruise for the areas where I can use it). Your experience will vary!
5) hst maintenance? What maintenance? I’ve not done anything other than my 50 and 400 hour filter with full fluid change at 400 (Mobil delvac for the win!). It may be a one off warranty issue or inexperience but a neighbor has a gear and had to have his clutch changed at 300 hours.

I think it is personal preference just like treadle pedal vs dual pedal on hsts. But worrying about the other issues is not worth it; pick based on functionality.

Where do you guys come up with this BS?? I think the same piles must just keep on getting repeated instead of doing your own homework.

1. NONE of my "modern" tractors use DEF or need regen or any other crapola, not even the new one I bought a few months ago, so YES I can ajust my speed using the throttle on any of them.
2. Changing to premium oil to stop the whining does NOT work on all whiner trans! It may have on yours, but it doesn't on all of them. The only thing it makes go away FORSURE, is more money leaving your pocket!
3. With a small tractor, 2 or 3 hp is quite a bit, I choose to have the HP instead of the loss of hp in the tranny!
4. I don't know anything about your land, just like you don't know anything about mine.
5. NO QUESTION it cost more $ to do oil/filter changes on the whiner, and the whiner is much pickier on what oil is used. (as you said) As for clutches, I've never had to change a clutch on any of my tractors, and here's the hours on the one I was running today,

You don't suppose a 300 hour clutch could be "operator error" do you??

SR

 

[oldnslo]

Where do you guys come up with this BS?? I think the same piles must just keep on getting repeated instead of doing your own homework.

1. NONE of my "modern" tractors use DEF or need regen or any other crapola, not even the new one I bought a few months ago, so YES I can ajust my speed using the throttle on any of them.
2. Changing to premium oil to stop the whining does NOT work on all whiner trans! It may have on yours, but it doesn't on all of them. The only thing it makes go away FORSURE, is more money leaving your pocket!
3. With a small tractor, 2 or 3 hp is quite a bit, I choose to have the HP instead of the loss of hp in the tranny!
4. I don't know anything about your land, just like you don't know anything about mine.
5. NO QUESTION it cost more $ to do oil/filter changes on the whiner, and the whiner is much pickier on what oil is used. (as you said) As for clutches, I've never had to change a clutch on any of my tractors, and here's the hours on the one I was running today,

You don't suppose a 300 hour clutch could be "operator error" do you??

SR

Only 5742 hrs, just getting broke in

Be curious to guess hours on some of the old tractors like A & B John Deere’s, H & M Farmalls, 8N Fords, etc. that were built before they had hour meters.

 

[paulsharvey]

My first 2 tractors were straight geared, next 2 HST. I could never go back to a geared machine for my use. I road my tractor between jobs a lot in High, do the majority of work in Medium, only use Low for stump grinding and pulling real heavy stuff.
I have a Hi-Lo in each range which is a big plus.

Straight hunt and peck transmission, 28.5 engine HP to HST, 24.8ish HP here. I'm 95% in medium, and there are times I miss that 4ish HP, but never the transmission. Power Shuttlea are a great option for loader work; actually probably better than HST. Smallest PS i know is theMF 1840M?

 

[ptsg]

Where do you guys come up with this BS?? I think the same piles must just keep on getting repeated instead of doing your own homework.

1. NONE of my "modern" tractors use DEF or need regen or any other crapola, not even the new one I bought a few months ago, so YES I can ajust my speed using the throttle on any of them.
2. Changing to premium oil to stop the whining does NOT work on all whiner trans! It may have on yours, but it doesn't on all of them. The only thing it makes go away FORSURE, is more money leaving your pocket!
3. With a small tractor, 2 or 3 hp is quite a bit, I choose to have the HP instead of the loss of hp in the tranny!
4. I don't know anything about your land, just like you don't know anything about mine.
5. NO QUESTION it cost more $ to do oil/filter changes on the whiner, and the whiner is much pickier on what oil is used. (as you said) As for clutches, I've never had to change a clutch on any of my tractors, and here's the hours on the one I was running today,

You don't suppose a 300 hour clutch could be "operator error" do you??

SR

Regarding #3, they don't even realize that those 2 or 3HP difference between gear and HST is just a stationary rating on the spec list. Once it starts moving, that HP difference is bigger, much bigger.

Like you said, same BS gets spread over and over again and preached by folks who most likely never ran a tractor with gear transmission, don't know any better or never seen one being operated properly.

If a clutch is being changed at 300 hours, that IS an operator issue. If I'm not getting at least 2500 or 3000 hours out of the clutch on my tractor, I'm doing something wrong and that's on the low side.

 

[shooterdon]

Since I got my LS six years ago I thought I was doing something wrong. I could never do any "work" in 3rd range. Almost always run in 2nd range. Even running on the road to a neighbor's place, if I had it in 3rd, it would bog down going up a hill.

Now I know that others have the same experience.

As to what to buy, some good advice has been given. IMO for most "hobby" users like me, HST seems a better fit for general purpose use.

 

[paulsharvey]

As always, every single one of these threads in this topic; different machine is better at different jobs.

Ground engaging; ie, plowing, disc, harrow, hay rake, especially long straight lines; gears are ideal; were ground speed is the critical factory, that needs to be in a fairly tight band. While HST with cruise control will do this, it's not its perfect place. Power shuttle can, but again, its not the ideal power train.

Constant PTO speed, with varying ground speed; HST is fantastic for this. For constant RPM, varying speed, shuttles aren't ideal. Gear isn't good at this. Think mowing, got to keep at 540 or atleast 540E RPM range, but you can slow down to a crawl through heavy stuff, or when you pick up a mower and make the return path.

Varying speed and power requirements, with lots of reverse, stopping, ect; and power shuttle is ideal for this.

There are things about HST that is kinda annoyin; having to run basically PTO rpms at all times for instance, when using loade, or even just driving..