cuzncletus
New member
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2003
- Messages
- 24
I am thrilled with my new purchase of a L3130 DT, that's Kubota-ese for standard transmission. In spite of what many readers would consider its plebian transmission, harken back just a few years when shuttle shift was considered state of the art. The DT is there. I test drove a GST and was about to buy it until the dealer revealed this back row special at a SIGNIFICANT discount. These were my observations on the GST: Hey, you had to use a clutch to get it started and stopped (ran through a fence when I didn't understand that part from the dealer), then you had to jerk the left-hand shift lever back to neutral when you didn't want to use the clutch. Considering the front end loader, my thinking was; "My right foot is on the foot throttle, my right hand is on the joy stick, my left hand is steering/jerking the shuttle shift to neutral. All my busy limbs are going to be jealous of my left foot sitting there doing nothing." Guys, we're a concert of motion with our machines. Driving a tractor is every bit as sensual an experience as riding a motorcycle or flying a plane. Nuances, touch, tactile sensations; the joy of operating a tractor is total absorption in the machine that elevates you above the problems of our everyday lives that occupy so much of our waking thoughts. You people are here on this chat line because you want to share feelings with people who understand the joy of creation and vengeful destruction, the satisfaction of looking at a productive day's work, a tractor provides us. Tell me I'm lying about this.
We shed our collars and ties. We become the 21st century version of lumberjacks of the North Woods, tarriers hammering star bits in tunnels, sod busters taming the Great Planes- we are COMPACT TRACTOR MEN! We are MANLY MEN, not girly men. We are not intimidated by clutches, shifting, and standard transmissions! Our left legs don't tremble uselessly because we're not coordinated enough or so weak we can't depress a rubber coated pedal. No, we swagger when we descend from our battle stations of pumping hydraulics and throbbing diesels. We are the direct evolution of our forefathers who carved this great country with Fordsons, Massey Fergusons 35's, and graceful Oliver 88's. We are the men curved-spine husbands envy while they push their wive's shopping carts through the WalMart grocery section. Again, tell me if I'm lying. Tell me if owning and operating your own tractor doesn't raise you at least one step up on the ladder over mere mortals.
You can't. Because you are a COMPACT TRACTOR MAN! You don't need an automatic transmission. You don't need a pedal like a granma's rocking chair to make you go forwards and backwards. You don't need your left hand on a crutch. Put your left foot on a clutch! It's not that hard and it dadgum sure ain't worth a good paycheck to "skirt" the issue; and I think that's an appropriate verb.
Seriously, I had trouble driving the GST because I kept pushing in the clutch. It's habit. I didn't own an automatic transmission in any of my vehicles until 1996. Two of my trucks are still standards and I like driving them as much as an automatic. And you still have to use the clutch with the GST, as I understood it, plus I found the lag time between shifts disconcerting as it was out of my control. I never tested an HST; too expensive plus rockering with your right foot (shades of tank shift Harley Davidsons) seems no easier than clutching with your left foot. Then your right hand is tied up with the throttle instead of being on the joystick while bucketing. My limited experience with a tractor told me distinctly I wanted a shuttleshift on the column, but I found I used the foot throttle while using the FEL, not an option with the HST as I understand it. All this and the fact that the first three paragraphs are written only partially in jest. I wanted a tractor because I wanted it; not because I needed it. I could have rented and still had the tax breaks. I just like owning toys. I've been a private pilot, currently own two new Harleys, have had and still have some muscle cars and hot rods, but I really get a whole new kick out of playing with tractors. I just flat enjoy operating machinery. I think some form of "sissy-fied" transmission would diminish my experience. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
We shed our collars and ties. We become the 21st century version of lumberjacks of the North Woods, tarriers hammering star bits in tunnels, sod busters taming the Great Planes- we are COMPACT TRACTOR MEN! We are MANLY MEN, not girly men. We are not intimidated by clutches, shifting, and standard transmissions! Our left legs don't tremble uselessly because we're not coordinated enough or so weak we can't depress a rubber coated pedal. No, we swagger when we descend from our battle stations of pumping hydraulics and throbbing diesels. We are the direct evolution of our forefathers who carved this great country with Fordsons, Massey Fergusons 35's, and graceful Oliver 88's. We are the men curved-spine husbands envy while they push their wive's shopping carts through the WalMart grocery section. Again, tell me if I'm lying. Tell me if owning and operating your own tractor doesn't raise you at least one step up on the ladder over mere mortals.
You can't. Because you are a COMPACT TRACTOR MAN! You don't need an automatic transmission. You don't need a pedal like a granma's rocking chair to make you go forwards and backwards. You don't need your left hand on a crutch. Put your left foot on a clutch! It's not that hard and it dadgum sure ain't worth a good paycheck to "skirt" the issue; and I think that's an appropriate verb.
Seriously, I had trouble driving the GST because I kept pushing in the clutch. It's habit. I didn't own an automatic transmission in any of my vehicles until 1996. Two of my trucks are still standards and I like driving them as much as an automatic. And you still have to use the clutch with the GST, as I understood it, plus I found the lag time between shifts disconcerting as it was out of my control. I never tested an HST; too expensive plus rockering with your right foot (shades of tank shift Harley Davidsons) seems no easier than clutching with your left foot. Then your right hand is tied up with the throttle instead of being on the joystick while bucketing. My limited experience with a tractor told me distinctly I wanted a shuttleshift on the column, but I found I used the foot throttle while using the FEL, not an option with the HST as I understand it. All this and the fact that the first three paragraphs are written only partially in jest. I wanted a tractor because I wanted it; not because I needed it. I could have rented and still had the tax breaks. I just like owning toys. I've been a private pilot, currently own two new Harleys, have had and still have some muscle cars and hot rods, but I really get a whole new kick out of playing with tractors. I just flat enjoy operating machinery. I think some form of "sissy-fied" transmission would diminish my experience. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
