Dirt Moving An understanding on the age old debate of geared/hydro

[Oldpath05]

One of my biggest complaint I have with kabota gear trans is reverse is faster than forward, at the time hydro was $1k more, I was already $5k over budget. IMO gear is no good for loader work.

 

[k0ua]

I have to confess, as a die hard JD guy who is softening I stopped at a Kubota dealer in my old home town and was going to take a mid sized Kubota for a spin.

I wandered around the lot for 10 minutes and nobody showed up so I jumped up on a couple different models to check out the ergonomics. After pushing on the treadle a few times and imagining how much of a contortionist a guy would have to be to operate it when the salesman came out I said, "Just looking." Jumped in my car and took off. For the life of me I can't see how those contraptions work easily.

Give me the plant your heel and move your toes sideways to hit the reverse pedal anytime. Knowing this is a Kubota forum I might get flamed, but maybe somebody should enlighten me as to why it is easy.

Truthfully, it is easy to get used to either one. I have owned both. Current tractor, the Kioti is twin pedal, and I love it. When I had the treadle pedal on the Kubota, I loved it too. It took me about a day to get used to the other style. Either works well for me after you get used to it.

 

[TomSeller]

I have to confess, as a die hard JD guy who is softening I stopped at a Kubota dealer in my old home town and was going to take a mid sized Kubota for a spin.

I wandered around the lot for 10 minutes and nobody showed up so I jumped up on a couple different models to check out the ergonomics. After pushing on the treadle a few times and imagining how much of a contortionist a guy would have to be to operate it when the salesman came out I said, "Just looking." Jumped in my car and took off. For the life of me I can't see how those contraptions work easily.

Give me the plant your heel and move your toes sideways to hit the reverse pedal anytime. Knowing this is a Kubota forum I might get flamed, but maybe somebody should enlighten me as to why it is easy.

Makes total sense to me.

To go forward, use the forward oriented end of your foot (toe). To go backwards, use the backward oriented end of your foot (heel).

Each tractor that I have is different, so I orient myself each time. Whatever configuration it is is what I do. I would not choose brands based on this, these things become second nature to me no matter what.

 

[k0ua]

One of my biggest complaint I have with kabota gear trans is reverse is faster than forward, at the time hydro was $1k more, I was already $5k over budget. IMO gear is no good for loader work.

Well, I wouldn't say it is no good, it is just a lot more work. I am talking about straight gear here, not shuttle. I still think shuttle is more work than a hydro, but it is way better than reaching between your legs and moving a shift lever while clutching. I have moved a lot of material that way, but I was younger then too.

 

[redhooker]

Truthfully, it is easy to get used to either one. I have owned both. Current tractor, the Kioti is twin pedal, and I love it. When I had the treadle pedal on the Kubota, I loved it too. It took me about a day to get used to the other style. Either works well for me after you get used to it.

I think this sums it up for me, I have used both pedal styles and after a few hours each becomes easy. I use the treadle as a longways 2 pedal, shifting my foot from heel to toe instead of "rocking" my boot. The only side by side pedal downside for me is the occasional mis-step resulting in going the wrong way. The worst error has been hitting reverse when I was "expecting" forward. The clumsy reaction is exaggerated when my body lurches forward and presses the pedal harder. Looks about as suave as walking into a glass door.

 

[DieselBound]

redhooker, welcome to the forums!

Had to laugh, yes, I've experienced that same sensation after mistepping the travel pedals! One does tend to get used to bracing for various movements ahead of time.

I operate three different pieces of equipment with different HST pedal configurations. I get confused a LOT!

 

[Rock Crawler]

I just got a Kubota BX with the Treadle set up and honestly I thought it sucked.... Until I started using it. After a short amount of time you don't know your doing it, it's like driving your car/truck... your muscle memory takes over and things just happen. I really wanted to despise it and I totally thought that the side by side HST pedals were the only way to go. Now that I have put 12 hours on the baby K, I've made buddies with the treadle. It's fine. It's different, but it works fine in the end.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Important point you bring up. So much depends on the machine itself. I skid wood mostly and move snow with mine. I would not have picked either the Kubota (with treadle) or the Mahindra hst on my property. When I skidded wood with the 3016 Mahindra hst, I had to be in a certain range to go up inclines or else the tractor would not make it. Low was too slow for me and had to use all the rpms the tractor could muster in medium. I go up the same inclines with the geared Mahindra in third at about 1800 rpms pulling 1500-2000 lb hitches.
With a heavier or more hp hst, I probably could achieve skidding more satisfactorily or at least closer to what I'm used to. Now if I only skidded occasionally, even the hst Mahindra would have sufficed but I probably would have liked the 3616 better for that.
Tractor choice weighs in heavily as well.

Ok so now I learned something. I compare HST to my John Deere 4410 because that's what I have. I can stall the motor in either of the three ranges. It doesn't matter if I'm at full throttle or not.

Are all HST Mahindras poor at transmitting power to the wheels or did you just have one with a poor transmission?

 

[arrow]

Are all HST Mahindras poor at transmitting power to the wheels or did you just have one with a poor transmission?

I'm willing to bet they aren't and no, the one I drove did not have a poor drivetrain. It simply did not conform as to how I like using a tractor. Old Path has an hst 3016 (now called a 1526) and loves his. I hated the one I tried out for how I use a machine. Too slow in lower ranges and high rpms all the time. By itself, it would not go up a 30* incline in high range let alone with a hitch of stems attached. The geared 1526 is a different beast and easily goes up these same inclines in 3rd or 4th and is not screaming to do so.
I could be wrong but I think I would have been more satisfied with simply a heavier, more horse power unit if going hst. My woods are very dense so maneuverability matters to me. That age old maxim about never having a tractor too big was for me, a possibility for how I use one. This one pulls beyond what it looks like.

 

[mike69440]

I'm willing to bet they aren't and no, the one I drove did not have a poor drivetrain. It simply did not conform as to how I like using a tractor. Old Path has an hst 3016 (now called a 1526) and loves his. I hated the one I tried out for how I use a machine. Too slow in lower ranges and high rpms all the time. By itself, it would not go up a 30* incline in high range let alone with a hitch of stems attached. The geared 1526 is a different beast and easily goes up these same inclines in 3rd or 4th and is not screaming to do so.
I could be wrong but I think I would have been more satisfied with simply a heavier, more horse power unit if going hst. My woods are very dense so maneuverability matters to me. That age old maxim about never having a tractor too big was for me, a possibility for how I use one. This one pulls beyond what it looks like.

Did you mean a 30% incline, as that is very steep. I imagine you would need 3rd or 4th Low range 4WD to pull the load with anything on the hitch. HST would need low range. I'd be happy to pull 10%-12% grade with a HST in high range. Many will not do that.