Another L3240 transmission question

[Grandad4]

Mo, I hope you realize your gear vs. hydro question always brings out some strong opinions - some well reasoned and some not so much - because the "new" HST's are different from the gearboxes farmers grew up with. I have both types of equipment, and neither is a "wrong" choice, but only you can decide what's best for you.

If you're doing tillage work more than occasionally, the gear type will have some advantages, but for the kind of work you describe, even veteran operators figure out there is a gain in overall productivity going to the hydro drive vs. the gearbox. You just get more work done in a given amount of time, particularly with the loader. Only you can decide if that's important or not.

Beyond that, it makes tractors easier to operate, just like the automatic does for cars and trucks. Maybe that rubs some old-timers the wrong way, but I personally appreciate its advantages. Again, that's a matter of preference.

 

[PHILIP8N]

I would believe it would hold up to pulling your implements for you as well as it has for the other HST owners for years and years and years. Your kidding, right?

Nope, not kidding. When I pull my 2 bottom x 14" plow I will drag out the old 8N. I am concerned with putting the plow behind the HST. Are you saying the HST will be fine with this plow? I dont know, so I will pull with 8N until I learn more. All other equipment, pulverizer, box blade, straight blade, etc, will be pulled by L3940. Philip.

 

[Samandothers]

I grew up using 8N and MF 135, both geared. I wondered the same when buying my L4240 HST. I have not looked back. For loader, moving around in tight areas, grapple, brushogging I have really liked the HST and would do it again.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Got the Grand L3130GST with pulling logs and a plow in mind but do a lot of loader work with it now. When it comes to shifting I do not use the main clutch but let the tractor use the hydraulic clutches for the shuttle shift and gear changing. Have not had any issues but the GST does work better with the Super UDT. Do not see any advantage that the FST has other than if you were taking it to a third world country with no support, think the GST is a good trade off of features. There are times when I am doing alot of loader work when I wish I had the HST but do not think I would do a trade to get it. With the Glide Shift you need to remember that you do not have any hill holding when the tractor engine is stopped so you must use the parking brake if you stop on a steep hill where a hydro will just creep away.

David Kb7uns

 

[medicshawn]

With the Glide Shift you need to remember that you do not have any hill holding when the tractor engine is stopped so you must use the parking brake if you stop on a steep hill where a hydro will just creep away.

David Kb7uns

The HST doesn't move on steep hills.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Nope, not kidding. When I pull my 2 bottom x 14" plow I will drag out the old 8N. I am concerned with putting the plow behind the HST. Are you saying the HST will be fine with this plow? I dont know, so I will pull with 8N until I learn more. All other equipment, pulverizer, box blade, straight blade, etc, will be pulled by L3940. Philip.

I don't know anything about an 8n but if a Kubota L3940HST won't pull a 2 bottom plow there is something bad wrong and it won't be the HST part of it.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

The HST doesn't move on steep hills.

Both my RTV1100 and my BX2230 do creep on steep hills unless you set the parking brake but they are not a runaway like a GST would be.
You must remember that when a hydro is stopped it is in a "hover" like a helicopter where the forces are equal and outside forces may change your direction.

David Kb7uns

 

[mark2610d]

Well if you have never used the hydrostat plus trans then you will love the gear trans. If you get the gear trans and then get some seat time in the new hydrostat plus you will be sick that you did not get it when you had the chance. It's kind of like when you never had someting better you don't know any better so you don't really miss it but if you ever try something better you never want to go back..

If you tilling the hydrostat is a must. If your doing loader work the hydrostat is above all the transmissions that are available on the market today because of the auto downshift and stall guard. I also love the auto throttle as well as the adjustability of the transmission.