Anyone ever regretted buying a HST?

[TractorGuy]

No!!!!!!

 

[goeduck]

That and a lot of first time users don't undersand let off the pedal for more power to let the engine spool up, more pedal does not mean more power!

It took a while for me to lose the knee jerk throttle push as well back when I was first adapting to an HST.

 

[Budweiser John]

Eighty two posts and the bottom line:
Tractors used primiarly for utility work, HST
Tractors used primarily for continuous heavy ground engaging implements, gear
Best senerio, one of each

To answer the OP question, my now 16 year old 45HP NH Boomer HST is my Swiss Armey Knife right hand helper, no regrets.
B. John

 

[MossRoad]

Eighty two posts and the bottom line:
Tractors used primiarly for utility work, HST
Tractors used primarily for continuous heavy ground engaging implements, gear
Best senerio, one of each

To answer the OP question, my now 16 year old 45HP NH Boomer HST is my Swiss Armey Knife right hand helper, no regrets.
B. John

Well said.

 

[chas0218]

My DK35se Kioti has independent brakes on the left side. There is no clutch. the twin directional pedals are on the right.

Hmmm, that will change a lot of things for me looking to buy a new tractor this spring. I wasn't going the HST route because of no left or right brake, thanks.

 

[rScotty]

That and a lot of first time users don't undersand let off the pedal for more power to let the engine spool up, more pedal does not mean more power!

Good point. And apparently some HSTs whine more than others. As for the dealer that said HST whine was normal, I disagree. It just doesn't make sense that any HST would be designed to whine under normal use.

IF IT WHINES, THEN DOWNSHIFT OR LET UP ON THE PEDAL UNTIL THE MOTOR CATCHES UP!!

Shucks, I can make my HST whine by abusing it by pushing down on the pedal for more HST power before the motor has a chance to wind up. But in normal use it doesn't whine. Best way to avoid the whine is exactly the same as on a geared machine, simply drop down a range or two on the HST. Doing that isn't any different at all from selecting a lower set of gears on a power/shuttle/ or stick transmission.

Whether it is shuttle gears or HST ranges, the more gears ratios and ranges that you can select from the better it works.
rScotty

 

[MossRoad]

Hmmm, that will change a lot of things for me looking to buy a new tractor this spring. I wasn't going the HST route because of no left or right brake, thanks.

I don't know why manufacturers would ever put brakes and directional controls on the same foot. Just seems like none of them ever operated their own machine.

As I mentioned, our first tractor was an IH2500b from the late 70s. The brakes are on the right and the directional controls on the left. That seemed really simple and easy to operate. Then, around 2001 I started looking to downsize machines and test driving a lot of compact tractors of different brands. YIKES! The controls on some of those machines were not ergonomic or conducive to easy operation.

So test drive a lot of different brands, models, transmission types, etc... and keep a spreadsheet of features you like and dislike. Really think about how you are going to use the machine, and how comfortable/practical/useful it will be in those situations.

 

[k0ua]

Hmmm, that will change a lot of things for me looking to buy a new tractor this spring. I wasn't going the HST route because of no left or right brake, thanks.

Yeah, I use the independent brakes a lot. Especially in the winter with snow and ice. You need them often to maintain your line on hills. Else gravity pulls you downhills on side-slopes and trying to steer on ice with front tires is often futile, Sometimes all you have is brake steer with chains on your rear tires. Independent brakes are also handy when working dirt or gravel up against a foundation.

They are also useful getting you unstuck when one tire has traction and the other doesn't. More useful than the differential lock sometimes as they can be applied while one tire is spinning to slow that tire down and give the other one something to push against.

I would not like to lose the independent, or as Kioti calls it split brakes. There is a light on the dash of my tractor to remind you that the brakes are split, so when you road the tractor you remember to move the mechanical bar back to unitize the brakes when you are going at some speed on the road so you don't accidentally push just one brake and have the tractor veer into the ditch. Smart guys those Koreans.

 

[k0ua]

I don't know why manufacturers would ever put brakes and directional controls on the same foot. Just seems like none of them ever operated their own machine.

As I mentioned, our first tractor was an IH2500b from the late 70s. The brakes are on the right and the directional controls on the left. That seemed really simple and easy to operate. Then, around 2001 I started looking to downsize machines and test driving a lot of compact tractors of different brands. YIKES! The controls on some of those machines were not ergonomic or conducive to easy operation.

So test drive a lot of different brands, models, transmission types, etc... and keep a spreadsheet of features you like and dislike. Really think about how you are going to use the machine, and how comfortable/practical/useful it will be in those situations.

Yep the Kubota I traded in for my Kioti had the Treadle pedal and the independent brakes on the same side. Not exactly ergonomic. It had a clutch on the left side for engaging the PTO, and the driveline. You had to push it to start the tractor also. It was OK, but I didn't appreciate the brakes on the right and the directional treadle peddle on the same side. That is why the Kioti was such a joy to operate when I switched to it. The PTO is an electrically actuated hydraulic actuator that kicks in the PTO. Same for the 4WD, both are just rocker switches on the dash. Cruise control is also a rocker switch on the dash. More complexity, but all of those functions are a real joy to use.

 

[k0ua]

Good point. And apparently some HSTs whine more than others. As for the dealer that said HST whine was normal, I disagree. It just doesn't make sense that any HST would be designed to whine under normal use.

IF IT WHINES, THEN DOWNSHIFT OR LET UP ON THE PEDAL UNTIL THE MOTOR CATCHES UP!!

Shucks, I can make my HST whine by abusing it by pushing down on the pedal for more HST power before the motor has a chance to wind up. But in normal use it doesn't whine. Best way to avoid the whine is exactly the same as on a geared machine, simply drop down a range or two on the HST. Doing that isn't any different at all from selecting a lower set of gears on a power/shuttle/ or stick transmission.

Whether it is shuttle gears or HST ranges, the more gears ratios and ranges that you can select from the better it works.
rScotty

I have seemed to notice that the smaller the tractor the more whine it seems to have. The whine of my DK35se is practically nonexistent unless you do something stupid like push into a gravel pile in high range or something like that.