Anyone ever regretted buying a HST?

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Have had a 4320 (48hp) HST Tractor, mainly I do loader work with it, mine is cabbed, I don’t hear HST whine and it’s way more faster than finding gears on a gear tractor.

I will be getting into hay this year with a buddy, he has a geared Powermaster 861 (60hp) and I’ll let you know which I prefer lol, I’m sure it will still be HST.

 

[k0ua]

I bought a HST machine back in 2013 and had nothing but problems with it, leaking fluids, bad repair jobs, bad pump, not engaging into reverse. I am going with a shuttle shift only to eliminate 1 more thing that will go, or could go, wrong with the tractor.

Interesting idea... BUT Shuttle shift machines are much more complicated than hydro machines. Not saying they are bad, because they are not.. They are just more complex. You are not going to "eliminate 1 more thing that will go, or could go, wrong with the tractor"

 

[Deere Dude]

Informative thread so far. Seems most people have no regrets going with the HST. I am 98% sure I will as well at this point

Instead of listening to our comments just go down to half a dozen dealers and find out if the whine is unbearable, or doable. I always though the diesel motors drowned any other sound out anyway. Then drive them around the lot and see how shifting or hydro suits you. Good luck on your purchase.

 

[4570Man]

Many more people than you think... It's fairly common around here for folks with gardens...

SR

I plow a garden with a HST, and yes it’s not a good tool for the job. For the other 364 days in the year it’s HST for the win. And it’s not like plowing my small garden is like the guys plowing a thousand or more acres. An hour or so and I’m done. How do you stand mowing on that grasshopper? Doesn’t the hydraulic pumps and motors break down all the time and drive you crazy with the whine?

 

[4570Man]

It seems like the #1 and #2 complaint for a HST is noise and power loss. Buy a couple more horses than required and test drive the tractor first. Some whine more than others.

 

[MossRoad]

I'd choose a tiller over a plow for a garden. And in that application, the HST will work much better as you can vary the speed much more easily as required.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I use my small gear tractor to till my garden, it's easier than removing the backhoe on the HSTC.

 

[MossRoad]

I use my small gear tractor to till my garden, it's easier than removing the backhoe on the HSTC.
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:laughing:

I've seen a lot of this on TBN over the past 27 years.... people purchasing another tractor to dedicate it to a chore because it's easier than changing an implement. And that's fine if you can afford it. And some people do need a large machine and a small machine for different tasks, etc...

I prefer to have as few machines as possible so I don't have to store and maintain them. I had a large tractor loader with a 3pt hitch. And I had to change the brush hog and box blade several times a year and it was no fun. Not hard. Just no fun.

It was one of the driving reasons for purchasing my Power Trac. The factory quick attach on the FEL arms, changing a non-powered implement in less than 15 seconds without getting out of the seat, changing powered implements in less than 45 seconds because I have to get off the seat and connect a couple hydraulic hoses.... man, that spoiled me rotten and I'll never own another piece of equipment with a 3pt hitch unless I get something for parade duty. :laughing:

 

[buckeyefarmer]

:laughing:

I've seen a lot of this on TBN over the past 27 years.... people purchasing another tractor to dedicate it to a chore because it's easier than changing an implement. And that's fine if you can afford it. And some people do need a large machine and a small machine for different tasks, etc...

I prefer to have as few machines as possible so I don't have to store and maintain them. I had a large tractor loader with a 3pt hitch. And I had to change the brush hog and box blade several times a year and it was no fun. Not hard. Just no fun.

It was one of the driving reasons for purchasing my Power Trac. The factory quick attach on the FEL arms, changing a non-powered implement in less than 15 seconds without getting out of the seat, changing powered implements in less than 45 seconds because I have to get off the seat and connect a couple hydraulic hoses.... man, that spoiled me rotten and I'll never own another piece of equipment with a 3pt hitch unless I get something for parade duty. :laughing:

No, i bought the small massey first. Then when i needed a larger tractor, wasn't worth trading it. Glad i kept it, i use it more than the kubota, but i need fel.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I'd choose a tiller over a plow for a garden. And in that application, the HST will work much better as you can vary the speed much more easily as required.

I DO choose a tiller over a plow for gardens, but I sure don't agree that a hydro makes a better tiller tractor.

The guys that do choose a hydro for tiller use, do it for all the wrong reasons, they are the ones ruining the soil structure of their gardens...

Just look at the picts they post here, with their garden soil pounded to death!!

SR