Hi All, I grew up with tractors and currently own several with regular manual transmissions. Am now looking at the B7510 or B7610 for light utility work including some linear mowing (along roadsides, etc.) and road grading. I drove the HST models and didn't like the foot pedal arrangement for "forward" vs. "reverse". I'm going to finalize the deal on Mon. or Tues. and am just wondering if I wouldn't be better off with the DT model (7510) since it's what I'm used to. I like selecting a discrete gear, setting the throttle and just moving along. Any comments from others who have similar experiences?
B7510DT vs. B7510HST or B7610HST
- Thread starter glenshoe
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Bird
Rest in Peace
I think you'll find that most of our members much prefer the HST. Some, myself included, like the pedal arrangement; others prefer a different arrangement which some other brands have for their HST. You didn't say whether you're getting a front end loader or not, or give much detail about how the tractor will be used, but the HST is especially handy for front end loader work and for new operators. Of course, you pay a little more for the HST, and the resale value is more. Now that being said, there's certainly no reason not to buy the manual transmission if that's what you prefer. That's the reason they make both transmissions. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif And, of course, for some types of work, the manual transmission has some advantages. It's your money, so the most important thing is to get what you like.
DmansPadge
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I think most people who are used to gear tractors would be happy with an HST. It does take some time to get used to it but after a little use you would probably be quite satisfied. And like Bird said... the HST is great for FEL work.
After owning the HST for a short while I must say I love it. I will say however that I didn't like the ergonomics of the HST pedals, primarily because I did not like stepping backwards so far for reverse. My dealer showed me how he did it; you take your toe and lift up underneath the forward pedal for going backwards. It not only works, but seems quite natural. Give it a try before you buy!
Mo
Mo
DmansPadge
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MoBota, how is your pedal setup? On my B7300 the reverse pedal is to far back and I have to take my foot off the foward pedal to reach the reverse. I'm not real crazy about it. I would rather have one pedal that rocks back and forth.
DanR67
Silver Member
glenshoe -
I have driven gear tractors before & had no preference myself. However - I wanted my wife to feel comfortable using our CUT - and she's basically never driven a standard shift car - so to add shifting on top of a bit if intimidation of driving a CUT - made a HST an easy choice for me.
In terms of time "getting used to it" (forward / reverse pedal arrangement) - I'd think a *solid weekend* of use and you would think it's already "second nature". Going from gear to HST is MUCH easier than the other way around!
Certainly an advantage for a gear is simply selecting a gear / throttle setting - and then go - IF you are doing VERY long stretches at the same speed - long (100 yards+) stretches of mowing, for example. That being said - the B7510 / 7610 offer a "cruise control" - a lever on the center console that can "lock" the HST at the desired speed - so you don't necessarily need to keep your foot on the forward pedal for long streches either.
In my opinion - for "quick forward / backward" actions - mostly FEL work - the HST is *generally* superior. I did like the column-mounted forward / reverse lever of a gear JD4700 TLB - a "flick of the wrist" to switch directions. However, the hand-foot coordination between direction and clutching would have made this more difficult for my wife - potentially dangerous if she were to *forget* to clutch if she needed to stop quickly.
The HST on the other hand - stops almost instantly simply by taking your foot off either pedal.
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Dmanspadge wrote:
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( On my B7300 the reverse pedal is to far back and I have to take my foot off the foward pedal to reach the reverse. )</font>
I think taking your foot OFF the forward BEFORE going to reverse is a good thing - should help reduce pressure shocks to the HST. But the pedals ARE a bit far apart....
I think MoBota means that he can slip his toe UNDER the forward pedal - and pushes UP with his toe (like upshifting a motorcycle). Since the forward / reverse pedals are mechanically coupled - this works for reverse also.
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SO....I would go for the best deal on the CUT that best fits your needs - and don't count out a CUT simply because it's HST. I knew I would - on occasion - require as much FEL power as I could get (ex. to move a big rock) - so I went with the B7610 over the B7510 because it offered the larger LA352 FEL.
Hope that helps,
Dan
I have driven gear tractors before & had no preference myself. However - I wanted my wife to feel comfortable using our CUT - and she's basically never driven a standard shift car - so to add shifting on top of a bit if intimidation of driving a CUT - made a HST an easy choice for me.
In terms of time "getting used to it" (forward / reverse pedal arrangement) - I'd think a *solid weekend* of use and you would think it's already "second nature". Going from gear to HST is MUCH easier than the other way around!
Certainly an advantage for a gear is simply selecting a gear / throttle setting - and then go - IF you are doing VERY long stretches at the same speed - long (100 yards+) stretches of mowing, for example. That being said - the B7510 / 7610 offer a "cruise control" - a lever on the center console that can "lock" the HST at the desired speed - so you don't necessarily need to keep your foot on the forward pedal for long streches either.
In my opinion - for "quick forward / backward" actions - mostly FEL work - the HST is *generally* superior. I did like the column-mounted forward / reverse lever of a gear JD4700 TLB - a "flick of the wrist" to switch directions. However, the hand-foot coordination between direction and clutching would have made this more difficult for my wife - potentially dangerous if she were to *forget* to clutch if she needed to stop quickly.
The HST on the other hand - stops almost instantly simply by taking your foot off either pedal.
********************
Dmanspadge wrote:
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( On my B7300 the reverse pedal is to far back and I have to take my foot off the foward pedal to reach the reverse. )</font>
I think taking your foot OFF the forward BEFORE going to reverse is a good thing - should help reduce pressure shocks to the HST. But the pedals ARE a bit far apart....
I think MoBota means that he can slip his toe UNDER the forward pedal - and pushes UP with his toe (like upshifting a motorcycle). Since the forward / reverse pedals are mechanically coupled - this works for reverse also.
********************
SO....I would go for the best deal on the CUT that best fits your needs - and don't count out a CUT simply because it's HST. I knew I would - on occasion - require as much FEL power as I could get (ex. to move a big rock) - so I went with the B7610 over the B7510 because it offered the larger LA352 FEL.
Hope that helps,
Dan
DmansPadge
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That makes sense to me! Thanks Dan!
btolle
Platinum Member
I have a B7510HST.
My first experience with hydrostatic transmissions was on a Sears riding mower and I learned to love them.
One big advantage of the HST is that you will never hit the brake pedal except when you use the parking brake. Even going downhill all you have to do is back off the pedal and the tractor will slow down to however slow you want to go.
For any type of back-and-forth work such as loader work or even bushhogging around trees HST is the way to go.
One thing you will need to learn about the HST is to back off the pedal if you start to bog down going up a hill. It took me a while to learn that, the folks here at TBN clued me in on that one.
BTW, for those who feel the pedals are too far apart on the HST I was not happy with the distance on my old B7100 so I cut a couple of pieces of angle iron and bolted to the HST lever and used them so that my foot was on both forward and reverse at the same time.
On the B7510 the design is a little different but I could find a way to modify it pretty easily. Fortunately, with my size 11 work boots I can reach both at the same time when I want to so I haven't modded it yet.
BTW, my last 2 tractors before the 2 Kubotas were Ford 8N's and my left leg was always sore at the end of a day of pushing the clutch in and out.
Bill Tolle
My first experience with hydrostatic transmissions was on a Sears riding mower and I learned to love them.
One big advantage of the HST is that you will never hit the brake pedal except when you use the parking brake. Even going downhill all you have to do is back off the pedal and the tractor will slow down to however slow you want to go.
For any type of back-and-forth work such as loader work or even bushhogging around trees HST is the way to go.
One thing you will need to learn about the HST is to back off the pedal if you start to bog down going up a hill. It took me a while to learn that, the folks here at TBN clued me in on that one.
BTW, for those who feel the pedals are too far apart on the HST I was not happy with the distance on my old B7100 so I cut a couple of pieces of angle iron and bolted to the HST lever and used them so that my foot was on both forward and reverse at the same time.
On the B7510 the design is a little different but I could find a way to modify it pretty easily. Fortunately, with my size 11 work boots I can reach both at the same time when I want to so I haven't modded it yet.
BTW, my last 2 tractors before the 2 Kubotas were Ford 8N's and my left leg was always sore at the end of a day of pushing the clutch in and out.
Bill Tolle
Well thanks everyone for the thoughtful comments. I was leaning toward the DT model with the manual transmission until today when I went back to the dealer and found out that the DT model doesn't have a live PTO. I went ahead and bought the B7610HST model and I'm not going to look back. Thanks again, Glenn /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
KubotaMan7
New member
You will be extremely happy with the 7610HST, I was also debating between geared and hydro and I came to the conclusion the hydo is so much more user friendly and better for doing a lot of loader work. I only have 3 hours on mine and I love it!!!