Bigger hydrostat tractor?

[Tobster]

Thanks for all the feedback. Guess I'll see if I can get comfortable with the shuttle. My previous tractor was a JD 4520 cab with hydro, so it will be an adjustment. I would have gone with a compact, but I will be using it a lot to clean up a cutover with lots of brush, treetops, etc. so feel like the larger frame and ground clearance will be an advantage.

 

[jenkinsph]

Thanks for all the feedback. Guess I'll see if I can get comfortable with the shuttle. My previous tractor was a JD 4520 cab with hydro, so it will be an adjustment. I would have gone with a compact, but I will be using it a lot to clean up a cutover with lots of brush, treetops, etc. so feel like the larger frame and ground clearance will be an advantage.

Might want to consider building a belly pan for your new tractor before using it. That work you mention is better done with a dozer imo.

 

[TractorGuy]

If the new tractor has a forward reverse shuttle that can change direction on the fly you will be fine.

 

[Tobster]

Might want to consider building a belly pan for your new tractor before using it. That work you mention is better done with a dozer imo.

I'm getting the heavy stuff done with a dozer, just smaller stuff with the tractor. I will look into the belly pan idea, I asked my dealer about skid plates, and he didn't seem to have that option. Is that something that would have to be fabricated?

 

[Tobster]

If the new tractor has a forward reverse shuttle that can change direction on the fly you will be fine.

It does have that...so maybe it won't be a huge adjustment

 

[jenkinsph]

I'm getting the heavy stuff done with a dozer, just smaller stuff with the tractor. I will look into the belly pan idea, I asked my dealer about skid plates, and he didn't seem to have that option. Is that something that would have to be fabricated?

Yes you would need to fabricate a belly pan/skid plate but not a big deal. It sure saves a lot of grief though.

 

[TractorGuy]

Yes you would need to fabricate a belly pan/skid plate but not a big deal. It sure saves a lot of grief though.

I need to do this for my backhoe. Ripped the suction hose off the hydraulic tank a few weeks ago.

 

[Cavjock22]

The hydrostat has advantages in simplicity of operation and with chores that involve lots of stop and go or very refined, slow movement. I'm guessing the design and development costs to make a hydrostat that works efficiently and reliably go up greatly with increasing size. While the manufacturers seem to have decided to put their product improvement money elsewhere for now, you can scale up the technology quite a bit. With large scale construction equipment, for example, you can find 300+ horsepower hydrostat machinery, but money-wise, they are in a whole different league.

The problem with hydrostatic is it also contributes to heat. The mfg would have to beef up the cooling capacity of the tractor. I would never reccommend hydrostatic in a tractor over 50 HP that will be doing heavy drawbar work or mowing but that's just my opinion coming from the construction industry..

 

[Agvg]

The Fendt dual transmission is a very elegant solution, stepless from 200m/h to 60km/h, and it's very fuel efficient so it can be done.

 

[ovrszd]

The Fendt dual transmission is a very elegant solution, stepless from 200m/h to 60km/h, and it's very fuel efficient so it can be done.

Yep. Definitely can be done. Cost effective? Now that's another story.