Biggest tractor with hydrostatic drive?

[SDT]

I'm a big fan of hydrostatic drive tractors. I just love the precise, infinite speed control, and easy shuttling back and forth when doing loader and other work. I also love my Kubota L5740, which the the largest HST tractor Kubota made at the time.

But I'm now managing close to 1400 acres of land, mostly woodlot, plus probably 20 acres of fields that get mowed a couple of times a year. And several miles of logging roads/trails that need to be kept clear. And our "driveway" is 1/2 mile and requires a LOT of snow removal, now done with a 74" snow blower.

So I've been wondering about bigger tractors, but I'm really thinking I only want HST drive. Kubota now offer the L6060, but it's only a touch bigger than the L5740 - not enough to make a difference, I don't think. But what else is there? I see a couple of the M series tractors are available in HST, but they are smaller than the 5740 - essentially no-frills models of equivalent size. Does anyone make a tractor in the 70-100hp range with hydrostatic drive?

I did spot the new Kubota M7 series, and they have an infinitely variable ratio transmission which sounds like it would accomplish the same thing - maybe - as HST. Does anyone know more about them? They appear very targeted at agriculture, but I have no idea what that actually means and how it makes a tractor different from any other, other than perhaps bigger. The other cool thing I saw, I think on the M7, was a front 3-point hitch and PTO in addition to the usual rear PTO. Just think of the snow blower I could put on the front of one of those machines?

I don't think that you will find any HST utility tractors larger than the Kubota L6060 and the comparable JD model.

HST transmissions are expensive and inefficient. Fuel usage becomes a real issue as HP increases.

Though there is no technological reasons to prevent larger HP HST tractors, the market has not been there. 100 HP HDT tractors made in the past, e.g., IH, have been commercial failures.

Users of higher HP tractors are very sensitive to fuel usage so higher HP CVT transmissions are mechanical, often with hydraulically controlled harmonic drive providing the CVT feature without the inefficiency of a HST.

If the market for sub 100 HP HST tractors develops, you can be sure that manufacturers will develop and market such.

SDT

 

[buickanddeere]

Similar in class. Compact Utility Tractor | 466R | John Deere CA

 

[buickanddeere]

A skid steer has the vital better protected from being poked with sticks . I quit trying to push brush etc with my tractor . After having a block heater hose pushed off, stick into the fan, a sprung hydraulic fitting and a head light knocked off that is going to cost $4000for sheet metal and repairs

 

[radios1]

I believe CVX drive is hydro static, so the biggest tractor with that, in production, is the Case IH Steiger Quadtrac 620 https://www.caseih.com/northamerica/en-us/products/tractors/steiger-series#525 it will save a LOT of time on your 1000 plus acres!..

 

[ning]

I believe the Liebherr PR 776 is the largest hydrostatic tractor in the world. Probably not what you're looking for though ... 760hp does sound entertaining!

 

[jaydee325]

I believe CVX drive is hydro static, so the biggest tractor with that, in production, is the Case IH Steiger Quadtrac 620 https://www.caseih.com/northamerica/en-us/products/tractors/steiger-series#525 it will save a LOT of time on your 1000 plus acres!..

The Case CVX drive is a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Not hydrostatic.

 

[radios1]

The Case CVX drive is a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Not hydrostatic.

I'll argue the CVT is much better than the hydrostatic, especially going up steep hills..

 

[Bigpuddie]

Fendt makes the world's best CVT tractors