Blue, Green or Orange?

[swines]

I absolutely can't stand Hydro Transmissions. I know that they are all the rage but I like a tractor to have gears, the more the better. Shuttle shift is nice but hydro is not for me. I get into situations where I need to use the brakes to turn, or use the differential lock. I guess that I am just old fashioned when it comes to tractors. Even my lawn tractor (WheelHorse C16) is a gear tractor.Hondo

Other than the lower cost of a gear transmission tractor versus a hydro, I'd be interested in knowing what performance advantages you find with a gears in a CUT sized tractor compared to a hydro.

 

[jbrumberg]

swines:

I have had both a geared and now an HST tractor. IMHO for heavy ground engaging dirt work I would prefer gears, for FEL work- HST, for rotary cutting on slopes- HST, for level rotary cutting- it's a wash. Jay

PS: I used my turning brakes on my geared tractor quite a bit when rotary cutting. The turning brakes on my "29" are poorly situated next to the treadle peddle.

 

[donais]

There may be a little more to just which color you like and who has the best financing. I can't speak for ALL the other tractors, but I do know for my Green machines (1948 B, 1987 318 and 2001 4400) if I need a part, I can go to www.jdparts.com look up the parts manual (including blow up of everything) and order the part. In almost all cases if I order the parts by 5:30 PM, it will be on the truck that leave Syracuse NY the same night, and in Maryland before the door to the store is open for business.

I find it amazing that a company has online parts manuals for a 60 year old tractor! When I bought a used 72" MMM all the parts I needed I could get within 24 hours. When I bought a mid PTO kit for my 4400, they had all the diagrams online, which greatly added to KennyD and I installing the kit.

Is Deere the only one with this type of service, or do all the other machines have the same level of parts support? For me it means a lot to be able to get parts quickly, and get my toys going!

no i dont think so . im in the process of trying to get my login for the massey (agco) partsbook. i sure hope it works like the jd's. do i had to go direct to agco partsbook to start the ball rolling. both dealers had no idea what i was talking about..

 

[swines]

swines:

I have had both a geared and now an HST tractor. IMHO for heavy ground engaging dirt work I would prefer gears, for FEL work- HST, for rotary cutting on slopes- HST, for level rotary cutting- it's a wash. Jay

PS: I used my turning brakes on my geared tractor quite a bit when rotary cutting. The turning brakes on my "29" are poorly situated next to the treadle peddle.

Does the preference for heavy ground engaging dirtwork have to do with heat buildup in an HST? Or, the ability to put the tractor in a specific gear and throttle setting for a desired ground speed?

 

[slaveToHorses]

I agree with jbrumberg's assessment of hydro vs. manual gears.

Does the preference for heavy ground engaging dirtwork have to do with heat buildup in an HST? Or, the ability to put the tractor in a specific gear and throttle setting for a desired ground speed?

The hydro transmission is not as efficient as a manual gear train, so you loose some power to the wheels. If you are using the tractor for field work, then a manual tractor of the same power will probably perform better, all other things being equal.

Then there is the issue of keeping a constant speed. If the hydro tractor has a cruise control then this isn't as much of an issue. Depends on how long the rows are and how easy it is to turn at speed.

There are some very large field tractors with hydrostatic transmissions. It is handy on those when the GPS is tied into the cruise control and seeding/spraying/fertilizing...system. That's a different forum though

For utility tractor/loader work, the hydro is really handy. The green tractor pedal system has some advantages but I got used to the orange system as well. Of the three setups I prefer the green but I wouldn't say it was a dominate factor.

 

[Hondo1]

Well, it looks like my new tractor is going to be RED. Unless someone can blow my socks off with a better deal and a better tractor. Only one small problem,

Anyone wanna buy a boat? the CFO says I have to sell that first. But honey,?????? Man my pouting doesn't work like it used to...

Hondo

 

[ChallengerMT265B]

Massey Ferguson Has 0%/60 on Current model Compact Tractors.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Regardless of color...IMO the most important thing is service & support AFTER the sale....figure EVERYBODY wants to sell you the machine. What makes the difference is after its in your driveway how you get treated.
All tractors mentioned are good machines, and seriously in this day & age...any of the top tier brands will be pretty equal.
I ended up with a green one and have nothing but good things to say about both the dealer & Momma Deere (Warranty issue I recently had)...
A big factor in making my color choice was the fact the Green dealer treated me like a multi million dollar customer with 25 150 horse tractors in the driveway even when I had bought a 3300 hour F935 off the side of the road.

 

[Nuru]

Nuru, I have the 5' bucket with a 300CX loader.

Thanks Putt Putt; I have that same combo now, but was thinking on going for a 73" bucket on the new tractor.

 

[john_bud]

Other than the lower cost of a gear transmission tractor versus a hydro, I'd be interested in knowing what performance advantages you find with a gears in a CUT sized tractor compared to a hydro.

My guess is that he ENJOYES shifting gears himself.

jb