Buying a first Tractor; HST or not?

Boondox · Jul 16, 2002

I have the opinion that hst tractors are toys, not real tractors. 

Can we all -- regardless of our position on this issue -- up the maturity level a bit and stop this sort of inflammatory rhetoric? This is not the civil sort of discussion I've come to expect of TBN. And remember, the flames were started by an unregistered troll who just wanted to see some fireworks. Well, he got them and it's become self-sustaining! Ramp it down, folks.

Pete

TBone · Jul 16, 2002

"Can we all -- regardless of our position on this issue -- up the maturity level a bit and stop this sort of inflammatory rhetoric?"

The best idea I've heard all day.

TBone

looch · Jul 16, 2002

I really like both.

I did a little bit of plowing with my HST and would have been much better off, I think (based on personal experience with both), with a gear. On the other hand, my driveway exits right on to a 55mph speed limit highway. When I snowblow, I always start each swath with my nose sticking out into the road. I used to do this with my gear tractor: throttle down, push clutch, shift to reverse, release clutch, and throttle up again - a little too time-consuming for where I was. With the HST, I'm on and off the road in record time.

I'm really not sure how the gear trannines work on the CUT's except for my old B5100E - press the clutch and you lose tranny as well as PTO. Again, not sure how they work on the larger tractors either, but it would surprise me if it were the same. I guess what I'm getting at is the manual trannies in the smaller of the CUT's isn't as useful as the manual trannies in the larger CUT's and AG machines. So, I'd say small CUT - go HST. Larger tractor being used for AG - go gear.

Please don't attack me - this is only day 2 back from vacation.

TBone · Jul 16, 2002

"Please don't attack me - this is only day 2 back from vacation."

I think we all need one.

TBone

SethO · Jul 16, 2002

McChalkley said it best, that what anyone prefers does not mean better or best.

Now my comments, there is a reason why people pay a premium for HST. Bottom line, it is more complicated and easier to use. Aside from issues of power loss, there is no application that a geared machine can perform that an HST machine cannot do with the same amount of power to the implement or tool being used. The converse is not true.

One good example are SLR cameras, the new ones are basically computers with a lens with auto everything and manual overrides for most. Can anybody really argue that the old manual focus, manual apperture and shutter adjustment cameras are better simply because they are manual? They are cheaper to make, probably will take more insult but are not better.

If you are limited in funds, and we all are, you can buy more with a geared tractor but you are not buying better.

Seth

tdenny · Jul 16, 2002

Careful Russ,

Some of us hydro guys still play competitive softball./w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Unfortunatley I'm not old enough to be retired yet.

MossRoad · Jul 16, 2002

I played softball with a bunch of nine year olds last night. They hurt me bad /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif

Miklos · Jul 16, 2002

No attack...../w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

But, I just wanted to point out that most gear drive CUT tractors have "live" or "independant" PTO's that do keep power to your implement when using the clutch to change direction. Hence, no need to take the time to throttle down and direction can be changed very quickly.

"Live PTO" is a two stage clutch pedal operation two clutches. When shifting the transmission, clutch pedal is pushed in half way, leaving full power to the PTO. To interupt power to the PTO, push clutch in all the way and everything is stopped. IMHO, this system has the advantage of being able to disconnect power to the PTO in panic situation the fastest.

"Independant PTO" there is usually an electrically operated clutch that turns PTO off and on. Normal clutch operation has no effect on the power to the PTO. This is the same type of system as found on most hydro tractors along with many gear tractors.

Just wanted to clear that up.

PS- hope you had a great vacation. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

looch · Jul 16, 2002

most gear drive CUT tractors have "live" or "independant" PTO's 

Really? I didn't think so. That's why I said that it would surprise me if it were the same. The clutch on my B7500HSD will disengage the tranny and the PTO - isn't it the same for most/all B series?