Ledgemere Farm
Veteran Member
Personally, I prefer to shift, but it's just a matter of user preference. I grew up driving a PowerShift John Deere. I also grew up with a stick-shift Ford truck. drive whatever you prefer.
Buying a first Tractor; HST or not?
- Thread starter Anonymous Poster
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MossRoad
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And MossRoad sees his chance to sneak in and promote the Power Trac quick attach system, where you don't have to get off the tractor to change implements.
He shoots, HE SCORES!!!
EDIT:
OK, this is purely on a safety/ease of use level, not an HST VS gear level. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I just don't like the idea of standing next to a tractor and pushing the foot pedals with my hands to make minor positioning adjustments. I would probably run myself over. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif
He shoots, HE SCORES!!!
EDIT:
OK, this is purely on a safety/ease of use level, not an HST VS gear level. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I just don't like the idea of standing next to a tractor and pushing the foot pedals with my hands to make minor positioning adjustments. I would probably run myself over. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif
winchman
Bronze Member
Just my .02$ I've operated standard gear tractors all my life. Then, my father in-law gets a Ford 1920 with shuttle shift. I thought that was the greatest thing. It increased the speed of changing from forward to reverse. Now after 225 hours on my kubota 2410 hst there is just no comparison in my eyes. It's just too easy to operate. Doing loader work, I can always have one hand on the steering wheel and my other hand on the loader joystick, right where I like to have them. If you simply breakdown the physical and mental process of what you need to do in order to change direction, increase or, decrease power to the wheels and ground speed, the hst wins hands down. Now, when I have to operate my father in-laws' gear drive kubota 3710 with shuttle shift, it feels more like work instead of fun. Well, operating any type of tractor is still fun to me. Of course, if you've never had it you won't miss it.
winchman
winchman
cowboydoc
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Pete,
I'm not saying that you shouldn't have an hst or that an hst isn't right for alot of people. If you don't like to shift, if you don't mind power loss, if you don't need constant speed, and a host of other things then go for the hst. Not a problem at all. I'm just saying that the hst isn't the final answer and that's why there are gear tractors. There are alot of guys you couldn't give an hst to and alot of guys you couldn't give a gear tractor to. If an hst works for a person that is great. If a gear tractor works that's great too. The only thing I take exception to is the constant talk that the hst is the only way to go and a person would be a fool to own a gear tractor. An hst isn't the answer for everyone and not everyone that has one is going to want to keep one. There have been alot of guys who have said they like a gear tractor on here and I've gotten five emails now from guys telling me the same thing but they don't want to post on here and speak up for a gear tractor because of the flaming that a person gets when they say that a gear tractor is a better choice for them.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't have an hst or that an hst isn't right for alot of people. If you don't like to shift, if you don't mind power loss, if you don't need constant speed, and a host of other things then go for the hst. Not a problem at all. I'm just saying that the hst isn't the final answer and that's why there are gear tractors. There are alot of guys you couldn't give an hst to and alot of guys you couldn't give a gear tractor to. If an hst works for a person that is great. If a gear tractor works that's great too. The only thing I take exception to is the constant talk that the hst is the only way to go and a person would be a fool to own a gear tractor. An hst isn't the answer for everyone and not everyone that has one is going to want to keep one. There have been alot of guys who have said they like a gear tractor on here and I've gotten five emails now from guys telling me the same thing but they don't want to post on here and speak up for a gear tractor because of the flaming that a person gets when they say that a gear tractor is a better choice for them.
EdKing
Platinum Member
Richard,
I have to say I agree with you 100%. I prefer a gear tractor myself, and it kind of ticks me off when I start hearing people saying HST is the only way to go, gear tractors are just inferior. With a shuttle foward/reverse, I can't see where people would have trouble operating one, at least not if they are coordinated enough to walk and chew gum at the same time.
I have to say I agree with you 100%. I prefer a gear tractor myself, and it kind of ticks me off when I start hearing people saying HST is the only way to go, gear tractors are just inferior. With a shuttle foward/reverse, I can't see where people would have trouble operating one, at least not if they are coordinated enough to walk and chew gum at the same time.
Boondox
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<font color=blue>The only thing I take exception to is the constant talk that the hst is the only way to go and a person would be a fool to own a gear tractor. </font color=blue>
I think I remember something along those lines from an unregistered troll. I hate it when folks use sweeping generalizations, then follow up with an outright dismissal of any and all counterpoints. The only thing to do when faced with that is to consider the source and ask the moderators to neuter or spay the offender.
Having used both, I can honestly say that my preference depends on the conditions and the task to be done. But on my hilly and forested land, 99% of the time the HST turns out to be a time saver for me personally.
Flaming is far too easily done. More's the shame, since it stifles intelligent debate of the relative merits of divergent points of view. And the sharing of knowledge is what makes this place tick!
Pete
I think I remember something along those lines from an unregistered troll. I hate it when folks use sweeping generalizations, then follow up with an outright dismissal of any and all counterpoints. The only thing to do when faced with that is to consider the source and ask the moderators to neuter or spay the offender.
Having used both, I can honestly say that my preference depends on the conditions and the task to be done. But on my hilly and forested land, 99% of the time the HST turns out to be a time saver for me personally.
Flaming is far too easily done. More's the shame, since it stifles intelligent debate of the relative merits of divergent points of view. And the sharing of knowledge is what makes this place tick!
Pete
Boondox
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I think we have to remember that folks are responding based on their personal experiences. Instead of reading "HST is the ONLY way," I much prefer to read why someone prefers HST over gears or vice versa. The former is an evangelical zealot foaming at the mouth. The latter is a tractor owner sharing what works for him under the conditions he drives his tractor.
I think we need to filter out the trolls and their inflammatory statements. How long do you think some of these fools would stick around if their posts were never answered?
Just my $0.02.
Pete
I think we need to filter out the trolls and their inflammatory statements. How long do you think some of these fools would stick around if their posts were never answered?
Just my $0.02.
Pete
Bird
Rest in Peace
<font color=blue>I'm just saying that the hst isn't the final answer and that's why there are gear tractors.</font color=blue>
Very true; there's a time and place for both and that's why they make both.
<font color=blue>The only thing I take exception to is the constant talk that the hst is the only way to go and a person would be a fool to own a gear tractor.</font color=blue>
Well, let's hope no one really thinks a person would be a fool to own a gear tractor. But the way I see it is that the folks on this forum who are considering buying a tractor and would even have to ask which way to go are probably relatively new to tractors, usually have relatively (compared to real farmers) small plots of land, most frequently intend to do some lawn mowing, front end loader work, and/or other tasks that require frequent changes of direction and/or speed. So I recommend the HST if the price difference isn't a deal breaker.
<font color=blue>they don't want to post on here and speak up for a gear tractor because of the flaming that a person gets when they say that a gear tractor is a better choice for them</font color=blue>
Now I think it'd be a shame for anyone to be afraid of a flaming anytime on this forum; everyone's opinions should be welcome. Some of us have pretty strong opinions/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif, and we may disagree pretty strongly, but let's hope we're all still friends./w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif And while the exchange of opinions may get a little heated at times, it seems to me that this thread should be pretty good reading for a potential first time tractor buyer, then he/she can make his own choice and hope he's happy with it, 'cause that's all that really matters in the long run anyway, isn't it?
Very true; there's a time and place for both and that's why they make both.
<font color=blue>The only thing I take exception to is the constant talk that the hst is the only way to go and a person would be a fool to own a gear tractor.</font color=blue>
Well, let's hope no one really thinks a person would be a fool to own a gear tractor. But the way I see it is that the folks on this forum who are considering buying a tractor and would even have to ask which way to go are probably relatively new to tractors, usually have relatively (compared to real farmers) small plots of land, most frequently intend to do some lawn mowing, front end loader work, and/or other tasks that require frequent changes of direction and/or speed. So I recommend the HST if the price difference isn't a deal breaker.
<font color=blue>they don't want to post on here and speak up for a gear tractor because of the flaming that a person gets when they say that a gear tractor is a better choice for them</font color=blue>
Now I think it'd be a shame for anyone to be afraid of a flaming anytime on this forum; everyone's opinions should be welcome. Some of us have pretty strong opinions/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif, and we may disagree pretty strongly, but let's hope we're all still friends./w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif And while the exchange of opinions may get a little heated at times, it seems to me that this thread should be pretty good reading for a potential first time tractor buyer, then he/she can make his own choice and hope he's happy with it, 'cause that's all that really matters in the long run anyway, isn't it?
JohnMiller3
Elite Member
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Boys... boys... boys...
I've got an idea...
We'll all meet at Empire Farm Days...
We divide up into two softball teams... HST and Gear...
Winner takes all.... /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif
I've got an idea...
We'll all meet at Empire Farm Days...
We divide up into two softball teams... HST and Gear...
Winner takes all.... /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif
Golfgar4
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- None -yet. Until then FunBuggy (EZ-Go) will have to do!
<font color=blue>"We divide up into two softball teams... HST and Gear..."</font color=blue>
Hmmm /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif. Based on what I've seen in this thread, that may not be a good idea. They'll probably start debating the points about whether to use metal bats or wooden bats! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
Flip a coin! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
Hmmm /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif. Based on what I've seen in this thread, that may not be a good idea. They'll probably start debating the points about whether to use metal bats or wooden bats! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
Flip a coin! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
