DK45SE... Hst or Gear?

[Bigturk]

Bigturk, have you used your DK40SE to snow blow yet? If yes what size blower and how has it worked? The dealer recommended a 6' blower for a DK40SE HST (Cab) I'm looking at.

Thanks.

I bought a used 74" Pronovost in John Deere green. It needed paint so I had it cleaned up and painted Napa Industrial Orange. I have a long driveway that I snowblow which runs around a neighbors field. When it blows, the snow drifts in the road. A blower is the only way to get through it. Sometimes I have to raise the blower and take the top off the drift, move ahead, lower blower and take the rest of the snow. I paid $1500 for the blower + 500 to have it painted. It is worth every penny. Here is a picture of one of the drifts. Suzuki Samurai as reference.


My DK40se off the road stuck.

 

[whitmerlegacyfarm]

Wow great lookin tractor they look so big with the cabss. I would love to have it but I know all the local farmers will bust on me for it lol since im just a small horse farm n dont realy do much planting. My neighbor made a good pt though being a hobby farmer ur ur time is valuable after worrkin a full day . Plus keeps the instrument panel n platform out of the elements. Wats it add like 4 to 5k to price?

 

[TripleR]

Its pretty simple. If what you are going to do requires changing direction or speed all the time, get HST, if it does not, then Gear is fine. I love hydro because it is more precise, I can change speeds instantly, I can change direction instantly, and when you get off 8 hours later I can walk on my arthritic left knee. (my right ankle is fine).
Also you wife, your neighbor, your dog, and maybe even the cat, can operate Hydro, without much in the way of instruction or practice. yep it is that easy. Gear machines require practice to develop the level of skill and precision to operate safely around obstacles and people. Not saying here that gear machines are not good, and yes hydro machines eat some horsepower, and convert it to heat, and they make a whiney noise when operated. Its all true, and you know what? I don't give a darn.. I am not trading in my hydro for nuthin, 'cept maybe a HST+ or EHydro:laughing::laughing: So there you have it from a VERY opinionated old man that has owned 2 gear tractors and 2 Hydro tractors..Its hydro all the way for me.

James K0UA

+2

We have a BX2660, John Deere 2305, L5030 HSTC and M8540 Hydraulic Shuttle Shift as our primary tractors, own more, but don't use them that much.

Before we got the M8540, we had a Case CX80 with Synchro Shuttle Shift and after a long day on that, my leg was worn out. With the Hydro Shuttle, it is not so bad, but still not as easy as an HST.

My wife will drive any of the HST tractors which is a great help when I am unable to or am operating the M8540. Never underestimate the help a second person can be even if it is moving a tractor from point A to point B. Also with time, anyone can become a pretty competent operator with an HST.

Everyone is different and I do like our M8540, but I will never buy another geared tractor if an equivalent HST is available. For many of us buying a tractor is a long term commitment and it would be a shame several months or years into it, one thought, "if I had it to do over again..."

Come to think of it, my father in law did this TWICE, kept one a month and the other a couple of months and he lost money on the trade in though he never said how much for obvious reasons.

 

[whitmerlegacyfarm]

Im guessing I will b ok having the the 45hp nething had to b better then wat I got now. Im hopin to make the decision this week for the price increase.

 

[whitmerlegacyfarm]

I bought a used 74" Pronovost in John Deere green. It needed paint so I had it cleaned up and painted Napa Industrial Orange. I have a long driveway that I snowblow which runs around a neighbors field. When it blows, the snow drifts in the road. A blower is the only way to get through it. Sometimes I have to raise the blower and take the top off the drift, move ahead, lower blower and take the rest of the snow. I paid $1500 for the blower + 500 to have it painted. It is worth every penny. Here is a picture of one of the drifts. Suzuki Samurai as reference.
View attachment 205637

My DK40se off the road stuck.
View attachment 205638

Are u using AG tires or R4 industrial tires. Im undecided with that to.

 

[grsthegreat]

I bought a used 74" Pronovost in John Deere green. It needed paint so I had it cleaned up and painted Napa Industrial Orange. I have a long driveway that I snowblow which runs around a neighbors field. When it blows, the snow drifts in the road. A blower is the only way to get through it. Sometimes I have to raise the blower and take the top off the drift, move ahead, lower blower and take the rest of the snow. I paid $1500 for the blower + 500 to have it painted. It is worth every penny. Here is a picture of one of the drifts. Suzuki Samurai as reference.
View attachment 205637

My DK40se off the road stuck.
View attachment 205638

ouch.....how did you get it out?

thats why im thinking of getting chains for mine for next season.

 

[rd_macgregor]

I bought a DK45S cab model with loader, blower, mower and loaded R4's in 2006. HST wasn't available. If I were buying one now, I probably would get either the DK40 or DK45 HST with ag tires, loaded. I do some mowing and a lot of snow blowing and loader (grapple) work in the woods, so the HST would be handy.
Adding the cab is a big cost increase, but especially useful if you keep your tractor outdoors; if you blow snow much at all, the cab can transform a miserable job into a satisfying experience.
I got myself lodged in the snow last winter, but managed to crab my way out, and inch or two at a time, with the loader. I think a set of chains is in the cards for me for next winter.
BOB

 

[rd_macgregor]

I bought a DK45S cab model with loader, blower, mower and loaded R4's in 2006. HST wasn't available. If I were buying one now, I probably would get either the DK40 or DK45 HST with ag tires, loaded. I do some mowing and a lot of snow blowing and loader (grapple) work in the woods, so the HST would be handy.
Adding the cab is a big cost increase, but especially useful if you keep your tractor outdoors and/or use it in bad weather; if you blow snow much at all, the cab can transform a miserable job into a satisfying experience.
I got myself lodged in the snow last winter off the edge of the crown on my driveway (it would be a slight exaggeration to call it a ditch), but managed to crab my way out, an inch or two at a time, with the loader. I think a set of chains is in the cards for me for next winter.
BOB

 

[kco]

My DK35 HST with R4 tires (no ballast yet, but that should be done onsite today) was delivered late Saturday night replacing my L275 DT (roughly similar to L2800?) gear tractor with AG tires.

It took all of 10 minutes to get used to the HST and I'd never go back. The improved control is amazing compared to the geared tractor. That is particularly important since I work mainly in the bush on hilly terrain with winding trails.

I spent yesterday testing the tractor on progressively more challenging terrain. It feels dramatically more stable than the L275. I imagine much of that is due to the higher weight at a lower centre of gravity and industrial tires. But the major factor is the finer control with HST.

 

[Bigturk]

ouch.....how did you get it out?

thats why im thinking of getting chains for mine for next season.

I have R4 tires loaded with Rim Guard. I travel lots of paved roads so chains are not an option for me. I had to hire a Payloader to pull me out. A contractor friend lives up the road so his equipment was close.

Lesson learned: be more careful when snowblowing icy roads. Keep my wheels on the road.:thumbsup: