DT transmission Vs HST transmissions any drawbacks for longivity ?

[sewdds]

I did write "correctly or not". It appears that many with considerable experience with Kubota HSTs would choose the "not". Maybe ignorance can be bliss. The advice I had been given concerning HSTs could have very well come from his experience(dealer's) with "lesser" HSTs on smaller machines. Whatever, maybe I shouldn't tryout a HST on a tractor of mine's size.

 

[Bluegill2]

Seems like gear trans is a little more popular around here. But this is a very rural area with mostly logging, cattle and hay production.

 

[sewdds]

Success
Town in Arkansas
Success is a town in Clay County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 180 at the 2000 census. Wikipedia
Area: 128 acres (52 ha)
Weather: 72°F (22°C), Wind NE at 6 mph (10 km/h), 100% Humidity
Local time: Saturday 9:02 AM
Population: 147 (2011)

Don,
Being that Success, AR is across the county from where I live, and not noticing the "MO" , I had assumed you lived in Clay County, AR, not Texas County, MO, where I think I've seen Success, MO is. Success, AR is on the MO border and many Success, AR "residents" live in MO.
Back to the DT vs HST, being new to the tractor scene, using the DT with my tiller , bush hog(Rhino 160), FEL, and box blade hasn't been a problem. Having not really used an HST much, and not knowing what I might be missing, I think I'll not try out an HST. Might be like having tasted vanilla ice cream cones and never having tried chocolate.

 

[Grandad4]

I believe I read on here that a service bulletin had come out on the tractors with sump pickups...maybe I am imagining it...

Just for those who might be interested, here's the link to the saga of the guy with the stuck tractor in the mountains. It was Western North Carolina, not West Virginia, sorry about that, but the story is genuine, and the issue was indeed the hyd fluid pickup, along with the extreme conditions. Some of the early TBN members participated in the thread. So nice to see the spirit of genuine helpfulness, without a hint of sarcasm, that they brought to TBN.



http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ailing-my-4610-a.html?highlight=What's+ailing

 

[k0ua]

Might be like having tasted vanilla ice cream cones and never having tried chocolate.

I believe that explains about 90% of the sentiment right there. If the Gear/clutch is working for you.. why change.? And there are some things Gear does better.. Like everyone says it puts the maximum available power to use (more efficient). There is no rational argument about that. But there are many things that Hydrostat does better. And there is more to efficiency than raw power delivered to the ground.. There is also human efficiency to be considered. All operators are not the same, some are much better than others. My first tractor, was and 8x2 utility tractor with an aftermarket FEL with a 2 stick control valve on the FEL.. I learned to operate it quite well. Would I want to go back to a 2 stick FEL control valve? Heck no.. but did it do a lot of work for me.? you bet it did.

My point is you can get used to anything, even though there are much better things out there. Finding the correct gear for mowing conditions on the 8x2 was always a pain, 4 low was often too slow, 1 high was often too fast, or it varied second by second, but you just learned to do the best you could. I would also caution you a few minutes of driving a tractor around a dealers lot, will tell you nothing about using that tractor on your place with the type of work you do. But after owning 5 tractors, now 2 gear and 3 hydro.. I have made my choice, for the type of work I do, it is hydro. No question about it. If I was plowing the 80 acres in nice straight rows. I would want a gear tractor. OH... and with AG tires too!. But with the majority FEL work, give me hydro and R4'S

James K0UA

 

[dex3361]

Interesting to hear of your experience on slopes, James. Years ago there was a West Virginia fellow who came on TBN seeking advice, having gotten his brand-new L4610HST (just like mine), several miles back in some of the up and down trails in the mountains there, and couldn't get back out again because of the sump pickup issue. I don't recall that we ever heard just how steep those trails were or what he ever did, but since then I've always been a little cautious when stating the limits. A 60% slope is nothing to sneeze at!

This may have been an issue with the HST fluid level or as previously mentioned a service issue. I have used both my L4400HST and my BX1500HST on hills that exceed 30 degrees to a verifiable 32 degrees. I have not experienced the loss of fluid issue on either machine. I always go up and down never sideways on steep sections and it has to be dry or frozen ground except with chains on. Scary stuff though.

 

[TripleR]

Having not really used an HST much, and not knowing what I might be missing, I think I'll not try out an HST. Might be like having tasted vanilla ice cream cones and never having tried chocolate.

As mentioned already, this is often the case. I liked my Ford 600 and farmed with it for years until I got a Case with power steering and independent PTO, thought it was just the ticket until I used our Massey Ferguson 375, loved it until I drove our Case CX80 with all that AND synchronized shuttle shift, loved it until I traded it on our M8540 with all the aforementioned except it has a Hydraulic Shuttle Shift, man that is great thought I then I bought a L5030 HSTC... OK, I still love the M8540 AND my L5740, but I didn't know until I tried a new design long term.

Having said all that however, I acknowledge for some, geared is the way to go and nothing will change their preference absent some physical problem. My younger brother bought his "retirement tractor" a few months ago to supplement his others and to have something easy to trailer and it's a synchro-shuttle, he couldn't be happier. He has forgotten more about tractors than I know.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

. . . I've also been confused about the separate brake for each wheel which I could never find any time that would have ever made a difference to me the way I use a tractor. I've just always used the steering wheel to make turns and not the brakes. . . .

If you were driving a large tractor pulling a heavy ground-engaging implement, such as a chisel plowing a large field, you would quickly see the benefit of separate brakes when it came time to turn a corner in the field.

Now, my experience is from years ago and I haven't driven any large modern tractors. I assume modern 4wd would help turn the tractor and implement without brakes, but the separate brakes were mandatory in our uses.

 

[GManBart]

I guess it really comes down to price in replacing the clutch Vs the whole transmission with the HST, if it were to go bad some day ? Because I am hoping to buy a premade package deal from one of several dealers across the USA who have the L3200/L3800 DT and HST packages they are selling.

I am just curious about what will be best for old age and what is going to last or hold up to very little abuse maintaining 1.8 acres that are flat scrub brushy. I like the idea of getting everything included for x amount of $, trailer included, not to mention saving a few thousand in Taxes if possible, as I wont need to License it anytime soon in my state I don't think.

Thank you for any input you can offer, and huge bonus if you have direct experience buying of one of these premade packages from whom ? how much did it cost you and how is it working for you as of now.

Thanks,
Manshoon

If money is really tight, I'd suggest taking a look at anything other than a Kubota or a Deere....great products, but the two most expensive you can buy for any given level of performance. When I priced out comparably equipped models from all the big brands I would have had to pay $10K more for a Kubota, and a Deer would have been a bit more. Other brands are sold in package deals as well. When I settled on my LS, I looked around the country and saw that a couple of big places, like RCO in Tx, sold packages that were attractive. I'm sure you could find the same for a variety of brands.

One small note...WA has a use tax, so even if you buy the machine in Tx, you very likely still owe the use tax...not easy to enforce, but it's become a sticking point, and some folks are getting busted for it.

For the size property you're talking, and the description, I can't imagine you'll ever have a problem with an HST unit wearing out, or breaking...if you did, it would be a freak. That also brings up the issue of warranty....some brands offer a considerably longer warranty than Kubota. Kioti offers 4yrs, Mahindra and LS have a 5yr powertrain warranty...just something to consider.

For the work you're describing, the HST will be more convenient, and won't hinder your ability to do things...you're not pulling a hay bailer, or plowing large fields, so the power loss to HST won't be noticed. It will also be far easier for folks not so accustomed to manual transmissions....especially because with a tractor there are a lot of other things you're minding....the level of the implement, the throttle position, etc, etc. My wife has driven a standard transmission for years, but doesn't want to drive any of my tractors except the one with HST. Personally, I think she needs her own SCUT

 

[Bluegill2]

Success
Town in Arkansas
Success is a town in Clay County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 180 at the 2000 census. Wikipedia
Area: 128 acres (52 ha)
Weather: 72°F (22°C), Wind NE at 6 mph (10 km/h), 100% Humidity
Local time: Saturday 9:02 AM
Population: 147 (2011)

Don,
Being that Success, AR is across the county from where I live, and not noticing the "MO" , I had assumed you lived in Clay County, AR, not Texas County, MO, where I think I've seen Success, MO is. Success, AR is on the MO border and many Success, AR "residents" live in MO.
Back to the DT vs HST, being new to the tractor scene, using the DT with my tiller , bush hog(Rhino 160), FEL, and box blade hasn't been a problem. Having not really used an HST much, and not knowing what I might be missing, I think I'll not try out an HST. Might be like having tasted vanilla ice cream cones and never having tried chocolate.

Yes, there is more than one Success, even more than one in Mo. I'm in Texas county, about 80 miles north of the Ar line.

Back on topic. Go ahead and try a HST, I did and still like gear better.

I will not say gear is better, but I don't want to hear someone say HST is better either. They are both good. Buy what you like!