Interesting responses guys, everything from beneficial suggestions to unwarranted indictments (sans evidence) of the operator.
I have operated that little JD a little bit brush hogging (more like a big lawn mower than my brush hog. I came up on a tree with low branches and instinctively raised my foot on the HST pedal to slow while dodging. Of course it has no HST so I got a couple minor scratches.
So far as the operator. He has over 40 years on tractors and this particular tractor (almost new small JD) is just herky jerky in loader motions. It has adjustable flow control for the 3PH and he sets it for pretty slow motion. I agree with Sound Guy a flow restriction would make life better for him but some sort of variable one not a fixed restriction is my recommendation.
I am not a combatant in the transmission wars!!!!
I have, at various times, just pointed out some particular uses where HST beats gears so bad it is futile to try to trump up excuses. Just admit it, HST is SUPERIOR in some jobs.
Similarly, there are tasks where gear tractors do well, it just isn't in close in maneuvering like unloading 14 each 50 gal drums of feed and close packing them inside the hay barn with limited space.
I hear all about how my HST won't be running so good 20 years from now. Well, I probably won't either but so what, I'm not all excited about leaving my tractor to someone special in my will. HST is accused of being more expensive to maintain. Can't say, mine just runs and runs, 1000 hours so far. Will it make 10 thousand? I won't live long enough to find out. If needed I will just pay to fix it. Sure, if it were a gear tractor maybe just maybe I could do the labor myself if no special tools, jigs, or fixtures were required for preloading or whatever. Most likely I would just pay to have it done. A few dollars more for an HST is NOT A BIG ISSUE for me and probably not for over 90% of the practical users running them.
I just want what works best for me doing the overwhelming majority of my tasks. I really don't care if a better solution, in my situation, costs a little more. If a gear tractor is better for someone , that is what they have, and they like it then I am happy for them and envy their good fortune.
Note: The tractor transmission police auxiliary has been disbanded and will not be reconstituted. Vigilante activity is discouraged. If HST is a better solution for someone, just let them "waste their money" and run the risk of calamitous power loss, expensive repairs, shortness of pants, tight shoes, and dandruff IN PEACE without all the kibitzing. In case their use is a better fit for a gear tractor then rejoice in admitting yet another brother into the lodge. Show them the secret handshake and be happy.
Your gear tractor got a hand crank or one of those high dollar electric starters? If you ain't got a crank start you ain't really in a position to represent antediluvian views even if you are a Luddite in good standing. REAL MEN drive gear tractors with HAND CRANK to start. If you got and use an electric start on your tractor then you are just a poser and should sit down and shut up and let the BONIFIED REAL MEN with crank start lay down the law to those upstart HST kids. Electric starters cost more, are prone to more expensive repairs, don't last as long as the crank and in general are JUST AS DECADENT as using HST.
So... until or unless you divest yourself of all the modern fancy EXPENSIVE maintenance prone claptrap like electric start, electric lights (think carbide!), and such you are NOT in a position to harangue HST users. It is like a cocaine addict looking down his nose at a heroin addict like he was superior.
You got STEEL tires? Are you running those maintenance prone high dollar pneumatic short life tires? If you aren't riding on good ole low maint steel instead of the cushy pneumatic ones then you are in no morally superior position to tell anyone which tranny to use.
Pat
