Gear drive vs hydro

[DJMac]

It's a matter of personal preference and convenience. The eternal auto trans vs manual trans debate. Keep in mind, having enough power is rarely the problem, having enough traction is usually the problem!

 

[jake98]

Traction can get you in trouble. I remember once...

 

[SPYDERLK]

Traction can get you in trouble. I remember once...

??????Iceskating???????

 

[Egon]

??????Iceskating???????

But people only think they skate on ice!

 

[froggy]

This comment from Dargo caught my attention. I have never driven a tractor with HST and wonder if this is a problem with just rocker pedals or with all HST pedal systems?

 

[dfkrug]

This comment from Dargo caught my attention. I have never driven a tractor with HST and wonder if this is a problem with just rocker pedals or with all HST pedal systems?

I have not had any of these problems with a rocker pedal or the 2 pedal
HSTs, and I have many hours on both kinds. HSTs have a cruise control
to lock the pedal for constant speed driving. Two advantages I see of the
rocker pedal over the 2-pedal systems: it is easier to find where to
put your foot without looking, as you twist around in your seat maneuvering
fwd and rev. And you can operate the rocker pedal while standing up, as
when you are trying to precisely place your FEL bkt or FEL forks.

 

[froggy]

Thanks for the reply.

 

[MossRoad]

This comment from Dargo caught my attention. I have never driven a tractor with HST and wonder if this is a problem with just rocker pedals or with all HST pedal systems?

I have owned two different HST pedal configurations. My old IH had seperate forward and reverse pedals operated by the left foot. My current Power Trac has a treadle, with the right foot you go forward, with the left you go reverse. Pushing either pedal causes the other to rise. Several Kubotas that I operated had the treadle on the right foot, with toe push moving you forward and heel push moving in reverse.

None of the HST tractors that I operated had cruise control, so, yes, if you need to stay at a constant speed for a long time, you have to keep your foot on the direction pedal the entire time and it could cause exactly what he stated: shin starts to hurt.

I only found that problem with mowing large fields. For any operation that requires frequent speed or direction changes, like mowing around landscaping, trees, snow plowing, front end loader work, brush hogging, etc... I never noticed any shin pain when operating an HST.

Hope that helps.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have owned two different HST pedal configurations. My old IH had seperate forward and reverse pedals operated by the left foot. My current Power Trac has a treadle, with the right foot you go forward, with the left you go reverse. Pushing either pedal causes the other to rise. Several Kubotas that I operated had the treadle on the right foot, with toe push moving you forward and heel push moving in reverse.

None of the HST tractors that I operated had cruise control, so, yes, if you need to stay at a constant speed for a long time, you have to keep your foot on the direction pedal the entire time and it could cause exactly what he stated: shin starts to hurt.

I only found that problem with mowing large fields. For any operation that requires frequent speed or direction changes, like mowing around landscaping, trees, snow plowing, front end loader work, brush hogging, etc... I never noticed any shin pain when operating an HST.

Hope that helps.

I added a 2# [approx] weight to the front section of my BX1500 treadle. Going forward requires little holding force. Backup ... more. A pleasant tradoff.
larry

 

[patrick_g]

This comment from Dargo caught my attention. I have never driven a tractor with HST and wonder if this is a problem with just rocker pedals or with all HST pedal systems?

I have HST with rocker pedal, the only type I have extensive experience with, and have NEVER had any discomfort operating the pedal. The way my pedal is shaped lets you place your heel on the floor and your toe on the forward part of the pedal (part you step on to go forward) and for backing up you can place your toes (and ball of your foot on the floor and your heel on the rear portion of the pedal which is for backing up.

You can put your entire foot on the pedal but I think it would be uncomfortable and was not the way the dealer staff showed me to use it. I can transition from forward to backwards positioning of my foot quickly enough to be driving the wheels the opposite direction the tractor is moving so the foot position I use is economical of your motion, effective, and non tiring. My pedal foot is one of the least stressed parts of my anatomy when I am really working the tractor hard, fast and furious.

Pat