Gear or Hydrostatic Transmissions for Compact Utility Tractors?

[houstonscott]

That sounds like my smaller Yanmar. (See sig photo below). Powershift, an '80's design, is essentially an ordinary clutch linked directly, no torque converter, to the input of an automotive A/T. Get moving then shift up/down among 3 speeds with a dash lever. The hydraulic clutches inside take a moment to engage which softens full-power shifts, then after engagement its a direct mechanical path from flywheel to output. There's also three mechanical gear ranges for rototill / ground engagement / road, you choose one then shift on the go within that range. Push in the clutch when you need to make a full stop. This Powershift is the best, most productive form of geared transmission, it sure beats the stop-to-shift crashbox in my larger Yanmar which is now semi retired to occasional heavier loader and backhoe work - because the little one can outperform it on the sloping areas I traverse every time I go into the orchard. I have most of the advantages of a hydrostatic without the whine, heat, high rpm.

Yup, I love that tractor. It's a 1610, zero timed, every nut/bolt restoration done in 2011. You'd swear it's new. My L3800 was the closest thing to it in a modern machine with more HP. HS

 

[ovrszd]

There's no way I'd want gear drive on my JD2210.

There's no way I'd want HST drive on my M9540 or Ford 3910.

It's all about use Gentlemen. Yours might vary.

 

[JMER817]

It's all about the skill level of the operator! IF you are too lazy to learn how to use a gear drive tractor, then perhaps a hydro is for you... I grew up on a tractor, I can't see a hydro doing anything better for me... Personally, I like the fuel saving, more pto power, and lower cost of the gear drive AND I HATE that constant hydro whine! SR

I grew up on and have driven many gear drive tractors / equipment. I own a hydro now and see no reason to go back. And no I'm not lazy. Have you owned or driven a hydro??

 

[tcreeley]

I like my geared tractor. It has a secondary clutch for the PTO - just push further. It is steady, no jerking. I put a piece of rebar on the brake pedal and that is my hand brake. - I've rented a hydro tractor for the backhoe. I didn't like it - too jerky and almost a delay from when you step on the pedal. I forget whether it was a green or red tractor. I'd get a gear tractor if I did it again. Mine is a 9x3 gearing. I have a foot throttle on it for more power, but I've never needed to use it.

 

[k0ua]

I would defy anyone to hear any hydro whine on my Kioti in low range. You might hear a tiny amount in Med range when heavily loaded, and you can hear it in Hi range. Many larger HST tractors don't whine. All of the smaller hydro tractors I have seen do whine, and some whine loudly.

I have over 25 years driving tractors and the majority of that time on gear tractors. I have learned to appreciate Hydros for many reasons.

I learned loader work on a two stick Westendorf loader too, does that make the two stick system better? Heck no, the modern single stick system is more productive. If the task involves rapid speed and directional changes the Hydro machine is more productive too.

The good news is unlike pickup trucks, with tractors you can find all sorts of transmissions on tractors. You can find one that you like and fits the job that you want to do with it.

 

[rd_macgregor]

When I bought my Kioti DK45SC hydro wasn't offered. I definitely would have paid extra for it if it had been available. I spend more time using the loader (or grapple) than any other use. The geared tractor has been a real workhorse and done pretty much every (reasonable) thing I've asked of it.

My biggest issue with my geared tractor, though, is when I am snowblowing. My left hand is busy changing ranges, gears and direction while my right steers, tweaks the blower height and chute rotation and manipulates the FEL bucket for drifts and backdragging snow out of corners. I'd need to be an octopus to do all this smoothly and fast. HST would eliminated much of the left-hand occupation so I could control the loader & snowblower while steering with the left hand.
If I ever replace (or supplement!) my tractor, it will be with a HST unit.

 

[houstonscott]

I don't think anyone will argue that hydrostatic is not easer to use, it's why it was invented. There are penalties, it's more expensive, it's much more expensive to trouble shoot and repair, it robs 5% of power to use it, it can overheat, and it doesn't scale up. In sub compacts and cuts, operated by a majority of automatic car types, and woman, and young operators with no clutch experience, it makes sense, a lot of sense, maybe even the only choice. HS

 

[CADplans]

Last year, my daughter moved in to the house next to mine,,, with a 3.5 acre lawn.
I purchased a JD 650 gear drive, and a JD 855 HST within 30 days of them buying the house.
I bought those tractors because I knew I was going to have to help them mow that big lawn.

As a house warming gift, I gave them the JD 855 HST which has a loader and a mower.
My daughter, as a "stay at home mom", was going to do all the mowing,
as her husband previously had never driven a riding mower in his life.

Well,,, after the first time my SIL got on the 855, the tractor became his,
he found time to do ALL the mowing, and now finds LOTS of time to do improvement projects.

If the tractor had been the gear drive 650, my SIL would never have operated the machine more than once or twice.

My SIL even purchased a freight container to better store the 855,, his prize possession.

In the end, I ended up with the JD 650,, but, I love mowing with the gear drive.
To me, it is relaxing to put a tractor in gear, go out and mow my 4 acres,
and do nothing more than turn a steering wheel.

If I had to constantly be pressing the pedal to move the tractor, the mowing would be much harder to do.

For trimming close around trees, fences, etc,,, I have a machine that I consider better than gear drive or HST
It is a Gravely riding mower, with a foot pedal for forward and reverse.
The machine has two clutches, one for forward, the other for reverse.
Select a gear, and go, you get the economy of a gear drive, and most of the convenience of a HST.

My 60HP tractor is a gear drive. Would it be better as a gear drive?
I will probably never know, the tractor should outlast me,,,,

 

[dickfoster]

I dunno what happened to the Creeping forward thread that started the conversation, but yesterday I made a video sharing my thoughts while running my tractor.

I might have got an HST if they'd had a two pedal setup like yours instead of the uber awkward and uncomfortable rocker pedal thing. I couldn't wait to get off of that silly thing when I was doing the test drive. But then I don't have a whole lot of loader work to do either.

 

[TripleR]

"If I had to constantly be pressing the pedal to move the tractor, the mowing would be much harder to do."

That's why most have cruise control.