Gear or Hydrostatic Transmissions for Compact Utility Tractors?

[k0ua]

Why do you have to stop to change gears?? I don't have to stop with mine, I just push the clutch in and change gears, but having to change gears is rare as my tractors have enough torque to pull right through tough spots...

Perhaps I've done a better job of sizing my tools to my tractor??

SR

That must be it...

 

[4570Man]

My L3240 has no noticeable whine in low range. In high range it's hardly noticeable. The B7200 doesn't whine. The L3800 whines very loud and high pitched. It's very annoying. As for being to lazy to learn a gear, I'm pretty decent on a gear tractor. I'll run head to head to anyone on a gear of the same model tractor doing precise positioning task. Doing field work they'll beat me, but my tractor hasn't ever done field work. My tractor is rated for 1.5 less PTO hp than the same model geared. I'm guessing you could easily bump up the HP that much. "I grew up on a geared tractor" Some of you grew up with mules, horse and buggy, no grocery store, no indoor plumbing, no air conditioning, very minimal heating ability, and cut your firewood with a crosscut saw. I bet you gladly accepted most of the modern luxuries.

 

[4570Man]

Why do you have to stop to change gears?? I don't have to stop with mine, I just push the clutch in and change gears, but having to change gears is rare as my tractors have enough torque to pull right through tough spots... Perhaps I've done a better job of sizing my tools to my tractor?? SR

Sure, I could put 3' implements behind my tractor and never bog it down, but I'll take the increased productivity in most circumstances with a wider implement.

 

[MossRoad]

What you say is of course true, but I think what many are referring to is in the same tractor, one with gear and the other hydro, the PTO horsepower will be a bit lower from the same engine on the Hydro machine. You point of selecting a tractor with the PTO horsepower you want and need is a valid point.

Yep.

It just seems a lot of people roll out that argument every time the subject comes up. If you need a 30HP PTO, then buy a machine with a 30HP PTO.

 

[vsteel]

After the first time we drove an automatic pickup in the mud at the back of the farm,,,
we NEVER considered taking a shift pickup there again.

The constant, smooth power allowed us to go through places that were not possible with a sift transmission.

Funny thing is after driving in terrible ice and snow along with slick mud I feel the exact opposite. I will never have a auto in terrible conditions, manual lets me choose exactly how much power to put down and I can be smoother than the auto.

 

[vsteel]

I think some of this is we might have to define gear tractor. I guess I think of the older single dry clutch with non synchronized gears. You stop to shift or they will just grind. I know some of the more modern ones you can just auto shift and there are shuttles which seem to be get closer and closer to hydros in operation. I know internally they are different but operations wise the gap narrows.

 

[California]

Funny thing is after driving in terrible ice and snow along with slick mud I feel the exact opposite. I will never have a auto in terrible conditions, manual lets me choose exactly how much power to put down and I can be smoother than the auto.

Different environment. I agree M/T is best for throttle control on ice and anything with almost no traction, where a little throttle will spin the tires wildly. Any place where if you open the door and get out you are likely to fall on your a**.

Deep gooey mud, and deep sand with too-small tires, is the opposite case, the 'surface' is so deep and adhesive that it takes quite a bit of carefully controlled power to start moving. Every inch forward in deep ruts the tires are climbing up a 'step'. That's what Cadplans was talking about.

Also in the case of starting a street/offroad vehicle in a patch of wastebasket-size boulders say in a stream crossing, you want an A/T to start moving very gently, climb each obstacle individually and cautiously, rather than dump the clutch and crash into things. Here's a post I made in 2004 illustrating this. (last paragraph and photo).

Different applications.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Oh I have to laugh at some of the comments made here but I will joint the fray.

First of all I will start by saying that when I ordered my 4410 I deliberately ordered a hydro for the increased productivity with front end loader work. I couldn't care less that it has a less pto power than a gear drive. It's not a relevant point for what I use my tractor for. Am I less skilled because I drive a hydro? We'll get to that.

My F-935 is a hydro. It doesn't come any other way. My experience is that a diesel hydro for mowing lawn is a lot more fuel and time efficient than any gas gear drive. Also mowing lawn with my F-935 uses quite a bit less fuel than mowing with my 4410. Both with 72" mowers. F-935 1.5 hours mowing. 4410 2.5 hours. Same lawn.

My quad has a belt drive. For one thing a Grizzly 700 doesn't come any other way. The other is that it's just easier in the bush not to have to consider what gear you are in. You just push the throttle and go.

Now here is the anomaly. Everything else that my wife and I drive is a standard. A Jetta, two Dodge Cummins and a 1947 IHC. The only time for us that an automatic would be nice is driving in town. But we are rural people so the majority of our driving is rural. We both drive standards and enjoy them. Now I could list a whole number of reasons why standards are better than automatics but most of those reasons are valid for me and my situation. So much for a hydro tractor owner being less skilled.

Ah yes and then there's my MF 245. I bought it as a fixer upper and haven't finished the fixing yet.

 

[pat32rf]

I have NEVER seen anyone able to slip/feather a clutch as gently as I can apply power to my HST. Plus, my wife, son, neighbour etc can hop on the tractor and be just as gentle.
Oh, I grew up on a 35hp Massey, the switched to a 60 hp Case, both gear units, before I retired to my JD HST.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Remind me to post a video delivering the oak log in the following video to a neighbor so we can all appreciate the horrible, horrible wine of HST in high gear.

Until then....