gear vs. hydro for pulling tiller

[bluecarpenter]

Just when I think I could make a decision on what to get I get a curve ball thrown at me. Stopped by a dealer today on the way home and had a 2 hour discussion with him. Really nice guy. Got to looking at the 35 boomer tractor. I was looking at the gear drive but in conversation I mention wanting to use a tiller. He said he would strongly recommend a hydro for tiller work cause it is easer to go real slow. better that a gear. that you would be riding the clutch a lot. would wear it out over time. they had a used 35 with loader for abot 16,000 with 300 hrs. on it. made me salivate. I really like the 2 petals for the hydro. have used the rocker and don't care for it. any help in this matter would be greatly apreciated for what ever brand of tractor I end up with. thanks mark

 

[GerardC]

There will be pros and cons with either one with anyone you talk to. I personally think that gear is better AND stronger. How many hydros were there when our FOREFATHERS plowed the fields? They seemed to have accomplished clearing, plowing, tilling etc. tens of thousands of acres with their geared machines. Hydro today is nothing more than a convenience in my opinion. I like gears. Just my opinion. G

 

[slowzuki]

How many forefathers had pto either? If you want to hook up an old tractor to a tiller, good lucking keeping it in the ground. I've driven old iron and their low gears aren't very low!

Nowadays if you want to go gear, look for something with a creeper option. Most manufacturers offer it, it is just a gear and lever they add on to give an ultra low range.

 

[Egon]

If you are drooling over the loader definetly go Hst. It will work much better with the tiller and is a natural for loader work.

Egon

 

[gcrabb]

bluecarpenter,

Gear and Hydro both have their own uses that they excel in.

A gear is better if your going to be pulling with a heavy load, ie plowing or heavy landscape box work.

A hydro is better if you need a lot of control in what the tractor is doing, ie loader work, finish work with a landscape box.

As for rototilling I would prefer a hydro.

The spousal unit also finds it easier to use a hydro, more control.

I wish there was a tractor that had both.

JD4600 with 460FEL with grapple fork, pallet fork and 7'6" Western Snow Plow, JD LX279, 84" KK finishing mower, 84" KK Landscape Box, 84" KK Landscape Rake, 84" KK Blade, and 72" KK Bush Hog, 7' Northern Tool Backhoe, Bri Mar 6X10 Dump Trailer, 20' Rugged Road Equipment Trailer.

Greg

 

[PineRidge]

We have used our HST for pulling a 2-bottom plow, a tiller, a disk, and a corn planter for our large garden. The HST has made it remarkably easy to move at any speed that was correct for the implement used at the time. I wouldn't recommend an HST if you were going to be plowing acres and acres of land but for the home garden I say go for it.

 

[art]

If it's being towed on the drawbar or on the three point hitch the gear is the most productive. If it's hooked to the PTO the hydro is the best transmission.

 

[JerryG]

bluecarpenter,
If you prefer gears, you can have the dealer get you a tractor with creeper gears in the transmission. Then you can go just as slow with a rotary tiller as you need to with no problems.

 

[eee]

Infinite control with the hydro when pulling a roto tiller.

 

[hobbyfarm]

Howdy bluecarpenter,
Just to keep it simple,

Hydro for PTO work and shuttling back and forth /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Gear for drawbar work /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif