PineRidge, you're right, this isn't a hydo vs gear post. What confuses me is that tilling is one of the easiest tasks for the transmission. I mean, come on, have you ever had to put your tractor in 4X4 or even lock the rear diff while tilling? The PTO and engine are working hard, but the transmission is having an easy time!
My comment is based on fact for me (see Henro, a fact) that I couldn't till 8" deep in my hard soil with a gear tractor, but I could no problem with the exact same hp hydro tractor. At times, when the soil was extremely hard, I likely wasn't running 1/20th of a mile per hour. For the gear tractor, that meant constantly slipping the clutch even in the lowest gear.
Rather than get upset, I'd advise to buy whatever you want. If you can't till in low gear with your gear tractor, you'll just have to till at a more shallow depth and do it two or three times to get your depth. My opinion here is that you would be better to make two or three passes rather than slip your clutch. But, hey, if you're buying, slip away. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Obviously, we all know that slipping your clutch will cause premature wear on a clutch that otherwise may last decades.
If someone is curious as to what two tractors I used with the same tiller on the exact same piece of ground, one was a JD 4600 (gear) and a Kubota L4310HSTC (hydro). Their PTO hp is nearly identical. I would not say at all that the Kubota was stronger or "better" than the JD at all. I will only say that in low range with the hydro, I could till all I wanted at any depth I wanted. I had to make two passes with the JD 4600. One pass at about 3", and the next at about 8". Both would do the job just fine, and I believe both tractors are quality units. Some may even have a valid arguement that it is likely better to make two passes anyway. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I only take exception to the people who are dogmatic and and state that a hydro tractor is not as durable as a gear tractor. Before you get fired up, look up the definition of "dogmatic". It means to assert one's opinion as if it were fact. If we are to stay with facts only about the "gear vs. hydro for pulling a tiller", I think all comments would have to be qualified by whether or not the tractor in the quesion has enough power to turn the tiller. If your tractor has ample PTO power, I would say the "gear vs. hydro" part is a moot issue. I obviously had a tiller that was too large to turn at my desired depth with my gear tractor. The hydro tractor was able to compensate for also being underpowered for the required task by being able to go much slower. That is the fact in my post.
Okay Henro, who was it in Dragnet who always said "just the facts"? Was that Friday? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif The younger members here will be wondering "what is Dragnet". /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
