Gone Back To Gear Tractor?

[Duffster]

At the risk of scoring an 'F' for comprehension on this thread, I'd like to relate an issue with hydros that I have some firsthand experience with.

The neighbor has an old IH 1066 Hydro (not HST, I know, but close for the day) that has a very strong engine but a worn out tranny that wimps out when fluid temperature rises. On a warm summer day, that 120HP tractor can barely pull a hay rake.

The cost of getting the 30+ year old transmission rebuilt is prohibitive, so they just live with it and try to limit the tractor to jobs needing a PTO mule. Seems a shame as strong as the engine is and as good shape as the rest of the tractor is, that it just can't pull.

I love the HST on my B7610 and sometimes wish my larger tractors had HST. But 30 years of usage, which is nothing to a gear tranny, could well be terminal to an HST. The parts and expertise needed for an overhaul could be more than the tractor is worth.
FWIW
Bob

What is the difference between IH's "hydro" and a modern HST?

 

[Soundguy]

The neighbor has an old IH 1066 Hydro (not HST, I know, but close for the day) that has a very strong engine but a worn out tranny that wimps out when fluid temperature rises. On a warm summer day, that 120HP tractor can barely pull a hay rake.

That's a common complaint I've heard.. some use heavier oil till it just don't pull anymore.

soundguy

 

[Bob_Young]

What is the difference between IH's "hydro" and a modern HST?

The transmission in the IH 1066 is more like an automotive automatic transmission, I believe. However, it doesn't shift ranges automatically like an automotive transmission does. I could be wrong on this, but I think it operates through a torque converter rather than hydraulic pumps and motors. If someone has the correct story, I'd be happy to hear it. Could be it's closer to an HST than I think.
Bob

 

[rdbrumfield]

Had the opportunity to have some seat time on a 4650 Kubota HST today. With the three ranges I felt it did ok. At first I had a hill to go up and it took a bit to realize that I had to back off the pedal to climb the hill. To used to full throttle on a gear rig. Should have gone to intermediate range I suppose.

Did some pretty good pulling with it and it was nice to be able to ease into a load and to get the most out of the traction without spinning the wheels excessively.

The other night I was reading about the whine of the HST and yes it does that. Overall though, I am a gearhead. It is a nice tractor, but when I got back on my rig and let out the clutch, it was just a confirmation for me that it has to be gears.

 

[jda1961]

i have a hydrostatic riding mower that i love, but in a tractor i'd have to say i'd rather have a geared transmision. a freind of mine has a hydrostatic ford 1220, and its ok as long as you don't get it in a bind, then it just sits there and hums. going up hill is another problem too, but i'm sure they've come a long way over the years. i like the shuttle transmision, but if they make a stout hydrostatic that will push a loader bucket into hard ground like the shuttle or other geared tractors i'd take one.

 

[Egon]

but if they make a stout hydrostatic that will push a loader bucket into hard ground like the shuttle or other geared tractors i'd take one.

The HST does it even better than the geared unit as you have much better speed control!

 

[ModMech]

What no one has mentioned yet is WAF (wife acceptance factor)

Not an issue in our household as my bride can operate anything from an HST (automatic vehicle) to an 18 speed OTR truck gearbox w/o any problem once she's familiar with the pattern.

I've seen her split-shift a 5+2 uphill loaded

 

[allenr]

Not an issue in our household as my bride can operate anything from an HST (automatic vehicle) to an 18 speed OTR truck gearbox w/o any problem once she's familiar with the pattern.

I've seen her split-shift a 5+2 uphill loaded

Has she got a sister who's available?

I s'pose she can reverse a trailer too.

 

[ModMech]

As well as I can

She rides a motorcycle BETTER than I do, she rides a GSXR 600, but I'm the "king" of fixing

 

[killdozerd11]

Just a curiosity poll. Has anyone actually gone back to a gear tractor, or threatened to do so, because they a.) wished to save a few dollars? b.) gotten weary of the HST whine, or c.) another reason of your own?

Not so much interested in a zillion posts by those who love their HST and wouldn't go back, that's obviously the vast majority. Just interested in hearing from those who have or are thinking about swimming against the tide.

I have posted something like this before

If you are going to PULL an implement all day then i agree GEARS is the way
and a lot of my time has been on gears

But if you do a lot of loader/scraper /trencher and even general load and tote around the place work HST is the way to go

For the guy's still rumbling about the older torque converter type transmissions that was then let it die
they were still an improvement over gears for some applications

Loader never had so much tear out power before torque converter / HST type transmissions . Not to mention cycle time going way down
Faster than a Johnson bar

Always spinning the tires crud burning the clutch and throw out bearing.

Hey remember greaseable throw out bearings
How about thermals on the 2-U CAT dozers having to pour oil on them so the friggin clutch would release when you pushed the lever to disengage and it wouldn't
How about the first time you forgot to put the trans in neutral and reengage the clutch and you use the lever to pull your self back up on the dozer
Bet you only did that once.
How about the times you had to change the clutch and throwout bearing
because the idiot that was running it didn't lock it over center

I could go on