TalonDancer
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2007
- Messages
- 388
I've had a little time now (27hrs on the clock) to get familiar with my Grand L3240's HST Plus tranny.
There's lots to like.
In "normal" HST mode...
1 - on fairly level ground it slows, stops and holds the tractor steady by just lifting off the HST pedal.
2 - it's easy to backup a little or go forward a little, by just rocking your right foot.
3- over narrow speed ranges you can use the HST pedal to adjust speed.
The HST plus adds nice conveniences like ...
4- the little Hydo Dual Speed (H-DS) lever on the steering column which makes minor speed / power adjustment instantly (e.g. HST M - high & low).
5- HST Response Control which adjusts how quickly the HST responds to the foot pedal.
6- Stall Guard - that does what is says.
7- Auto H-DS - that does switch to low but only when the engine is bogging down more than I would allow before manually switching
Then it gets a bit more esoteric...
8- Auto Throttle Advance - which converts the HST pedal into a pseudo "gas pedal". IMO this potentially killer feature is severely flawed. First - it only works going forward - DUH. But more importantly, it's only useful in conjunction with...
9- Cruise Control - which AFAIK only vaguely resembles cruise control in cars.
a- it does shut off when you press the brake.
b- it will keep the tractor moving forward when you take you foot of the HST pedal. But even when set to full on, the forward motion is pretty slow.
OTOH Cruise Control acts like sort of a manual throttle control when used in conjunction with Auto Throttle Advance - pushing the cruise control lever forward _reduces_ the engine speed needed to achieve a given forward speed. IOW it acts as an infinitely variable gear box that makes Auto Throttle Advance usable. With the Cruise Control lever at its lowest level, when you press on the HST pedal, the engine revs to over 2,000 RPM just to begin moving the tractor. But if you push the Cruise Control lever forward the tractor will begin to move forward at near idle speeds.
In fairness, Kubota describes Auto Throttle Advance in the context of long distance travel ( e.g. hauling a trailer etc.). And it does do that well. BUT it could have been SO MUCH MORE if they had not linked it to Cruise Control and had allowed Auto Throttle Advance to work in reverse as well as forward.
BTW the Kubota website does not even mention Cruise Control in Grand 40 section???
FWIW I have less than 60 total hours of tractor experience (30hrs on a rented L39 GST and 27hrs on my GL3240 HST plus). So is it possible that I just don't get it I'd be happy to be enlightened.
Talon Dancer
There's lots to like.
In "normal" HST mode...
1 - on fairly level ground it slows, stops and holds the tractor steady by just lifting off the HST pedal.
2 - it's easy to backup a little or go forward a little, by just rocking your right foot.
3- over narrow speed ranges you can use the HST pedal to adjust speed.
The HST plus adds nice conveniences like ...
4- the little Hydo Dual Speed (H-DS) lever on the steering column which makes minor speed / power adjustment instantly (e.g. HST M - high & low).
5- HST Response Control which adjusts how quickly the HST responds to the foot pedal.
6- Stall Guard - that does what is says.
7- Auto H-DS - that does switch to low but only when the engine is bogging down more than I would allow before manually switching
Then it gets a bit more esoteric...
8- Auto Throttle Advance - which converts the HST pedal into a pseudo "gas pedal". IMO this potentially killer feature is severely flawed. First - it only works going forward - DUH. But more importantly, it's only useful in conjunction with...
9- Cruise Control - which AFAIK only vaguely resembles cruise control in cars.
a- it does shut off when you press the brake.
b- it will keep the tractor moving forward when you take you foot of the HST pedal. But even when set to full on, the forward motion is pretty slow.
OTOH Cruise Control acts like sort of a manual throttle control when used in conjunction with Auto Throttle Advance - pushing the cruise control lever forward _reduces_ the engine speed needed to achieve a given forward speed. IOW it acts as an infinitely variable gear box that makes Auto Throttle Advance usable. With the Cruise Control lever at its lowest level, when you press on the HST pedal, the engine revs to over 2,000 RPM just to begin moving the tractor. But if you push the Cruise Control lever forward the tractor will begin to move forward at near idle speeds.
In fairness, Kubota describes Auto Throttle Advance in the context of long distance travel ( e.g. hauling a trailer etc.). And it does do that well. BUT it could have been SO MUCH MORE if they had not linked it to Cruise Control and had allowed Auto Throttle Advance to work in reverse as well as forward.
BTW the Kubota website does not even mention Cruise Control in Grand 40 section???
FWIW I have less than 60 total hours of tractor experience (30hrs on a rented L39 GST and 27hrs on my GL3240 HST plus). So is it possible that I just don't get it I'd be happy to be enlightened.
Talon Dancer