Hobby Farm Options

BungeeII · May 29, 2006

Slave, thanks for the info on the JD 3k20/4k20 stuff. My father-in-laws 4710 is hydrostatic. I don't particularly care for the latency in pedal response. I suppose with all of the positive comments about them, though, it's something you get used to or learn to operate.

BungeeII · May 29, 2006

Slave, thanks for the info on the JD 3k20/4k20 stuff. My father-in-laws 4710 is hydrostatic. I don't particularly care for the latency in pedal response. I suppose with all of the positive comments about them, though, it's something you get used to or learn to operate.

daTeacha · May 30, 2006

Maybe I'm a slow learner or something, but I have 30 hours on my HST Case and still push the pedal the wrong way now and then. Haven't done any serious damage yet, but there have been a number of instances when I found myself really glad I was just moving brush or something rather than working inside a building. I'm also very glad my clutch disengages the hydro. I have still have gear driver reflexes.

daTeacha · May 30, 2006

Maybe I'm a slow learner or something, but I have 30 hours on my HST Case and still push the pedal the wrong way now and then. Haven't done any serious damage yet, but there have been a number of instances when I found myself really glad I was just moving brush or something rather than working inside a building. I'm also very glad my clutch disengages the hydro. I have still have gear driver reflexes.

Bkjohns · May 30, 2006

I understand the comfort of a positive gear system instead of the hst lag, but I bet a lot of people felt the same about auto trannys in cars when they were used to standard shifts - until they drove the auto for a while and suddenly realized 'Hey, this is a lot nicer and easier than shifting all the bloomin' time'. Point is, if you aren't used to hst it will take some time, but once you are I bet you would never want to go back. I love it.

Good luck

Bkjohns · May 30, 2006

I understand the comfort of a positive gear system instead of the hst lag, but I bet a lot of people felt the same about auto trannys in cars when they were used to standard shifts - until they drove the auto for a while and suddenly realized 'Hey, this is a lot nicer and easier than shifting all the bloomin' time'. Point is, if you aren't used to hst it will take some time, but once you are I bet you would never want to go back. I love it.

Good luck

aesanders · May 30, 2006

I'd rather have the Kubota GST transmision than a hydro. It is a cluthless shift manual. Just put it in gear without stepping on the clutch and give it gas. Makes loader work even easier than a hydro in my opinion.

aesanders · May 30, 2006

I'd rather have the Kubota GST transmision than a hydro. It is a cluthless shift manual. Just put it in gear without stepping on the clutch and give it gas. Makes loader work even easier than a hydro in my opinion.

bbse · May 30, 2006

I had a Kubota 3010 with GST. It was great in open spaces. I never cared for it doing loader work. I now have a gear tractor with shuttle. If it were me I would take hydro if I were doing a lot of loader work or any task that required a lot of back and forth. Second choice, just my opinion, I would take a gear with syncro/shuttle. The dry clutch on the GST's is not meant to be used that much. The wet clutch is very good and will last forever. My problem with doing loader work was I could not keep from using the dry foot clutch for control. Try to use a shuttle on the dash, a gear changer by your hip on the same side, foot throttle on the right and try not to touch the clutch pedal. I couldn't do it. Like I said, in open country, it is the best and I would take it over the other two.

bbse · May 30, 2006

I had a Kubota 3010 with GST. It was great in open spaces. I never cared for it doing loader work. I now have a gear tractor with shuttle. If it were me I would take hydro if I were doing a lot of loader work or any task that required a lot of back and forth. Second choice, just my opinion, I would take a gear with syncro/shuttle. The dry clutch on the GST's is not meant to be used that much. The wet clutch is very good and will last forever. My problem with doing loader work was I could not keep from using the dry foot clutch for control. Try to use a shuttle on the dash, a gear changer by your hip on the same side, foot throttle on the right and try not to touch the clutch pedal. I couldn't do it. Like I said, in open country, it is the best and I would take it over the other two.

aesanders · May 30, 2006

The gst is basically a syncro shuttle with a hydraulic shifter built in. It is made to shift frequently and is extremely reliable. No need at all to clutch when shifting from forward to reverse or from changing gears.

Here is a good article on transmission choices another poster posted that I thought was vwery informative:

Tractor Transmission Types

aesanders · May 30, 2006

The gst is basically a syncro shuttle with a hydraulic shifter built in. It is made to shift frequently and is extremely reliable. No need at all to clutch when shifting from forward to reverse or from changing gears.

Here is a good article on transmission choices another poster posted that I thought was vwery informative:

Tractor Transmission Types

bbse · May 30, 2006

I owned one for over four years. I know how it works. If you are in... say... fifth gear where you are coming back from dropping a load... when you get back to the pile or place where you are digging, you first have to gear down, then as you go into the pile... say you need to work the bucket to get it full... at any rate you need to slow or stop your forward motion, you have to A. take the shuttle lever and put it into neutral B. shift the tranny into neutral C. Reverse and go back into the pile in a lower gear D. Feather it with the dry foot clutch or E. Just ram it and hit the reverser and do it again. I have done all of the above. Since I do not have a hydro, where I could just ease off the pedal, I had to use the clutch at times. One other thing I learned while I owned my GST, keep your foot on the brakes if you shift on a hill. Don't get me wrong, I loved my Kubota 3010 GST, I sold it because of financial problems. I was planning on keeping it forever. Since I had to sell it ...and for the time being I have on older manual/synchro tractor(Kioti LK3054, btw is a hoss).... when I can afford a newer CUT...it will be a hydro. Last thing, if for some reason I found a GST for a steal or I just had to take one, I would in a New York second and I would not think twice about it. Now that I have 4+ years of practice I can handle it if I had to. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

bbse · May 30, 2006

I owned one for over four years. I know how it works. If you are in... say... fifth gear where you are coming back from dropping a load... when you get back to the pile or place where you are digging, you first have to gear down, then as you go into the pile... say you need to work the bucket to get it full... at any rate you need to slow or stop your forward motion, you have to A. take the shuttle lever and put it into neutral B. shift the tranny into neutral C. Reverse and go back into the pile in a lower gear D. Feather it with the dry foot clutch or E. Just ram it and hit the reverser and do it again. I have done all of the above. Since I do not have a hydro, where I could just ease off the pedal, I had to use the clutch at times. One other thing I learned while I owned my GST, keep your foot on the brakes if you shift on a hill. Don't get me wrong, I loved my Kubota 3010 GST, I sold it because of financial problems. I was planning on keeping it forever. Since I had to sell it ...and for the time being I have on older manual/synchro tractor(Kioti LK3054, btw is a hoss).... when I can afford a newer CUT...it will be a hydro. Last thing, if for some reason I found a GST for a steal or I just had to take one, I would in a New York second and I would not think twice about it. Now that I have 4+ years of practice I can handle it if I had to. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

daTeacha · May 31, 2006

( I understand the comfort of a positive gear system instead of the hst lag, but I bet a lot of people felt the same about auto trannys in cars when they were used to standard shifts - until they drove the auto for a while and suddenly realized 'Hey, this is a lot nicer and easier than shifting all the bloomin' time'. Point is, if you aren't used to hst it will take some time, but once you are I bet you would never want to go back. (

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I drive a stick shift car, but the truck is an automatic, although only because it was a lot easier to find than a stick when I needed a truck to replace the other one that had a dying auto tranny. I hope I'll get to working the HST better, but if Case offered a shuttle on the DX29 or 33, I would have jumped that way instead of the HST.

daTeacha · May 31, 2006

( I understand the comfort of a positive gear system instead of the hst lag, but I bet a lot of people felt the same about auto trannys in cars when they were used to standard shifts - until they drove the auto for a while and suddenly realized 'Hey, this is a lot nicer and easier than shifting all the bloomin' time'. Point is, if you aren't used to hst it will take some time, but once you are I bet you would never want to go back. (

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I drive a stick shift car, but the truck is an automatic, although only because it was a lot easier to find than a stick when I needed a truck to replace the other one that had a dying auto tranny. I hope I'll get to working the HST better, but if Case offered a shuttle on the DX29 or 33, I would have jumped that way instead of the HST.

CBB · Jun 6, 2006

( FYI: you can order telescopic 3pt drag links (lower arms) for any of the JD 3x20 or 4x20 tractors. I have them on my 3720.

4x4 is a gotta have

don't discount the beauty of hydrostatic without trying it out! For loader work it is absolutely wonderful. The JD E-Hydro is amazing. Seems to be very reliable also.

I totally agree with the comment about choosing the service department first, then the brand. )

I was doing the due diligence thing a while ago and really liked the JD 3720 with the cab, FEL, etc.
Almost went that way but it was too big to fit down the rows of our fruit farm but that is one nice rig.

CBB · Jun 6, 2006

( FYI: you can order telescopic 3pt drag links (lower arms) for any of the JD 3x20 or 4x20 tractors. I have them on my 3720.

4x4 is a gotta have

don't discount the beauty of hydrostatic without trying it out! For loader work it is absolutely wonderful. The JD E-Hydro is amazing. Seems to be very reliable also.

I totally agree with the comment about choosing the service department first, then the brand. )

I was doing the due diligence thing a while ago and really liked the JD 3720 with the cab, FEL, etc.
Almost went that way but it was too big to fit down the rows of our fruit farm but that is one nice rig.

BungeeII · Jun 9, 2006

I'm starting to get sore up here on the fence.

Kub;
L3130DT, R4, QA723 $18,100
L4400, R4, 703, $19,200

Massey 8x8's;
1533, R4 Pin Lock QA $16,900
1540, R4 Pin Lock QA $18,500

At these prices, the MF's have surpassed the Kub's as my new favorites.

BungeeII · Jun 9, 2006

I'm starting to get sore up here on the fence.

Kub;
L3130DT, R4, QA723 $18,100
L4400, R4, 703, $19,200

Massey 8x8's;
1533, R4 Pin Lock QA $16,900
1540, R4 Pin Lock QA $18,500

At these prices, the MF's have surpassed the Kub's as my new favorites.