HST ? improved over the years

[Slackdaddy]

Things I would use the CUT for:

Loader work (gravel, dirt, mulch)
backhoe
Roto tilling,
skidding logs
light grading
setting landscaping
shuttling material in the loader

Nick

 

[john_bud]

I don't know what you ran 20 years ago, they weren't herky jerky back then, either. You may have had a bad one?

The HST's of the past 10-15 years are very smooth and very reliable. There is a pump whine - no doubt. The newest ones are quieter than the 10 year olds. Not from wear, but from engineering improvements. I don't get flustered about the whine as I have to wear hearing protection to keep what little is left. (Highly recommend all ya'll do the same!)

 

[Barneyhunts]

In 1971 I bought a 14 Hp Ford (Jacobson) with a hydrostatic transmission with some trepidation. A farmer who worked with me assured me the hydro was a strong transmission. My son is still using that tractor to mow grass and blow snow. I now have a Kubota BX 2200 and a B7800 and as I think about upgrading to a larger tractor, I think HST.

 

[bota7800]

Loader work and light grading are ideal HST uses. Some of the others tasks probably won't make a difference one way or the other. I wanted shuttle shift when I was shopping but found a good deal so I went HST. Its been OK. I have never noticed any noises or anything that bothered me.

One thing I like about some tractors I am looking at now better than mine is the HST pedal arrangement. Mine has two pedals, one behind the other (they are actually a rocker). When I am doing a lot of back and forth I find the distance between the pedals to be just enough that I make a repeated short leg movement between them. This is not very ergonomic. I noticed on the new ones they have 2 side by side pedals. That should be better.

Test drive some to see what you like.

 

[smfcpacfp]

Looks like every brand has very good HST's from the posts. I can confirm that mine is also a pleasure to use

 

[CurlyDave]

I bought a JD 110 because it had a HST, while the Kubota L39 had a shuttle shift.

I have never regretted that decision.

The other day I followed a L39 on a trailer for several miles in stop & go traffic. I noticed a whole bunch of quality differences, all of which reinforced my decision.

 

[LBrown59]

HST proved itself to me over 20 years ago on a new Kubota.
Never looked back and don't want nothing to do with gear!
I have 3 Kubotas with HST.
2003 BX1500
2004 BX23
2005 BX1500
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[bandit67]

Things I would use the CUT for:

Loader work (gravel, dirt, mulch)
backhoe
Roto tilling,
skidding logs
light grading
setting landscaping
shuttling material in the loader

Nick

HST is awesome for loader work and tilling because of the ease of control of speed and quick direction change with only 1 foot. I had a nice little gear compact back in 1990, and back then, it took both feet and 1 hand to change direction, and to adjust my speed if I realized I was in the wrong gear for a task.

I was hesitant to got to the HST, because of all the typical preconceived notions about it, especially after using a gear tractor. But after logging 400 hours on HST machines in the last 3 1/2 years, I'm a convert, and would never go back to gear. Maybe a glide shift type, if that was the only option on a machine I was looking at, but never back to a true gear.

HST's that I've used in the last few years are quiet, and extremely easy to use, and make many tractor tasks much less cumbersome and greatly increase your efficiency & productivity.

 

[brandoro]

I went from a B6200 gear to a B7610 HST. Really happy with it, can't be beat for loader work. Control action and tractor movement very smooth. The transmission noise did seem a bit excessive at first but has faded into the back ground now, don't notice it unless I think about it. I wear ear muffs when ever doing higher RPM PTO work like mowing or chipping. The only drawback I have noticed with the HST is when trying to creep into a tight spot it is difficult to use the wheel brake and the HST control together. I have thought about making a detachable hand control for the HST for occasions like that. The thing is that now I am nearly finished doing landscaping right around the house it hasn't been an issue. Haven't had to make that tight a turn anywhere else. The first 100 hours on this tractor was almost entirely back hoe-loader work and the transmission was perfect.

 

[art]

Soon to be in the market for a 20-32 HP CUT.
Have not had the time to demo any (work Schedule), just arm chair shopping.
I have this far discounted any HST models do to my preconcived notion that they are loud and "herky-Jerky" (My only CUT experiance is on machines of 20+ years ago, or bob cats)
Talked to a CUB/Yanmar and a Kioti dealer, when I mentioned this, they said, No the new HST machines are smoth as silk ? One guy mentioned something about a "clutch" in the HST drive that smooths it out ?

Can anyone shed some light on this ?
I know I need to get out and try some, but it will be a month or 2 till My time is freed up.

Thanks,
Nick

Nick, a bobcat would potentially have several reasons for being jerky, wrong tires, not enough horsepower to get started not counting that it might be out of adjustment if the tires or engine is right. The hydro has given many people an easy to operate and highly productive piece to operate. I have places I like my gear drives but for many jobs a gear drive is so much harder to do the job as effectively!