NIXON
Veteran Member
Steve , Nice post ! And, Welcome to TBN ! John
HST or man
- Thread starter Anonymous Poster
- Start date
- Views: 5472
JerryG
Super Member
<font color="blue"> All this to say longevity and dependability of a tractor won't be an issue with the average homeowner whether it's gear or hst. </font>
That is the key to all of this discussion. The AVERAGE HOMEOWNER. Everyone is always talking about how much easier it is to do loader work, well, most homeowners don't use a tractor enough at one time to get tired using either one. Go ahead and ballast me, I'm ready. The average homeowner may use his or her tractor 30-60 hours a year. This is not heavy use and either transmission should hold up unless it made from plastic. Under this type of use which ever tractor that a person is comfortable with is the one they should get.
That is the key to all of this discussion. The AVERAGE HOMEOWNER. Everyone is always talking about how much easier it is to do loader work, well, most homeowners don't use a tractor enough at one time to get tired using either one. Go ahead and ballast me, I'm ready. The average homeowner may use his or her tractor 30-60 hours a year. This is not heavy use and either transmission should hold up unless it made from plastic. Under this type of use which ever tractor that a person is comfortable with is the one they should get.
Henro
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2003
- Messages
- 4,982
- Location
- Few miles north of Pgh, PA
- Tractor
- Kubota B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini EX
<font color="blue">That is the key to all of this discussion. The AVERAGE HOMEOWNER. Everyone is always talking about how much easier it is to do loader work, well, most homeowners don't use a tractor enough at one time to get tired using either one. </font>
Jerry,
I think that may be the exact reason the HST may be easier to use for the "average" homeowner.
No need to get into any rhythm when using the loader. No clutch/foot accelerator and gear changer synchronization needed. Push the forward direction into the pile, let off before you stall out, push the back directional pedal to move away.
As compared to doing a lot of loader work, where one or the other likely becomes second nature, and it becomes the amount of work that tires the operator, not the HST or gear issue.
That’s the way it seems to me anyway. But I have not worked a gear-type tractor/loader. So I don’t know for sure... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Jerry,
I think that may be the exact reason the HST may be easier to use for the "average" homeowner.
No need to get into any rhythm when using the loader. No clutch/foot accelerator and gear changer synchronization needed. Push the forward direction into the pile, let off before you stall out, push the back directional pedal to move away.
As compared to doing a lot of loader work, where one or the other likely becomes second nature, and it becomes the amount of work that tires the operator, not the HST or gear issue.
That’s the way it seems to me anyway. But I have not worked a gear-type tractor/loader. So I don’t know for sure... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
JerryG
Super Member
Bill,
We are in 100% agreement.
We are in 100% agreement.
PineRidge
Super Member
When I went to trade up I fully intended to go gear drive. I was checking out the gear drive models, but the dealer fired up a hydro and insisted that I give it a spin. (sneaky eh?)There was absolutely no learning curve and I was an immediate fan, the expression on my face told the story. My wife, daughters, or sons could have just as easily got on that very same tractor and been in control of the rig without ever knowing what a clutch or gear shift were for. Drive one for yourself, if after that time if you are still not happy, settle for the gear drive.
I have a 5000lb TLB with a gear trans, 3 speed trans and
reverse are synchro, 4 speed range trans is not. (Ford NH)
I have a 6300lb TLB with a GST trans, 8 speed straight shifter
with reverse lever you never need to use foot clutch unless
you want to. (Kubota)
I have a 3900lb tractor (without rear implement) with HST.(JD)
All of the previous posts are valid. In my case I wish
at times ANY of the transmissions were in the OTHER tractor(s).
HST or GST transmissions have no position to hold tractor
when stopped. If you want to leave tractor you have to
rely on parking brake. On a slope this is a bit risky.
With my gear tractor if I put it in low and turn the engine
off it will be in the same place 10 years later with or
without the parking brake.
To have access to power you have to have the rpms up a bit
on the HST, even at 1800-2000 the W H I N E on an HST may
make you reach for an aspirin, even with aircraft runway
hearing protection. Otherwise you are always juggling the
throttle lever.
You still have to stop to go from low to mid range on the
HST or stir the lever. I understand that NH has some sort
of electric shift button to do this? Sounds promising.
Myself I cannot stand the go pedal on the Kubota HST. Been
there/done that.
My JD I consider light duty even with it's "HD bucket". The
way the loader is attached to the tractor makes me cringe
every time I look at it. The time I spent reinforcing my
Ford backhoe and loader tell me there are problems there
for any kind of serious use. I love the pedals on the JD,
the comfort and safety and ease of use in tight spaces.
When the Ford gets sold I think for my uses the combo of
the Kubota and the JD will work great. So far they have.
Try each for at least half a day on YOUR property first even
if you have to rent each type. You'll be sorry if you don't
and ALWAYS wonder if you made the right choice.
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif<font color="blue">D</font><font color="orange">E</font> <font color="green">L</font>/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
reverse are synchro, 4 speed range trans is not. (Ford NH)
I have a 6300lb TLB with a GST trans, 8 speed straight shifter
with reverse lever you never need to use foot clutch unless
you want to. (Kubota)
I have a 3900lb tractor (without rear implement) with HST.(JD)
All of the previous posts are valid. In my case I wish
at times ANY of the transmissions were in the OTHER tractor(s).
HST or GST transmissions have no position to hold tractor
when stopped. If you want to leave tractor you have to
rely on parking brake. On a slope this is a bit risky.
With my gear tractor if I put it in low and turn the engine
off it will be in the same place 10 years later with or
without the parking brake.
To have access to power you have to have the rpms up a bit
on the HST, even at 1800-2000 the W H I N E on an HST may
make you reach for an aspirin, even with aircraft runway
hearing protection. Otherwise you are always juggling the
throttle lever.
You still have to stop to go from low to mid range on the
HST or stir the lever. I understand that NH has some sort
of electric shift button to do this? Sounds promising.
Myself I cannot stand the go pedal on the Kubota HST. Been
there/done that.
My JD I consider light duty even with it's "HD bucket". The
way the loader is attached to the tractor makes me cringe
every time I look at it. The time I spent reinforcing my
Ford backhoe and loader tell me there are problems there
for any kind of serious use. I love the pedals on the JD,
the comfort and safety and ease of use in tight spaces.
When the Ford gets sold I think for my uses the combo of
the Kubota and the JD will work great. So far they have.
Try each for at least half a day on YOUR property first even
if you have to rent each type. You'll be sorry if you don't
and ALWAYS wonder if you made the right choice.
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif<font color="blue">D</font><font color="orange">E</font> <font color="green">L</font>/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
slowzuki
Elite Member
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2003
- Messages
- 4,100
- Location
- New Brunswick, Canada
- Tractor
- Kubota L5030 HSTC, MF 5455, Kubota M120, Allis Chalmers 7010
HST does hold the tractor when in neutral. I assume you mean when turned off and parked? I suppose some creep can happen but generally people don't park stuff on steep hills and leave it for any length of time.
Most gear tractors I've driven have such worn out brakes you wouldn't dare push the clutch in on a steep hill to restart it!
Ken
</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
HST or GST transmissions have no position to hold tractor
when stopped. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif<font color="blue">D</font><font color="orange">E</font> <font color="green">L</font>
)</font>
Most gear tractors I've driven have such worn out brakes you wouldn't dare push the clutch in on a steep hill to restart it!
Ken
</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
HST or GST transmissions have no position to hold tractor
when stopped. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif<font color="blue">D</font><font color="orange">E</font> <font color="green">L</font>
)</font>
Yes, I meant to say when tractor is off.
I didn't mean to suggest I demanded the tractor to stay
put on a steep slope, even a mild one, enough for the
tractor to roll is a concern if you may be in front of it
or if there is an embankment (escarpment?) down the hill a bit.
The HST's a heck of a piece of engineering to not have a
"Park" position with a simple positive lock pin or something
involved.
The brakes on this Kubota are a sick joke. It can't even
stop itself backing down a gentle trailer ramp and to use
the turning brakes you have to just about break a shin.
(from day one)
On the other hand, my 20 year old Ford CUT will pivot on
one tire with gentle pressure on one brake.
Progress?
I like the idea of easily using turning brakes for dragging
something where the tractor is fighting my desire to go
straight or getting around tight spaces, sure wish it was
easier in reality to use them. Maybe I should take time off
and spend time with a leg press at the gym!/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif<font color="blue">D</font><font color="orange">E</font> <font color="green">L</font>/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I didn't mean to suggest I demanded the tractor to stay
put on a steep slope, even a mild one, enough for the
tractor to roll is a concern if you may be in front of it
or if there is an embankment (escarpment?) down the hill a bit.
The HST's a heck of a piece of engineering to not have a
"Park" position with a simple positive lock pin or something
involved.
The brakes on this Kubota are a sick joke. It can't even
stop itself backing down a gentle trailer ramp and to use
the turning brakes you have to just about break a shin.
(from day one)
On the other hand, my 20 year old Ford CUT will pivot on
one tire with gentle pressure on one brake.
Progress?
I like the idea of easily using turning brakes for dragging
something where the tractor is fighting my desire to go
straight or getting around tight spaces, sure wish it was
easier in reality to use them. Maybe I should take time off
and spend time with a leg press at the gym!/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif<font color="blue">D</font><font color="orange">E</font> <font color="green">L</font>/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
BWS
Silver Member
i too was going to buy a gear[i liked the deer power reverser]until i drove the kubota hst.i went back and forth a few times to drive each and the more i drove the easier the decission got.i went the l3830hst.when my wife is behind the wheel and i'm chaining something i'm glad its a hydro.jmho.
slowzuki
Elite Member
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2003
- Messages
- 4,100
- Location
- New Brunswick, Canada
- Tractor
- Kubota L5030 HSTC, MF 5455, Kubota M120, Allis Chalmers 7010
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( enough for the tractor to roll is a concern if you may be in front of it)</font>
I drove a Kubota 3130hst recently that is parked on a hill at the dealer. The thing sits there with no parking brake on, just turned off in gear, and it has been there 11 months now. If the clutch is pushed in it rolls. Running with the pedal centered it didn't want to go anywhere, is your HST pedal not recentering properly?
</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
The HST's a heck of a piece of engineering to not have a
"Park" position with a simple positive lock pin or something
)</font> I don't really think it much of a piece of engineering, much easier to design than a gear tranny. I suspect we only pay more for them due to market demand.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
The brakes on this Kubota are a sick joke....to use the turning brakes you have to just about break a shin.
)</font>
Well, the brakes on all the kubotas I've driven have been top notch, but I agree, the brake turning layout is kinda poor. Don't bother trying in reverse.
I don't normally use the split brakes but I have been scraping down driveways and hauling logs in the snow and it is very useful. I don't like the idea of having the brakes and clutch on the wrong side though as I drive a std tranny car every day.
I drove a Kubota 3130hst recently that is parked on a hill at the dealer. The thing sits there with no parking brake on, just turned off in gear, and it has been there 11 months now. If the clutch is pushed in it rolls. Running with the pedal centered it didn't want to go anywhere, is your HST pedal not recentering properly?
</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
The HST's a heck of a piece of engineering to not have a
"Park" position with a simple positive lock pin or something
)</font> I don't really think it much of a piece of engineering, much easier to design than a gear tranny. I suspect we only pay more for them due to market demand.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
The brakes on this Kubota are a sick joke....to use the turning brakes you have to just about break a shin.
)</font>
Well, the brakes on all the kubotas I've driven have been top notch, but I agree, the brake turning layout is kinda poor. Don't bother trying in reverse.
I don't normally use the split brakes but I have been scraping down driveways and hauling logs in the snow and it is very useful. I don't like the idea of having the brakes and clutch on the wrong side though as I drive a std tranny car every day.
