hst shift or manuel?

[Heywood Jannockitov]

...if your doing loader work with a clutch your gonna kill your leg.

Flipping my power reverser with my finger is going to kill my leg?

Let's not forget that not all "gear" tractors are created equal. Loader work with a non-shuttle gear tractor where you have to shift an "H" pattern transmission into reverse and back definitely would lose its novelty quick. But most modern gear tractors are shuttles, synchro or hydraulic. Even with a synchro you can forward-reverse shift while the tractor is moving. My '73 IH 454 is a non-synchro shuttle, and it doesn't bother me to do loader work at all. Just have to be at a standstill to shift forward-back.

 

[rjkobbeman]

Flipping my power reverser with my finger is going to kill my leg?

Let's not forget that not all "gear" tractors are created equal. Loader work with a non-shuttle gear tractor where you have to shift an "H" pattern transmission into reverse and back definitely would lose its novelty quick. But most modern gear tractors are shuttles, synchro or hydraulic. Even with a synchro you can forward-reverse shift while the tractor is moving. My '73 IH 454 is a non-synchro shuttle, and it doesn't bother me to do loader work at all. Just have to be at a standstill to shift forward-back.

You beat me to it.

I do lots of loader work and find my hydraulic shuttle quite nice to use.

 

[stravis]

If you can hire Manuel to do the work for you, I definitely think that's the better option over HST. As long as Manuel is qualified to do the work.


Sorry, I had to do it.

 

[rjkobbeman]

If you can hire Manuel to do the work for you, I definitely think that's the better option over HST. As long as Manuel is qualified to do the work.


Sorry, I had to do it.

Funny... I made the same connection when I first read the thread title!

 

[rogerL1961]

Each reply adds info that is showing me that the people that have hst do think its an ok thing to have or not just ok but they really like it. i have also been a gear person for a long time but i do know progress. i have a sportsman quad that if it was a shift model it would be the best. i hate the weak belts they have and i have never had problems with gears.

I figured that if anyone was having problems with the HST it would shine through here. i will most likely be doing a lot of in close back and forth work with mine. i won't be plowing big fields or really doing much steady long distance work.

I appreciate all of the responses even if it seems like its just a shot in the dark trying to figure out what the best way to answer the original question might be. its the shot in the dark answers i was hoping to have because it will answer questions i cant think of because i don't know the HST system. So keep answering!!!...

 

[rogerL1961]

ha...No guys...Manuel would be me.....

I kinda miss worded that original question. I was kinda trying to get at the point of does the clutch wear you out in close tight work. Is it easy to use? Does the Clutch have more power? Is the clutch model geared lower than the Hst?

Does slow work with the HST burn something out? I know on my sportsman quad if I go slow with the clutch it burns the belt...Thats what I am getting at. Yes I am totally green so throw some of the good and bad points of each system at me...That way I can have this wonderful knowledge all the rest of you guys have.

 

[TripleR]

ha...No guys...Manuel would be me.....

I kinda miss worded that original question. I was kinda trying to get at the point of does the clutch wear you out in close tight work. Is it easy to use? Does the Clutch have more power? Is the clutch model geared lower than the Hst?

Does slow work with the HST burn something out? I know on my sportsman quad if I go slow with the clutch it burns the belt...Thats what I am getting at. Yes I am totally green so throw some of the good and bad points of each system at me...That way I can have this wonderful knowledge all the rest of you guys have.

Actually your Sportsman has CVT rather than HST and yes idling will wear your belt; I had a Sportsman 700 myself. My Grizzly has a different system and their is no slippage or wearing on the belt, but it is still an CVT rather than HST. Idling an HST causes no problems nor does running it at very low speeds as the HST is powered by pumps. There is a thread on here comparing the CVT to HST, but the CVT on our ATV's are different than that on tractors and such; similar in function, but different in how they are driven.

There are different clutch types on geared tractors, our MF375 is different than our M8540, but slipping the clutch will wear it out prematurely. When used properly, wear is not a significant issue. Our 375 was bought new in 1985 or so and has never had the clutch replaced; same with our Case 995 which is a mid 60's tractor.

As to if the clutch/geared unit is geared lower than the HST, that is a function of the transmission and how it is geared. I have a geared tractor that is not geared very low and one that is geared so slow, you can outrun it on a slow walk if you have in in the lowerest gear and range.

 

[RoyJackson]

both HST an gear have their good points an bad points.if your doing loader work with a clutch your gonna kill your leg.

Only if you're a wussy...real men develop the strength and stamina.

 

[bigbull338]

Only if you're a wussy...real men develop the strength and stamina.

thats ok my clutch leg has been gone for years.an once it goes completely like mine did,you can no longer drive clutch tractors.

 

[RoyJackson]

thats ok my clutch leg has been gone for years.an once it goes completely like mine did,you can no longer drive clutch tractors.

I'm 61...been running manual trucks for 40 some years and manual tractors for the last ten. Reckon I'll make it for another ten years or so...

Anyway, my post was a joke...I'm always getting on HST wussies.

 

[bigbull338]

i knew you was joking no harm done.i was just pointing that out to people that their legs might not work that good anymore.so it wouldnt scare them away from getting a tractor.ive been on tractors for 35yrs off an on.mostly off till i bought the HST tractor.

 

[Aj10523]

Hst is much easier if you are using the FEL but long and straight cutting the gear is fine

 

[k0ua]

Not only am I biased toward Hydro, I will go so far as to say I prefer the single treadle pedal, system. I know that more and more hydro tractors are going to the 2 pedal system, and my JD lawn mower is 2 pedal hydro. And I would venture that most people prefer the 2 pedal system. But I do not. Now if my choice was 2 pedal or gear, I would choose the 2 pedal hydro, but I think that the treadle pedal is the most ergonomic thing I have ever used on a tractor. The first day on the new tractor, I did not like it, and mainly because I was shifting my foot back and forth with either my toes on the pedal and my heel on the floorboard, or if reversing with my toes on the floorboard and heel on the rear part of the pedal. This is not the way to operate unless you are traveling fast as in moving for a while. The way to operate the treadle pedal is put your foot flat on top of it and rock your ankle back and forth to go forward or reverse. This gives you the most rapid directional changes possible for loader work, and results in less fatigue. Now if you have arthritis in you right ankle, then probably not so good. I have arthritis in my left knee, I am all done with clutch's and shifting gears, but my right ankle works fine. Oh by the way, I have been driving standard transmissions for about 40 years, now and as for tractors, I am a 19 year tractor operator, with about 16 years on gear tractors and 3 years on hydro tractors, so I think I know how to operate one of each:laughing:

So what do you other hydro lovers think of the "treadle pedal" vs the 2 pedal setup? Go ahead, let me have it, I can take it:laughing:

James K0UA

 

[bigbull338]

i like the treadle pedal as it allows me full control.an i dont have to worry about my heel hitting reverse when its not supposed to.

 

[magicheater]

If my choice was HST or manual. I would definetly got with the HST. Much easier to work with.

Yup!
do you want to shift or go?

 

[jinman]

Only if you're a wussy....

How do you spot a wussy? He's the guy with a smile on his face and a little, wimpy, and underdeveloped clutch leg.:laughing:

 

[Johnbro]

First two tractors were gear units (2nd one was a shuttle shift). Now I have HST+. Would never go back to gears unless I had a tractor with no FEL and was just going to pull ground-engaging implements.

I can absolutely do stuff with the FEL and my HST that I could not do with the shuttle shift. Inching right up to drop stuff is a total pain with a clutch. And yes, I can drive a manual transmission and have for years, even happily driven Websters and Hewlands where you only use the clutch to get going (race cars). The Grand L Kubotas have the HST+ with a high/low selector on the steering column, I use that thing all the time. I would definitely recommend for your first tractor to go with the HST.

 

[RoyJackson]

Spoken by a guy that deserted his 790 with vertical exhaust.

Yes..I know...(sniff sniff)

 

[turbo36]

Only if you're a wussy...real men develop the strength and stamina.

No, a real "man" would do it without tractor - shovel and wheel barrow is what real men use. No sissy girlie tractors for real men!

 

[TripleR]

Not only am I biased toward Hydro, I will go so far as to say I prefer the single treadle pedal, system. I know that more and more hydro tractors are going to the 2 pedal system, and my JD lawn mower is 2 pedal hydro. And I would venture that most people prefer the 2 pedal system. But I do not. Now if my choice was 2 pedal or gear, I would choose the 2 pedal hydro, but I think that the treadle pedal is the most ergonomic thing I have ever used on a tractor. The first day on the new tractor, I did not like it, and mainly because I was shifting my foot back and forth with either my toes on the pedal and my heel on the floorboard, or if reversing with my toes on the floorboard and heel on the rear part of the pedal. This is not the way to operate unless you are traveling fast as in moving for a while. The way to operate the treadle pedal is put your foot flat on top of it and rock your ankle back and forth to go forward or reverse. This gives you the most rapid directional changes possible for loader work, and results in less fatigue. Now if you have arthritis in you right ankle, then probably not so good. I have arthritis in my left knee, I am all done with clutch's and shifting gears, but my right ankle works fine. Oh by the way, I have been driving standard transmissions for about 40 years, now and as for tractors, I am a 19 year tractor operator, with about 16 years on gear tractors and 3 years on hydro tractors, so I think I know how to operate one of each:laughing:

So what do you other hydro lovers think of the "treadle pedal" vs the 2 pedal setup? Go ahead, let me have it, I can take it:laughing:

James K0UA

While I have used both John Deere and Kubota without problems, I prefer the Kubota.

I know Roy was only joking, but since many of us buy tractors for the rest of our lives, aging etc. really needs to be a consideration. With age my disability has gotten worse and we have tractors I can no longer drive. I have to clutch with my right foot on most tractors. I watched my father and father in law struggle with clutches later in life.

Of course some of the newer tractors have pretty light clutches, so people really do need to think ahead; well everyone but John.:laughing::laughing::laughing: