HST v Hydraulic Shuttle Transmission

[DB24]

I currently have an L4400 HST with LA703 loader and am looking at trading up to an M6040 with LA1153 loader. The M40 is not available with hydrostatic transmission like my current tractor, however it can be purchased with a hydraulic shuttle transmission. As I see it this is a manual transmission with a semi-automated clutch.

The L4400 is my first tractor and has proved very easy to operate with its HST when doing loader work, how easy is a hydraulic shuttle transmission to operate when doing loader work once you get used to it?

Many thanks for any advice that can be offered by more experienced operators!

 

[Wolfy]

Very easy. On most of the new Kubotas you can flip the shuttle lever from forward to reverse without clutching or stopping. The biggest advantage is huge torque when pushing with a loader. If your in the right gear, it will be almost impossible to stall. The only downside I've found is trying to shift while climbing hills. It sometimes will freewheel for a moment, so I try to pick a gear ahead of time and stay in it. Another huge advantage is no worries about overheated transmissions.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I currently have an L4400 HST with LA703 loader and am looking at trading up to an M6040 with LA1153 loader. The M40 is not available with hydrostatic transmission like my current tractor, however it can be purchased with a hydraulic shuttle transmission. As I see it this is a manual transmission with a semi-automated clutch.

The L4400 is my first tractor and has proved very easy to operate with its HST when doing loader work, how easy is a hydraulic shuttle transmission to operate when doing loader work once you get used to it?

Many thanks for any advice that can be offered by more experienced operators!

I've had/have several HST's and now also have one gear drive but it doesn't/won't have a FEL. I don't have nor have ever had a shuttle drive. My brother in law has a shuttle drive and seems satisfied with it because he wanted to save money and I don't think he's ever had a HST.
Rarely hear of anyone choosing to go from HST to gear but frequent to hear of gear to HST and rarely does anyone go back.
Common basic advise is to actually try one before buying. It'd be a shame to trade then be sorry.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

I have the hyd shuttle on my M7040 and do a LOT of loader work with it. Like another poster said, put it in the right gear and you wont bog ot down. You might push the whole pile of dirt back but you wont bog it! No problems shifting up or down hill with the fully synchro tranny.

 

[TripleR]

We have a L5030 HSTC as well as a M8540 Hydraulic Shuttle Shift and like Wolfy, find it very easy to use for FEL work.

For me nothing beats the HST for ease of use, but the Hydraulic Shuttle Shift is the next best thing and nothing beats gears in putting the power to the ground; both have their place.

 

[DB24]

Thanks for all your help.

I agree with JOHNTHOMAS that I should try it before buying, but I suspect that for me after a quick trial the hydro shuttle may seem clumsy and difficult to use compared to my existing HST, however after 40 hours in the seat I may find it very easy to use......dealers don't let you do a 2 month trial!

Note HST is not available on Kubota M40 tractors hence the need to go from HST to gears if I move up to this size of machine.

I currently use a tooth bar on my bucket for digging out stumps etc., how easy is it to do this type of work with a hydro shuttle transmission? Would it involve slipping the clutch a lot, does this wear the clutch out quickly?

 

[TripleR]

Thanks for all your help.

I agree with JOHNTHOMAS that I should try it before buying, but I suspect that for me after a quick trial the hydro shuttle may seem clumsy and difficult to use compared to my existing HST, however after 40 hours in the seat I may find it very easy to use......dealers don't let you do a 2 month trial!

Note HST is not available on Kubota M40 tractors hence the need to go from HST to gears if I move up to this size of machine.

I currently use a tooth bar on my bucket for digging out stumps etc., how easy is it to do this type of work with a hydro shuttle transmission? Would it involve slipping the clutch a lot, does this wear the clutch out quickly?

I couldn't agree more. While it is always a good idea to try any tractor out before buying, in all likelihood you will not go from an HST to a Hydraulic Shuttle Shift and and after a test drive say, "Man, I gotta get me one of these"! Now I went from a Synchro Shuttle Shift to one and said that, but if you are not use to a geared unit, it is going to take time to adapt. Adapt you can, but since I don't know you, I can't guarantee you will like it.

As to stumps and such, many of us were doing this type of work with geared units long before HSTs came out and many still do. I don't slip the clutch, but rather don't worry about digging the ground up a bit by spinning my tires and varying my RPM's. I don't do stumps now, but push trees over and dig out brush with our M8540 and have no concerns about the clutch wearing out.

 

[bigbull338]

my buddies dad bought a 6040 kubota with the hydrolic shutter before i bought my tractor.an my buddy says i can drive his dads 6040 with ease.but i have yet to go look at or drive his tractor.

 

[crazyal]

My Case BH has a power shuttle. It's kind of like driving an automatic car. The difference is that it doesn't shift gears like an automatic will when in drive. Unlike a HST the gas pedal is really a gas pedal. Like a car if you don't step on it you don't move (it will roll down a hill much easier than HST so you just can't just jump off the tractor). The more you step on it the more the motor revs. Over all I would say it's easy to use, different than HST though.

My BH has a switch mounted on the gear shift and fel levers so you can push it down and it will shift into neutral so you can rev the motor up to speed up the FEL or so you can shift gears without moving the forward reverse lever into neutral. You can also step on the brake while reving the motor up while using the fel to speed it up.

 

[sgrol]

Have the shuttle on my L39 and like it. Neighbor has the HST. I drive mine like a gear drive and always use the clutch. One thing I don't like about mine is when I use my tiller in hard clay first gear is still too fast. I have to keep the engine speed up and it just wants to go too fast. With a HST you have infinite speed.