HST v Hydraulic Shuttle Transmission

Grateful11 · May 16, 2011

ole farmerbuck said:
We just traded off our 5140 for a .... It was a good tractor. And yes, we did shift on the go between gears. Forward to reverse, we didnt always stop but were moving very slow at low rpm.

How many hours did it have on it? I've seen some with some really high numbers still bringing good money.

ole farmerbuck · May 16, 2011

Grateful11 said:
How many hours did it have on it? I've seen some with some really high numbers still bringing good money.

I'm not sure but somewhere around 10,000.

VA MTN MAN · May 16, 2011

Hydro will be the norm in ten years. If you look at the other industries they already are. Try to buy a bull dozer,track loader or excavator with a geared transmission. To those that worry about the fuel consumption I will say you might find better economy with the hydro. You need to look at the work done at the end of the day vs fuel and in any case where the work needs precision like loader work or grading etc the hydro will do the same work in less time saving fuel. I have had less mechanical problems with hydro than with gears but i also cant work on them as well. I think we all have a problem with change to the new thing on the block and I will say I am no different as I at one time said I wouldn't have a hydro. If you notice in the replies everyone that has a hydro says they are great. One thing to keep in mind is with loader work or boxblade etc you can let off hydro to where you are creeping to give you time to set the bucket or implement just right with no wasted moves.

AGTtactical · Oct 5, 2018

L6060 HST vs. M6060 Hydraulic Shuttle: I can get an M6060 for about $4000 less than the L6060. M6060 is 1000 pounds heavier, has a bigger motor, better torque, slightly more horsepower, and one standard rear remote included (the L6060 has no standard rear remotes). The M6060 is clearly a more capable tractor, for $4000 less...while the L6060 has the same engine as a L4760, just turned up. The big difference is the L6060 only comes in HST+, and the M6060 only comes with an 8 speed hydraulic shuttle. At first I was convinced I should get the L6060 for the HST+, and assumed the M6060 would be a lot more money, but its quite a bit less expensive actually. And reading some of this, maybe the advantages of the HST are overblown. Of course, Kubota sells more L series than anything, and most of those are in the 30-47 hp range, usually with HST, so I HST. My wife will be mowing with this probably more than me...she drives my 6 speed diesel truck like a pro...so I don't think she'll have any issues.

k0ua · Oct 5, 2018

AGTtactical said:
L6060 HST vs. M6060 Hydraulic Shuttle: I can get an M6060 for about $4000 less than the L6060. M6060 is 1000 pounds heavier, has a bigger motor, better torque, slightly more horsepower, and one standard rear remote included (the L6060 has no standard rear remotes). The M6060 is clearly a more capable tractor, for $4000 less...while the L6060 has the same engine as a L4760, just turned up. The big difference is the L6060 only comes in HST+, and the M6060 only comes with an 8 speed hydraulic shuttle. At first I was convinced I should get the L6060 for the HST+, and assumed the M6060 would be a lot more money, but its quite a bit less expensive actually. And reading some of this, maybe the advantages of the HST are overblown. Of course, Kubota sells more L series than anything, and most of those are in the 30-47 hp range, usually with HST, so I HST. My wife will be mowing with this probably more than me...she drives my 6 speed diesel truck like a pro...so I don't think she'll have any issues.

There are a lot of other differences between those two tractors besides the ones you mentioned. It boils down to what you are going to be doing with it, and what you want. Wifey won't have any issues with the transmission with either one. But what about the amenities?

AGTtactical · Oct 5, 2018

k0ua said:
There are a lot of other differences between those two tractors besides the ones you mentioned. It boils down to what you are going to be doing with it, and what you want. Wifey won't have any issues with the transmission with either one. But what about the amenities?

Well yeah...in the interest of brevity, I didn't list every difference. I can send you my 3 page spreadsheet if you want the details. Amenities? I'm buying a tractor, not a Lexus. But think I listed the important things...power, engine size, transmission, frame, weight, hydraulics. But if you really care about amenities, both have adjustable seats, adjustable seat weight, adjustable steering wheel, arm rests, folding ROPS, Cat 1/2, and cup holders.

k0ua · Oct 5, 2018

AGTtactical said:
Well yeah...in the interest of brevity, I didn't list every difference. I can send you my 3 page spreadsheet if you want the details. Amenities? I'm buying a tractor, not a Lexus. But think I listed the important things...power, engine size, transmission, frame, weight, hydraulics. But if you really care about amenities, both have adjustable seats, adjustable seat weight, adjustable steering wheel, arm rests, folding ROPS, Cat 1/2, and cup holders.

All that is important, is that you find the tractor that has the things that are important to you...

AGTtactical · Oct 5, 2018

k0ua said:
All that is important, is that you find the tractor that has the things that are important to you...

Man, thank you, but statements like that are not very helpful. Yeah, we all know to buy what we need and want (I mean, who is going to buy what you want?). What people are looking for is the experience of others who have actually used a particular tractor or transmission...i.e. learning from others without having to buy 3 tractors until you find the one you really want. In the Marine Corps, we called it artificial experience...you don't want to have to actually get shot to learn how to not get shot.

AGTtactical · Oct 5, 2018

Well, just got back from the dealer. I know without a doubt which one my wife will want, and its the HST. First time driving one...wow. Totally worth it. I grew on half a dozen geared tractors on our farm...I'm used to grinding gears. But the Hydraulic Shuttle of the M7060 I drove was like stone age technology to the HST L6060. The HST is definitely a production booster in applications where you have a lot of maneuvering, backing, etc. like the mowing on our farm. Nothing wrong with the Hydraulic Shuttle for jobs where you wanted a geared engagement with the ground, and long runs with no backing. But for a smaller farm, I think the HST is definitely the future. You simply can't appreciate it until you drive one.

AGTtactical · Oct 5, 2018

VA MTN MAN said:
Hydro will be the norm in ten years. If you look at the other industries they already are. Try to buy a bull dozer,track loader or excavator with a geared transmission. To those that worry about the fuel consumption I will say you might find better economy with the hydro. You need to look at the work done at the end of the day vs fuel and in any case where the work needs precision like loader work or grading etc the hydro will do the same work in less time saving fuel. I have had less mechanical problems with hydro than with gears but i also cant work on them as well. I think we all have a problem with change to the new thing on the block and I will say I am no different as I at one time said I wouldn't have a hydro. If you notice in the replies everyone that has a hydro says they are great. One thing to keep in mind is with loader work or boxblade etc you can let off hydro to where you are creeping to give you time to set the bucket or implement just right with no wasted moves.

You sir, are 100% right! Thank you for the very informative post!