HST vs. Gear

[cowboydoc]

<font color="green">Soundguy, why don't you mention the clutches on your gear tractors. If the clutch goes once a year (which is not far-fetched), </font>

NOT far fetched!!! That has got to be the joke of decade. Seriously. Most tractors have thousands of hours before they ever have the clutch touched. These new clutches will probably outlive the motor even if you do abuse them. You will probably need to replace the clutch about as often as you replace the hydro transmission which for 99% of the people on this forum who never do alot of ag work will be never. ONCE A YEAR. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[BillyP]

All I can say is, this is another long thread...,

 

[Dmace]

Apparently, no one caught the sarcasm. Did I not put enough winking smilies in there or should I put "SARCASM" at the top of the reply. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[tposts]

<font color="blue"> You will probably need to replace the clutch about as often as you replace the hydro transmission which for 99% of the people on this forum who never do alot of ag work will be never. </font>

I agree and even if you do a lot of ag work you will probably not have to replace the clutch or the hydro, either one will get the job done and last and last and hold up well. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[daTeacha]

Ah, but there are folks out there who don't use a clutch properly, riding the pedal, sliding the clutch plates against each other instead of picking the right gear/throttle positions. Someone who uses a tractor clutch as a speed control device could wear one out fairly soon, say 10 years or less! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Big_Cajun]

Wow...intense thread! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

All good points....Until I can evaluate an HST, I'll always side with a clutch.

BC

 

[daTeacha]

Aside from the brake issue, one of the things that kind of sways me from a hydro is the amount of pressure you need to constantly apply to the pedal to keep the tractor moving. JD has the Ehydro and Kubota has something of their to reduce fatigue. I know about cruise control, but the way I use a tractor makes cruise basically useless -- I don't mow, I don't do much field work, nothing with long stretches of constant speed moving.

How about some comments/opinions regarding the pressure to go forwards and/or backwards at varying speeds with loads front or rear on hilly ground? My right calf is already noticably bigger than the left one from many years of car driving. Would an HST exacerbate the problem?

 

[Trail_Time]

My opinion is yes, it does take significant pedal pressure to move the tractor. It is not as much of an issue to keep it down say in field mowing, as it is to go back and forth from fwd to rev as in snow removal. I always had the pedal pump after a long day in the snow. I will say that years ago when I tried several HST tractors I found quite a bit of pedal pressure difference in the brands.

Try several out. If you are serious about buying, get your dealer to demo them at your place. That way you'll know what you like. Both gear and HST have their own advantages. Just match one with your liking and intended use.

HST Pros:
1) ease of use
2)precision (very easy to control fwd & rev movement in the smallest increments)
3) PTO implement speed remains constant, even when you vary tractor movement.
4) increased resale value

HST CONs:
1) cost more to purchace
2) cost slightly more to maintain
3) pedal pressure
4) loss of power to ground and PTO

One big advantage to HST in my opinion is the ability to reverse and use the HST as a brake on steep hills. I have put fence post in with precision on hills with HST that I would not have been comfortable or able in a gear tractor.

Gear Pros:
1) more power to ground and PTO
2) costs less
3) less fatiguing for anything that requires long continuous movement (field mowing)
4) usually a lower "granny" ratio for increased pulling

Gear Cons:
1) more complicated to operate
2) lower resale value
3) PTO speed matches fwd/gear speed (can also be a plus)

I'm sure there are other pros and cons...but these just came to mind first.

 

[tposts]

Trail Time,
Thats a good unbiased post. Well said and documented.

 

[755inNY]

Good post Trail Time. I only have 2 rebuttals.

Resale value. You pay more for an HST so the resale value should be higher. You pay less for a gear so the resale value should be lower. I don't think that is an advantage or disadvantage for either. However, depending entirely on the preferences in your area, the gear or HST might sell faster.

As far as pedal pressure, I have not found it to be excessive but I have only used 2 HST tractors so my experience is limited.

Jeff