Hydro or gear drive on a CK30??

[RMAL]

I had planed to go with gear drive,but for only 700 more I can upgrade to hydro.Then I found out about the 2000 rpm engine speed the hydro operates in,not crazy about the high rpm.I have a few days to decide.
Tractor will be used for firewood cutting,light loader work,snowblowing,some disc work,gravel driveway work on 15 acres of gentle slopping land.
Al

 

[yoyo]

Hi, I just got a 25HST. My opinion, If you are going to be moving forward most of the time, then go gear with shuttle shift. If you are going to be using fel or other where you spend alot of time backing up, then go HST. I think this is what it really boils down to. If your mowing a big feild, your going forward. With HST, your foot has to be on the pedal OR speed control set. You might as well have the extra power gear drives give. Just my opinion. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RMAL]

Thanks Yoyo,I like your forward to backward observation.Now I am thinking gear may be the way to go.

Al

 

[JayC]

For things like loader work and mower work a hydro would probably be better. However, if I were doing ground engaging work like the discing you are going to be doing, I think I'd opt for a gear.

 

[To20Chris]

I like to run my engine fairly slow when I don't need the power, and it is my impression that this works better with a gear transmission, but the guys who use HST could tell you better how it works at low engine RPM. You will end up using higher RPMs anyway when you need the power - I've been moving a large pile of topsoil, and I'm running at 2500RPM to get the power I need with the FEL. I hate the racket, so I wear ear protectors when I'm running high RPM for extended periods.

The more direct linear relationship of engine speed to wheel speed is one of the things I liked better with gears. Also, if you plan on doing much ground engagement work like disking, you would be better off with a gearbox.

 

[KiotiJohn]

Al, the rated speed for the CK30HST is 2600 RPM which should you make you feel even less inclined to get HST. The one thing I don't like about my HST is that most of the time the engine is revved up between 2000 and 2600 (for 540 at the PTO). With a gear model you don't have to have the RPM up all the time which will put less hours on the tractor as well since the hours are really based on RPM. Using the foot throttle for other than PTO work, you won't always be running so fast. If I were to buy a CK30 right now for myself, it would be the gear/shuttle. John

 

[GerardC]

I have the CK20 GEAR and love it. It has the hand throttle and foot throttle. I leave the hand throttle at idle ALL the time. When I'm going to do FEL work with a pile of ?, I approach, let off the foot pedal and it quickly coasts to idle. I engage 4WD and then pedal into the pile. When I stop, I disengage 4WD, back up, and pedal down to my destination.
When I feel lazy, I'll hand throttle to my desired speed and I'm in cruise /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. I've never had a lack of power. Gear is a lot stronger and for me was the way to go. Hope this helps you decide. G

 

[DK35vince]

Now and then there are times I wish I had hydro, like when I have a larger amount of loader work then usual or when I was backfilling over 1500 feet of utility line ditchs hydro would have been welcome.
But the biggest majority of the time I'm quite happy with my syncro shuttle.

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Now and then there are times I wish I had hydro, like when I have a larger amount of loader work then usual or when I was backfilling over 1500 feet of utility line ditchs hydro would have been welcome.
But the biggest majority of the time I'm quite happy with my syncro shuttle. )</font>
I know you're quite adjusted to the shuttle now, and you probably wouldn't find a huge advantage in HST, other than saving a little clutch foot maybe. I love my hydro, but it does have some limitations not found in the gear/shuttle models. I wouldn't want a straight gear again, but a shuttle would be just fine. John

 

[RMAL]

Thanks guys,you have me sold on gears.I like the lower rpm speeds,the ability to use the breaks for turning ,more power and no need to buy hydro filters.I have heard from diesel mechanics that rpm,s and diesels do not mix well.
Kiotijohn can you explain how the hourmeter works?I thought it would be based on reel time,not rpms
Thanks again guys
Al