Hydro vs Gear Trans?

MChalkley · Nov 25, 2001

Gordon - I thought you might like that one. Good thing you're not sensitive, since I poke fun at you from time to time about your flip-flop on gear vs. hydro. I figure I'm entitled - after all, I did it, too. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

MarkC

JATO_RaT · Nov 26, 2001

Mark, are you hiding something from us? Your writing ability is excellent. Any books or articles published by you under a different name? Rat...

cowboydoc · Nov 26, 2001

Well Rat and Mark I guess I'll just let it go. Those of us that have made a living with gear tractors and those that still run them for their primary tractor disagree with you both and that's ok because we all have different opinons even when we have experienced the same things. A gear tractor is not even close to being compared to horse drawn implements. They are in use every single day and doing a dang fine job for those that use them. The 2wd 60-100 hp tractor is probably the most used tractor in America on farms. Yes the big boys do most of the field work but most of the grunt work, the everyday farm chores and harvesting jobs, are done by the smaller guys. My MF Super 90 or the 4020 will do ten times the work either of your compacts will do just based on hp and the other features that the tractors have that a compact does not when we're talking about real farm or construction work. When we're talking about chores around the place and light duty farm and construction jobs then yes a compact is king. You can take situations and debate all year long about why the 4610 or the 4020 is a better tractor. In truth there's jobs that both do well that other tractor wouldn't even want to do.

We've gotten way off base here from talking about hydro vs. gear to now saying that a kubota 4610 is more tractor than a 4020 and comparing a 4020 to horse drawn implements, it just doesn't fly very well.

You can take all these posts and what it all comes down to is preference. You can get just as much work done with a gear tractor it's just going to take a little more effort or none at all depending on what your job is. Gear tractors are not an outdated relic. They are alive and well and for those people using them they wouldn't have anything else no matter how much time they may have had behind an hst Mark. That's a poor analogy to say the least. I've driven an automatic over a standard transmission but I still prefer to drive a standard transmission as well. I've driven plenty of hydros and prefer a gear tractor as well. I bungee jumped a few times as well and while most people think that's the greatest rush in the world it was pretty boring to me. Having experience in something doesn't mean that way is a better way of doing things. All that means is that you can now make an educated choice based on personal experience. It doesn't mean because you've experienced it that that is the cat's meow. You base your advice to everyone else that enough is said because they haven't done it and if they have then they haven't done it enough.

This post could have been ended long ago with just the few simple facts that have already been stated. Yes an hst is more convenient than a gear tractor but it all depends on your needs and your preferences. There is nothing more that an hst tractor can do that a gear tractor can't do, it may just take a little longer at first until you get the feel of the tractor. They're both equally good choices and depending on what you want to do one may or may not be better for your specific needs.

raptor · Nov 26, 2001

I stirred up a hornet's nest on this post, and I apologize for that! But quite honestly, what does it really matter what the other guys opinion is of a piece equipment I or you use everyday to help put bread and butter on our tables? We each know, and appreciate what we have, secure in the knowledge our equipment gets the job done for us.

I truly am sorry if my earlier post has generated an negative feelings between anyone here. After all, it's the common interest of tractors, agriculture equipment, and rural life that draws us here.

You all have the best Monday possible, and stay safe!

Terry

JATO_RaT · Nov 26, 2001

Richard, Terry, its good to get it out. You are correct, the common thread here is the interest we all share, the differences are simple and easily arguable yet in the end, I always hope that whatever choice one makes they are happy with it. Over the years I have worked on homes for folks that cost well over a million dollars yet seem to enjoy little of what they have. It was a real eye opener for me as I always seemed to associate happiness with having nice things, and although I knew it did'nt really matter, the point has really been driven home. Rat...

P.S. Richard, I always thought you had a JD 4700. I thought it was you that had the JD that had a engine that ran backwards once or twice.

JerryG · Nov 26, 2001

Richard,
Well said. I agree with every point. Every persons situation is different and there is on one tractor or transmission that's perfect for everyone.

rdln · Nov 26, 2001

Matt, just turned over 1000 hrs on my jd970 (790's bigger uncle)
it is a manual with 9 forward and 3 reverse gears. I have used the tractor
in every concievable way and would buy another stick in a heart beat,
especially when they are cheaper that hst. On the other hand the only
hst I had was an Exmark walk behind 52in mower which I sold now I mow
with a gst riding lawn tractor. My NEXT lawn mower will be an Exmark HST.

cowboydoc · Nov 26, 2001

Rat,
No I have the 4600. I would have gotten a 4700 but the dealer had this one on the lot and made me a heck of a deal on it. I remember the post about the 4700 running backwards but can't remember who posted that.

MossRoad · Nov 26, 2001

With that said, back to the discussion... I like nothing better than to get behind the wheel of a powerful car with a standard transmission and run it through the gears. Feels great. But my daily driver is a big mushy suspension, automatic transmission, power everything couch on wheels. After a long road trip, I feel much more relaxed after driving 'big mushy' than I do after a long day behind the wheel of a sports car. Having very little experience on geared tractors, I'm assuming( yes, making an a** out of myself ) that, performing compact tractor type jobs, working a gear tractor would take alot more out of you than a hydro by the end of the day. What do you think?

 MossRoad

cowboydoc · Nov 26, 2001

I agree with that Moss depending on the person. Myself I like doing it. My wife hates it. She'll take the automatic anyday, especially on the pickup.

MChalkley · Nov 27, 2001

And I, on the other hand, refuse to have a car or truck with a automatic transmission. Both my VW and my Dodge pickup are manual diesels. When it comes to tractors, though, it's a different story completely. Go figure.

MarkC

MossRoad · Nov 27, 2001

You're killing me!

 MossRoad

MChalkley · Nov 27, 2001

Hey, what can I say? I just enjoy shifting gears. I used to enjoy shifting gears on my GST tractors, too. Other things being equal, I'll take a gear transmission any day, but in the case of hydrostatic tractor transmissions, I've found that the advantages far outweigh the fun of shifting, so I'll gladly sacrifice that for the safety and productivity.

I think it's something of a macho thing: All you have to do to ruin something in some people's eyes is say it's "easier to use". The immediate reaction is "easier to use is for wimps". Whenever someone asks about HST transmissions on this board, one of the first comments is "HST is easier, but...". Translation: Real men use gears because they're harder to use and require more skill. It's the perfect left-handed compliment - "I don't like them because I'm a "real tractor user", but you might because you're a beginner." I don't use HST because it's easier - I use it because it works better. Easier and "more fun" are often synonymous (what's the difference between work and play?) - so, given that definition, I think gear transmissions are "easier" because I think they're more fun to use. But that's not the whole issue, by a long shot. I don't need my choice of transmission to make the job more work, I can just just do more if I need more work. I want what gets the job done best, fastest, safest, and lasts longest. In some of those issues, hydrostatics and gear transmissions are a dead heat, in others the hydrostatic wins hands down, but in none of them is the hydrostatic the runner-up.

MarkC

Bird · Nov 27, 2001

Aw heck, Mark, why go halfway./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif I've got automatic in everything I can get it in. Of course, we'd still be driving a manual transmission car if my wife hadn't rolled and totalled it nearly 3 years ago./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif I've accused her of doing it on purpose just so I'd buy her one with an automatic transmission./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

TerryinMD · Nov 27, 2001

Besides the HST being easier on me for using the FEL and not having to think about which gear to use!! My problem - old timers disease. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif What I find as the biggest advantage is, is that I can have my daughters or wife up on the machine instantly to help. Many a time they have assisted when I'm pulling out small trees, fence posts, attaching implements... well, you get the picture. All I had to do was to explain what each lever and pedal does - once!!! No muss. No fuss.

If there was one thing that I could attribute to the sale to me of the JD 4100, was the face that my wife hopped on the thing during the test drive, drove it around, and parked the thing. The smile on her face was truely amazing. I knew that the tractor was mine!!! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif When the CFO is happy - the rest of the family is happy.

Terry

MossRoad · Nov 27, 2001

I agree. That's my plan. Simple, easy to use machine that everyone can use to do my work for me! I see my self sitting on the deck by the pool next year while my wife mows the lawn under the guise of, "You'll get a more even tan by riding the tractor than sitting on the deck."

 MossRoad

raptor · Nov 27, 2001

You guys have it figured out. Momma won't drive the Massey, because the "clutch and brakes are too confusing". Maybe I do need a new HST tractor after all.

Terry

TerryinMD · Nov 27, 2001

Hey - you need to change your name!! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Terry

MChalkley · Nov 27, 2001

My wife, Terri, thinks somebody should. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

MarkC

kerr · Nov 27, 2001

Kinda hard on the fella ain't we?[raptor I mean ]Opinions are like armpits,every one has a couple and they both usually stink!So what,I bet ya thats what is most appealing ta most new members and visitors fer sure.

Before I bought the ol mighty 4200 ,I asked TBN members for opinions,and I got em.Thanks again.We all likes what we likes and don't what we don't.No harm done Raptor.
Glennmac,where ya at on this one?Kinda miss your colorfull post and oppinions.