hydrostat vs. gears??

rtvman · Sep 15, 2004

I agree that 1000 hours is pretty young for the motor and the trans but my tractor is definitely showing its age when it comes to the pivot pins on both my loader and BH. The fact that these harden steel pins and bushings are worn at 1000 hours of hard service is a testament to the durability of the HST and motor.

JerryG · Sep 15, 2004

The fact that these harden steel pins and bushings are worn at 1000 hours of hard service is a testament to the durability of the HST and motor.

If that is right, there is a problem. The HST and motor are constantly coated in oil. The pins must be manually lubed. None of these should show any wear other than being broken in. If they do it is because of LACK of lube. No testament here that I can see, because it is a very small number of hours.

Egon · Sep 15, 2004

Don't see many farmers with a 60 year old tractor as their main power source. Seems to me the best tractors of their time aren't around after a certain amount of time as they have been worked to death.

Egon

johnbilt · Sep 15, 2004

Hi

It sounds like everyone is coming around to agreeing that personal preference is significant factor. All of the tractor's beat a shovel and wheelbarrow, that's for sure. My JD990 gets the job done for me.

When I need a larger machine, I usually rent a Case 580 from the local yard. They are a slick setup and operate well. I would conclude that they provide a great value because I see them or the JD equivalent at almost every job. These construction contractors know that time equals money.

The Case has an auto transmission with a shuttle shift system. You select the range you want, and then shift fwd/rev with the small lever next to the steering wheel. I can't imagine struggling with gears on a large machine like this.

The foot throttle controls the speed just like an auto trans in a light truck. There is also a button switch on the joystick to disengage the wheel drive, and another to apply diff lock.

My point is that industry drives the design for these machines. The manufacturer wants to provide a competitive product. JD does the same market approach for the compact tractors. I'm glad to see that they are providing a choice of transmissions depending on preference and cost.

John

slowrev · Sep 15, 2004

Also, Was that 1,000 hours on a tach or a digital meter. Mine shows about 2,060 hrs on the tach and about 14K on the digital counter. Gear tranny and all still going good, clutch has been replaced before I got it. Need to replace the rear axle seals though. Mine must have had a lot of low speed operation before I got it.

slowrev · Sep 15, 2004

Lots of 25-30 year old tractors still going strong in my Farming area. It seems that most of farmers around here do not have a tractor newer than 10-20 years old. Lots of old letter series Farmalls, Masseys, and old Fords going around here on regular plowing, harvesting, etc. The Deere guys seem to have newer tractors though. Not really sure what that implies, just an observation.
I saw an old hunderd series ford cutting hay with a new rotary cutter yesterday. Only tractor I have seen going all week besides mine /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The old tractors still going might be one reason why small farmers still seem to get by around here. Maybe not eyeball deep in debt.

slowzuki · Sep 15, 2004

Mix of old and new in our area. No trikes left and no gassers.

Most of the old ones have their "problems" though.

Bird · Sep 15, 2004

( Lots of 25-30 year old tractors still going strong in my Farming area )

The tractor I did hay cutting and baling with was a 1972 Oliver, 25 years old when my neighbor bought it for $5,000, with just over 5,000 hours showing on the hourmeter (I have no idea whether that was correct). I haven't been on that tractor now for about 4 years, but he still has it and still uses it.

rambler · Sep 15, 2004

( HSD is the only way to go. Longevity??? I just turned 1000 hours on my L35 last weekend. I know that at least 600 hours of that was hard digging. No issues, no repairs./forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I would say you should have no fear on the longevity of the HSD. )

Two of my tractors are at 5000+ hours. Two others are around 9000. The other three did not have hour meters, but in the past 40-50 years they have put on more than 300 hours a year - hard hours, plowing, cultivationg. All of those have had several engine tear-aparts, and a couple have had some tranny work done. All are standard trannies.

It's all perspective. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif 100 hours, or a 1000 hours, is not much time to a tractor. Would be a scandal if they broke in that short time!

Still and all, it's performance/longevity/ecconomy vs convienience. Neither tranny is right or wrong. Pick the one that fits you & your job. Have fun with it. It's not a big deal. The big deal for me is that hydro tractors are less efficient - that is important to me. Don't know what is important to others, and they should pick out the features that are. If one thinks 100 hours on a tractor is a lot in a year, then efficiency probably is not much of an issue.

--->Paul

JerryG · Sep 15, 2004

It's all perspective. 100 hours, or a 1000 hours, is not much time to a tractor. Would be a scandal if they broke in that short time! 
Exactly.
Another thing, I may get into trouble with some but. No more real work and no more hours than most on here puts on a tractor in a year, a rubber band should hold up for at least ten years. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif