hydrostat vs. gears??

[theelves]

We are about to buy a 7800 Kubota with HSD, and are just wondering what the general concensus was on what people prefer, hydrostat or gears, for frontend loader work? What would last longer, work better? I know as far as ease, the hsd is best, but what about in the long run, as far as lasting? Like say you want to break into a dirt pile that has been sitting a long time, is hard and solid. Would the hsd wear out and have problems if you tackled something like this often? Thank you for your input!! Jen Hardy /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[r0GuE]

HST is better than gears in all situation no matter what.
/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Ok ok uhhh... I think that the impact on gears would over the long haul be less desireable than using a hydo when driving in to a hardpack pile o dirt. But the hydo steals a touch of power, so that may or may not have made a difference in getting the bucket in. I can't imagine not getting a hydro. The ability to feather the tractor forward and backwards is awesome. When you have hundreds of pounds of dirt and rocks in the bucket up high... smooth and easy is the rule. old tech new tech...
That's my opinion. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

Do a search on hydrostat vs. gears. This has been debated to death in the past. You will get all the information on both sides that you do and don't want.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

HST transmissions last for decades under normal use.

Gear transmissions last for decades under normal use.

Are you planning on abusing your tractor? If so, buy the gear tractor because replacing clutch plates is probably cheaper than replacing an HST. However, I think much of the old thought about hydrostatic transmissions wearing out is simply misinformation. In most cases I think the debate boils down to 1) Personal Preference -or- 2) Cost Considerations

Just my 2 cents, but I wouldn't buy another gear tractor unless it was an antique tractor or a large farm tractor, and as I am not a real farmer, I would not be in the market for a large farm tractor.

 

[raynman]

theelves,

I asked the same question not so long ago /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif but with one difference, I will be doing plowing and disking so the gear was the way to go.

I asked the Kubota, NH and JD dealers the same question they all said the same thing for loader work the HST is the way to go, but as soon as you add the plowing in, gear is the only way to go.

I ended up with the JD, with a power reverser, so in my mind I have a HST for loader work and the gears for plowing /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[shoppintractors]

<font color="blue">Like say you want to break into a dirt pile that has been sitting a long time, is hard and solid. </font>

Buy a toothbar. Get a hydrostat and don't look back.

Like Doc says, this has been debated and debated and debated in the past. Do a search and you should find volumes.

Don

 

[Richard]

After you read the archives... we can discuss oil preferences /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[NIXON]

Jen , Try out machines that are geared and hydro .
You be the judge of what you really like and need . As was mentioned , for digging,a removable tooth bar on an fel does really help . Personally I went hst . I'm LAZY /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif John

 

[art]

The 7800 only comes one way and that is the hydro!

 

[rambler]

This is like asking which is better, Chevy or Ford? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Me, I hate hydro, can't get a feel for what I am doing. I'm way, way out of my element. With a clutch petal under my foot, I can feather it & feel much more in control. If & when I need repairs, the clutch will be more familiar & cheaper to deal with.

But that is just me. I have a pickup with a 5 speed clutch, love it. My wife has a picup with an automatic - I can't tell when I'm spinning, slipping, feel like I have no control of the thing on snow-cover highway. I'm a person that much prefers a solid lockup on the drivetrain.

So, I know what _I_ would choose, but you are different than me, so I would try to get an hour of seat time with both, & pick what _you_ like. You probably won't go wrong as far a longevity & service.

--->Paul

 

[yellowsocks93]

If your on a tight schedule for moving dirt you could do it faster with an HST. A power reverser would be fast but you would still have to shift. For me I go slow so all I need are non syncro gears. Try them both!!

 

[ns_in_tex]

What I like about the HST is you can hold just under wheel spinning pressure against the bucket while moving the bucket till it finds the spot it will continue forward.

Another example, I was pulling small trees this morning with my treegetter on fel. Had a bush hog 286 mower on back for counterbalance. When I hooked onto a tree with a little more roots than the loader lift capacity, I can get to the point I have a rear wheel lifted off the ground, then move fore & aft (maybe 2') till the rear gets uncomfortably high, then change directions. After a few fore & afts, the tree finally decides to give up.

 

[Henro]

All tractors are good...all transmissions are good...

The HST vs GEAR wars are now over, but have been heated at times. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

For me, the HST adds a safety factor. I don't need to clutch to change speeds, and I can creep slower than a turtle if I want to, when I am on a slope, at an angle I am not comfortable with.

I love that ability to change direction without clutching sometimes. Other times it would make no difference at all.

I don't plow so the advantage of a gear machine in that application does not apply to me.

Also like the ability to creep up to implements for 3PH hookup, without needed any skill whatsoever to do that.

So for me the real advantage of the HST seems to be safety related. Lift you foot off the directional pedal and the tractor stops on its own. On a hill, you always have a wheel-to-engine connection, at any speed.

Like everything else in live, mileage may vary for each of us! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Rimmer]

The hydro is teriffic for FEL work. Just this morning I was moving a pile of wet dirt around with my BX23. My technique for getting a good, full bucket was to shove the bucket deep into the base of the pile, so far that the hydraulics couldn't budge it. Just a little heel pressure on the hydro pedal to move me back an inch or so would break the load free so that I could start to curl the bucket, then a bit of toe pressure would move me forward as I made the lift, then back again slowly, lower the bucket to save travel height, forward, swing away from the pile, and on my way. No clutch, no shifting, almost effortless.

Should be even easier with the power of the 7800.

 

[JerryG]

<font color="blue"> The 7800 only comes one way and that is the hydro! </font>
Art should know he sells them.

<font color="blue"> I love that ability to change direction without clutching sometimes. Other times it would make no difference at all. </font>
You can also do that with a power shuttle. I do it all the time with mine.

<font color="blue">Do a search on hydrostat vs. gears. This has been debated to death in the past. You will get all the information on both sides that you do and don't want.

The HST vs GEAR wars are now over, but have been heated at times </font>
There has been to much said at times. It can get very heated.
<font color="red"> THE END </font>

 

[RobertN]

What else will you be doing? If you are doing lots of loading and moving dirt, I would look at a track-loader like the ASV-RC30 or Cat-247 first. They can move a lot of dirt really fast. The RC30 would probably be more in your range, at 31.5hp. The Cat-247 is 50 hp and lots more expensive...

Explore all your options. Try renting a few machines before laying out the big $$$.

 

[MossRoad]

Do a search on hydrostat vs. gears. This has been debated to death in the past. You will get all the information on both sides that you do and don't want.

Oh, wait, that's already been said. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I like my hydro, others like their gears, we all like our tractors.

Best advice I can give is test drive both and see which one fits you best. What are you going to use the tractor for? Try to test them both doing real world chores that you will be doing to have a fair comparison. Don't buy one that you haven't tested doing what you are going to use it for most. One might be great for mowing but not as good for loader work, etc... Good luck in your decision process. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Soundguy]

As others have mentioned.. this is probably one of the most hotly debated points in history.

Here's my .02

A HST tranny steals a small amount of power from the system, however, I hear they ( or a shuttle / reverser ) is the absolute cat's meow for loader work.

A gear tractor may be more suited to a task such as continual heavy ground engagement ( tillage, discing ). Perhaps even on tasks such as open field mowing, due to the slight power efficiency bonus ont he gear tranny.

I hear that tillers are fairly decent on an HST as you can keep power up, but vary ground speed.

We are still waiting to see how long term use of HST will hold up to gear tractors. For instance.. lots of gear trannies from the 30's are still going with no rebuilds ( and lots HAVE been rebuilt ). I personally wonder how long a well maintained HST will last without needing a replacement part.

(My personal preference is gear)..

Soundguy

 

[Hambone]

<font color="red">The HST vs GEAR wars are now over, but have been heated at times.
</font>

What about 2WD vs 4WD???? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[fishman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The HST vs GEAR wars are now over )</font>

Uh, who won? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

On second thought, don't answer that. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif