Hydrostatic drive on a tractor ?'s

[Fan of the 1911]

Jinman my hills are not near as steep as the one in your picture. You are my hero, I could not use the bathroom for a week going down a hill like that I would be so drawn up.
How is the durability of transmission parts with the power shuttle? The main reason I'm not going to pull the trigger until I have done more research is the hydrostatic would be a major expense when it tears up, vs. a clutch, pressure plate assy. I don't know about a wet clutch either, but it has been used for much longer than the hydrostatic drive. Also the speed doesn't bother me much either, I usually just put it in third and throttle up or down a little.

 

[MHarryE]

Have you tried the hydros you referred to in your start of this thread? Sounds like baling is only a small part of your plan in the future. We have 4 power shuttles, all with power shift. They all sit idle when it comes to jobs like brush hogging and any loader work in close quarters where maneuverability is an issue. Our L5740 Kubota hydro is the tractor for the job. It will pull our old Haybine fine - I believe 9 foot cut - but of course won't handle our JD Mo Co disk mower. Raking no problem although our JD 6230 gets used the most - smoother ride. Moving round bales is nice with the hydro except for the fought ride of a CUT size tractor - the M135GX wins there. Moving snow - all the larger tractors sit idle all winter while the hydro works clearing snow due to its maneuverability and the 6230 is used for feeding because it can handle deep snow. Now when it comes to baling - that s the one thing the L5740 can't handle. We have a 5 x 6 JD round baler and our JD 7720 is permanently attached to that all baling season. Our old New Holland 273 square baler - excellent for the hydro though because it's easy to match speed to windrow size perfectly but we only put up a few square bales or some customers. All of our beef cattle get the rounds including straw for bedding. Reliability - haven't broke a hydro yet - the L5740 is our second, an upgrade to get more power. Where the hydro will fall down performance wise is hard pulling because the hydro can't compare in efficiency to gears. On the other hand the combine in my avatar is hydro and is going strong at 4,400 hours with a 225 HP engine powering it. However it has a heavy duty hydro while the CUT's have what we in the business I retired from (to go farm with my cousin) call a medium duty. Yes, if you spit out a hydro it means big bucks but failures aren't that common. Treat them right (good clean oil) and they last.

 

[Fan of the 1911]

Thank you! Thanks to you all.

 

[mikehaugen]

A little un-related but the newer forklifts at my work are linde hydrostatic. These trucks hardly ever drive more than 100' in one direction... usually more like 30' before changing direction. They aren't that old but they are run 24 hours/day and most have around 30,000 hours and we just had a pump go out. The mechanic we have said it was the first pump he has ever changed.

We had the same trucks at my last work, only in a diesel version and those things were ABUSED. Had the engines needing rebuild around 5k hours a couple times because the timing belts weren't replaced in time on the vw diesel engines. Never lost a pump.

 

[jinman]

Jinman my hills are not near as steep as the one in your picture. You are my hero, I could not use the bathroom for a week going down a hill like that I would be so drawn up.

You gotta do what you gotta do. . . . I had a track loader clean out a pond and it needed cleanup on the sides. I made many trips up and down the bank. Once over the side on the way down, there was no backing up.

 

[dex3361]

If hills are your main working area then I would go hydro. I run on steep hills here in WV and the HST is way safer than the geared tractors I previously used though I have not used a power shuttle except in the lot of the dealer. When shifting from one range to the next it would let go just like a standard shift while the the power shuttle was shifting. The HST never releases from the it just change direction or stops without freewheeling even for a second. I started considering HST while using my 41 year old Cub Cadet 129HST and wondered if there were bigger tractors that operated the same way. That CC129 has the same design Swashplate transmission and it still works fine today.

 

[Rhinorider]

1911, I am familiar with the hills you have in Rogersville as I have been through there many times. I have a DK45 HST and love it. My land is 12 acres with only about 2 of it somewhat level. Most of what I have is STEEP, steep enough that I have all 4 chained up and have to strap in tight just to stay in the seat. Hydro is the only way I would go. I had reservations about it at first but really love it now, I wouldn't use anything else, much much safer.

 

[Fan of the 1911]

Jinman the top photo, the grade that the tractor is as steep as my property, or about there anyway.
Rhinorider I used to ride 4 wheelers up in Williamson on the strip jobs, and logging trails-roads.
Dex3361 One if not my top concern is for my wife, and her use of it. She was in 6th gear when she should have been 3rd. hit 2 bad bumps the seat spring threw her over the front. Her feet caught under the seat or she would have been thrown over the hood. She was pretty shook up, some bruises, she got scared bad.
She hates anything with a stick, or anything that looks like a tractor.
We went to the dealership she test drove a hydrostatic tractor you should have seen the smile, it was ear to ear.

 

[GManBart]

We went to the dealership she test drove a hydrostatic tractor you should have seen the smile, it was ear to ear.

There's your answer! :drink:

Since your a 1911 guy, I'll add a little eye candy....two of my hi-cap 1911s

 

[Fan of the 1911]

I lived in Belleville Mi for about 2 years. The I 95 service drive cant remember the name of the apartments. I lived up the road in Westland 17 years.
Yes 2011's also count a few of the guys where I used to shoot Idpa shot the sti's beautiful well made high functioning art.
The shirt is also kind of rocking Tiger colors.