Hydrostatic (HST) Transmission Longevity?

FLDave · Jul 4, 2004

Hi all,

I spoke to a dealer today who does not sell HST tractors.

When I told him I was planning on purchasing another brand with a Hydrostatic transmission he told me that he never saw a tractor with HST with over 1,500 hours on it.

He got me thinking a bit...does anyone know of or have a tractor with a HST with over 1,500 hours on it? What is the life of a HST tranny?

Comments?
Thanks,

Bob_Skurka · Jul 4, 2004

While I personally do not have a tractor with a HST transmission that has 1500 hours, I do have one with 600+ hours with absolutely no problems. I would venture to say that there is no reality to his statement, although I can't prove it. HST has been around for way too long for his statement to be remotely close to the truth. Or, perhaps he hasn't been around tractors long enough to find a HST machine that someone wanted to trade in after a decade of use?

Henro · Jul 4, 2004

This comes up now and then.

First let me say your dealer may be totally honest, but he certainly does not look too hard at HST tractors to see what the reality of HST is...understandable since he does not sell them.

I want to say that I remember reports of HST tractors with over 5000 hours on them here in previous threads.

After reading MANY comments here about HST transmissions I have come to believe that they are generally as reliable as gear transmissions. At least for the first 20 years or so. Gear transmissions have a much longer life experience though...probably can find a grear tractor that is a hundred years old somewhere and still functioning. HSTs have not been around that long...so there will always be an older gear transmission...fact of life.

For me, HST VS Gear transmission was not a factor in my decision to buy a tractor, and it would not be a factor if I were in the market for another tractor today.

Buy whichever you want. That is what I would do. Also try a search of the archives. You will find some interesting stuff on this subject... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Darren · Jul 4, 2004

Hydro transmissions have been used in construction equipment for some time. I doubt any manufacturer is going to put something that will die before 1500 hours in a piece of heavy equipment. It's easy to find examples of applications via the net.

Here's one from John Deere. http://www.deere.com/en_US/cfd/construction/deere_const/crawlers/655CII_general.html

I'd say the dealer you talked to is not well informed about hydrostatic transmissions.

To20Chris · Jul 4, 2004

I'm a gear guy, but I wouldn't let fears of poor reliability scare you away from HST. The technology is pretty mature, even if it is new than gear designs. More important is your preference and what you will be doing with the tractor.

caddison · Jul 4, 2004

Dave,

HST transmissions have been around for a long time. Most combines, haybines and many other ag related and industrial applications have been using HST for years. Your dealer may have had a bad experience with some HST's he has sold. Granted HST needs a little more TLC than a gear drive, fluid checks, filter changes and so on but then gear drives need clutches, throw out bearings and flywheel re-surfacing from time to time as well. I personally would not have a compact without HST. The ease of use makes it worth every penny and my wife or daughter can handle the tractor without having to work a clutch.

I believe the next best would be shuttle shift.

755inNY · Jul 4, 2004

I've got over 1200 hours and 16 years on mine with absolutely no problems.

Sounds like the dealer just is not familiar enough with this transmission to have an informed opinion.

Jeff

v8dave · Jul 5, 2004

Independent rental yards around here in N. Calif. keep their tractors for around 2,000 hours before selling them. All the Kubotas and BobCats on the lots I saw were HST transmissions. The chain rental yards (RSC, Hertz etc.) sell 'em off after 1,000 hours. But, they are also in the used equipment business and want a nice looking unit to sell.

If a tractor can stay alive in a rental yard for 2,000 hours, I'd say one could last several times that with an owner's use.

Dave

Egon · Jul 5, 2004

My B7100 HST Kubota has 2200 hours on it. Other than creep which is another problem entirely no problems with the transmission. There are times it has been well used.

Egon

JDgreen227 · Jul 5, 2004

My JD 4210 is too new (130 hours) for me to judge the reliability of the HST system, but I have an '89 JD 318 with over 1400 hard hours on it that has experienced zero problems with the HST...and it is an older design. My feelings are, a properly engineered and well maintained hydrostatic transmission will last the life of the tractor. Witness all the heavy equipment, forklifts, and rental fleets that use the HST system, it's obvious reliability is no problem. Your dealer is obviously not well informed or is trying to badmouth competive tractors that use the HST system. I would steer away from dealing with someone like him.