I USED to want a HST, not anymore!

[joebobharley]

Me either Rich. I grew up with the clutch, gear, and foot throttle and even though I love my 4320 with the eHydro, I still haven't gotten used to it 100%. I really don't like having to run my tractor like my lawn mower with the throttle 2/3 to full open all of the time.

However, it certainly is much easier to operate in tight quarters as you have mentioned.

Richard
4230 eHydro Cab 400X

I have HST, but am still not a 100% convert. I just don't think I'll ever get used to running the engine at a higher than needed speed and controlling my motion with my foot. In many cases, I would prefer the directness of a gear tranny with a foot throttle available, especially when pulling hard or working the loader hard loading from a hard dirt/rock pile and the engine or tranny stalls out.

On the other hand, I really appreciate the precision the HST offers when working in the barn or moving big rocks into place on a hillside, and the ease of loader work most of the time.

I think I need two tractors -- one of each type!

 

[dirtworksequip]

Just to add to the fire. I have both a geared and an eHydro JD. For the application of brush hogging or mowing I would prefer the geared tractor. Just pick the correct gear and throttle it up and start mowing. The eHydro even with the cruise is much more finicky. Now for loader or other forward-reverse task the eHydro tops the geared. Also the geared tractor seems to power through a situation where the eHydro won't cut it. Thats just how I see it. There is something to be said about the simplicity of a geared tractor.

Sincerely,
Dirt

 

[RoyJackson]

"There is something to be said about the simplicity of a geared tractor."

Especially when it's owned by a simple guy (picture to the left).

 

[ovrszd]

There's something to be said for the "Road Feel" in the steering wheel of a vehicle without Power Steering too but that doesn't mean I want to drive one!!!

I own nine vehicles and only one has a gear transmission. I'm wayyy too lazy I guess!!!

 

[Rara Avis]

I really don't like having to run my tractor like my lawn mower with the throttle 2/3 to full open all of the time.

However, it certainly is much easier to operate in tight quarters as you have mentioned.

Richard
4230 eHydro Cab 400X

Diesel tractors are always happiest running wide open... ...especially when pulling a 4 bottom plow...

 

[daTeacha]

That business of always running wide open seems like a pretty commonly held idea here. I think they are happiest when running at a constant speed that delivers enough power and torque for the job at hand, but not necessarily full throttle. They CAN run wide open all day, but they don't need to do so.

 

[rdam]

JD 3203 HST DOES NOT have cruise. It's the first HST tractor I tested...and I think I'll be sticking with a synchro/shuttle.

Looking at all the big names including Massey and Kioti for 29 to 35 HP syncro/shuttle with electro/hydraulic PTO...no 2 stage clutch...just my preference.

 

[chrisjbell]

For the application of brush hogging or mowing I would prefer the geared tractor. Just pick the correct gear and throttle it up and start mowing.

Interesting - we have all sorts of equipment at work for mowing. Only one of them is geared - an M4700 with a JD flail. The rest are *all* hydro, including the really big rough mowers. Far easier to control a hydro mower...

On the other hand, for mowing flat, open ground where the cut doesn't matter the geared tractor *is* easier...

 

[RedRocker]

Just to add to the fire. I have both a geared and an eHydro JD. For the application of brush hogging or mowing I would prefer the geared tractor. Just pick the correct gear and throttle it up and start mowing. Sincerely, Dirt

I guess that depends on what you're mowing. I have trees, trees and more trees. I spend 75% of my mowing time in reverse backing in and out of tight spots, I would need a knee replacement if I had a gear tractor. I also spend a lot of time "flying blind", backing into virgin territory where large rocks are not uncommon, so sloooooow is good. If I had a big flat open field to mow I wouldn't care, I also wouldn't know how to act without the excitement of hitting hidden objects now and then.

 

[JerryG]

Guys the standard transmission of 30 years ago or before isn't necessarily the standard transmission of today. The old crash box standard is still available, but so are other versions of the standard shift transmission. These versions include Shuttle Shift, PowerShuttle, DynaQPS (powershift with PowerShuttle) and CVT. These are the names that MF uses, but other manufactures have similar versions of most. There are versions that don't have to be clutched to change directions. They don't have to be clutched to start and stop. They don't even have to be clutched to change gears. Different colors offer different models of transmissions with some overlapping. There are even standards that have gears so low that you can hardly tell that they are moving at about a eighth of a mile per hour at PTO speed.