Kubota HP needed?

The Fred · Feb 13, 2016

One of the neighbors here just traded a 2012 L3940 with the glide shift transmission. He was never pleased with the power but loved the transmission for brush hogging and that's about all he ever did with it.

I've always been a believer that 10 years or more down the road when the hydro craps out that gear transmission will still be working and cheaper to fix. Been wrong before, like when I bought my L3940 that I still hate.

Fred

PHILIP8N · Feb 13, 2016

Get rid of it ?!? I would never live with something I hated so much, life is too short... Philip.

TripleR · Feb 13, 2016

Yeah hydrostatic transmissions don't work well for heavy stuff and don't last: The Hydrostatic Revolution: How crawler dozers became infinitely more versatile when stripped of their gears (VIDEO) | Equipment World | Construction Equipment, News and Information | Heavy Construction Equipment

MHarryE · Feb 13, 2016

I got my 6' Landpride cutter for an additional 10% discount beyond my dealer's normal discount because the customer who bought it or his 40 HP tractor found he did not have enough power and had to downsize to a 5' leaving the dealer with this slightly used 6' late in the year. It's properly sized for my L5740. As for hydro, for our use not a lot of horsepower is used for ground drive - most goes into the cutter. One thing - we don't use it for easy cutting jobs. We cut back growth around our grain fields, clear and widen shooting zones, trails through the woods, etc. used to be done with a M-F 135 but the gear shift sucks in this type of work. Clipping a pasture okay but varying load and direction makes the difference for us.

pburchett · Feb 13, 2016

The Fred said:
I've always been a believer that 10 years or more down the road when the hydro craps out that gear transmission will still be working and cheaper to fix.
Fred

Ha ha. That is what I thought, but I did not want to start a fight. But since you threw the first punch I will join in. The old gear transmission has been around for a long time and is proven. That (gears) are what I am leaning towards. Hydro's

I know my grandpa would be ready to get a new dozen and CAT would send out a rep with the newest hydro dozen and he would send it back with them that afternoon after the test day was over as it did not compare to his gear driven one. Eventually he had to have CAT rebuild his old dozer, twice.

motownbrowne · Feb 13, 2016

pburchett said:
Ha ha. That is what I thought, but I did not want to start a fight. But since you threw the first punch I will join in. The old gear transmission has been around for a long time and is proven. That (gears) are what I am leaning towards. Hydro's I know my grandpa would be ready to get a new dozen and CAT would send out a rep with the newest hydro dozen and he would send it back with them that afternoon after the test day was over as it did not compare to his gear driven one. Eventually he had to have CAT rebuild his old dozer, twice.

I've said this before, but I'll say it again here. This gear argument is a red herring. One can say "geared transmissions are simpler than hydro transmissions". This is true. They may be more durable as well. But this is in reference to a straight, crash box manual transmission. You can't say geared transmissions are simpler and more durable and then recommend a glide-shift transmission, or anything with a power-reverser. These are not any simpler or more durable than a hydrostatic transmission. The only advantage that they have over a hydro is that they're more efficient at putting power to the wheels.

Every type of transmission has it's proper application, but I for one wouldn't want to mow all day or do any loader work with a straight crash box just because it might be a little more durable.

gladehound · Feb 13, 2016

I wonder how many of us will ever put enough hours one a tractor to need a transmission rebuild regardless of transmission type?

TomSeller · Feb 13, 2016

gladehound said:
I wonder how many of us will ever put enough hours one a tractor to need a transmission rebuild regardless of transmission type?

Very few for sure assuming a proven quality brand.

The Fred · Feb 13, 2016

Do a search for lesser known brands with bad hydros compared to gear. Most are Asian brands and un-affordable once they break years down the road or no parts available, rendering your investment unusable.

Fred

PHILIP8N · Feb 13, 2016

The Fred said:
Do a search for lesser known brands with bad hydros compared to gear. Most are Asian brands and un-affordable once they break years down the road or no parts available, rendering your investment unusable.

Fred

OK, so what about the 'lesser know brands'? Who cares? That is why I bought Kubota. In his 1st post he said he decided to buy Orange and he is posting in the Kubota forum. Why bring that up and confuse him. To my knowledge from other Kubota owners, my experience, and from reading this board, the Kubota HST is reliable. I really like GladeHounds post, how many of us are going to put that many hours on a tractor that we will need a trans rebuild, no matter which type of Kubota trans we get? Great point. To OP, make sure you drive both, then be happy with your decision. If not, trade for something else. Good luck! Philip.