L3410 GST or HST

[sammyboy]

Hey folks, I'm a new user who is weighing the pros and cons of GST vs HST. I am a hobby farmer with 70 acres of mixed field and woods. I will use FEL for cord wood carrying out of woods, light grading, bush hog meadow, will have bobcat style plate on FEL so I can attach blade for snow plowing. So basically it will be a mixed bag. I have read more reviews that are favorable towards HST than GST but I am not convinced. I think I would actually prefer GST for the following reasons: Chiefly, lower RPM's and thus less engine noise/whine and concern that I am not going to like having to constantly employ my right foot on the HST peddle. My dealer also favors the GST or DT over HST for these reasons--in fact he actually likes the standard transmission the most but conceeds that I will enjoy the ease of shifting with the GST. He feels that the only rationale for HST is if all I were doing was constant back and forth loader work. What do the members think? How much longer am I to be tormented?
Please reply

 

[MrP]

Sammy,

I have a L3410 HST. I would never never never buy a tractor that wasn't HST. The operation of the tractor is SO easy for ALL operations.

 

[Golfgar4]

<font color=blue>"How much longer am I to be tormented?"</font color=blue>

It sounds like you're already comfortable with GST. Why are you even asking about HST? If GST is what YOU like, what does it matter what anyone else thinks?

Besides, I'm betting for the money you would save getting GST instead of HST, you'd be able to buy yourself another toy to use with the tractor, right?

Now don't get me wrong. I don't have a tractor yet, but when I do get it, it's going to have HST. That's because I know I'll be doing a lot of back and forth work plus doing work for others where I don't know what it is exactly I'll be doing. So I want HST just to make sure I can be as comfortable and effecient as possible.

But if you know that's not a problem for you, go with what your comfortable with! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[seattle]

It really is a personal choice but for my 2 cents I would consider the HST. It's not just for backing up but it makes the whole use specrtum more enjoyable. I have a B2410 and have not come across one activity that gave me second thoughts.

You may save some money with the GST but I bet you will be willing to pay it back twice over for the convenience of the HST. Good luck!

 

[Bird]

Sammyboy, like a lot of other things, it's a matter of personal choice. That's the reason they make both kinds. Do you drive an automatic or manual transmission car or pickup? As far as I'm concerned, HST is the only way to go, even though I have a lot more time on manual transmission tractors (and never used a GST). And now my car and pickup are both automatics, even though there was a time when I much preferred manual./w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Either one works; HST is just easier, faster, safer, and more convenient.

 

[mfjohnston]

For what its worth. I am a relatively new user to tractors. I put considerable hours on a friends L2500 with straight transmission GST all lastyear when building my home, trenching, backfilling et. I now own a B2410 with Hydrostatic drive. I chose the Hydrstatic for many reasons 1) I use the tractor for mowing, with HST the blade speed (mid PTO) remains constant now matter what speed the tracotr is going. Mower decks with GST can significantly fluctuate blade speed when changing speeds. 2) I will use it to plow snow in the winter and have to back up considreably, same for loader use, 3) when using a backhoe for trenching, moving forward is a little easier.

The mowing issue together with forward and reverse movement made HST mandatory. I would not want a tractor without it unless I principally used it for long runs or stationary use and even then why not. I can't tell you how often I hated to shift in the L2500. While it wasnt hard, it takes a few seconds especially when changing between forward and reverse. Also, when you copme to a hill you often have to shift down and I didn't like to have to do it. With the HST no problem. I think you will have a hard time finding someone who has HST who would want to go back to GST. Hope this helps.

 

[frank_f15]

go with what u feel the most comfortable with, but i will still give u my opinion. i LOVE HST. the ability to just creep and keep the rpms up, no shifting, once u use it u will understand why it is so popular. i would never buy another tractor without it.of course this is just mho, u may well prefer gst ! have u tried them both?

 

[Hans]

I just got a L3300 GST (predecessor to the 3410). First tractor I have gotten to use since my dad's Ferguson 30 with up only front end loader, no power steering, and no live hydraulics. I think I'm in heaven. With the forward/reverse shuttle it is just fine for loader work. I agree with your comment about the lower RPM's and less noise (wife is really amazed how quiet the tractor is.) Now, having said all that if I was buying a new 3410 I would spend the extra for the Hydro because:

1) I love the hydro on my lawn and garden tractor,

2) The hydro's stop when you take your foot of that pedal,

3) You don't ever have to think about replacing a clutch.

 

[gordon]

Yes you would like the easier shifting of the GST, but I really think that you would like not having to shift at all with the hst. My previous tractor was a glideshift and now I have an hst. I used to be dead set against the hst tractors until mine was at the shop and they gave me a loaner tractor with a hst trans in it. I ended up putting over 100 hours on that loaner tractor.

Took a good ten hours to get a good handle of using that trans after using the gst for so many hours. My main problem was when I hit the dirt pile I would hit the hst pedal for the added push and that would dog the tractor down. Was used to hitting the foot throttle of the gst for the added push and also to get the faster hydraulic action. Once I got over that operator problem it was smooth sailing. Changed my mind totally from being dead set against them to all for them.

Before you make your final decision demo a HST and see for yourself how you like it. Afterall your the one that will be using it.

If you worked the hst and the gst side by side the hst would win 9 times out of 10. The only place that the gst really is set up better is for brake turning.

well I guess you could sum it up in one sentence. If it ain't hst it aint for me
Gordon

 

[Richard]

If you are on hilly terrain, you might want to borrow/rent one (GST) once see you are comfortable. I'm on hilly terrain, rented an L-35, was on "relatively" level ground and shifted into low gear as I approached the steeper part of the slope.

The feeling in my stomach when this machine kicked into neutral (in route to gear change) and started to freewheel backwards STILL sticks with me. Guess I got a strong puckerer because if it was any weaker, this feeling might have exited /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif.

Decided right then, because of my terrain, GST isn't even an option for me. In no way can I deal with not having complete control of the machine at all times like I can with my hst mower. Btw the brakes on the L-35 also seemed to be terrible..I had to put entire body weight onto brake to hold machine (on "pre" slope) for future gear changes. It became a real workout and one I care not to do again.

I'm sure on flat ground none of my concerns would be an issue.

Richard