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

 

[smthng2do]

Pretty much a majority call here. I prefer the HST as well. The GST is great though. Depends on the application I suppose. HST's are so [censored] easy to work with. The only thing I don't like about the HST is that your limited with your turning brakes. Unless of course you have asplit right heel that is capable of being in two places at once, you can only really use it when the tractor is in cruise control. You mentioned stomping on the HST pedal for movement. Well, Kubota implemeted a hydraulic control valve on the pedal. When you push forward, you are basically only pushing the control valve. By doing this, they eliminated the "Tired Leg". It used tobe when you came to a hill, the force of the oil would work backwards, and actually create like 12 pounds of pressure...so you would get a work out. Fine if it works both legs right, but ya don't wanna be lopsided. With this change, Kubota has made the HST as smooth as silk. No clutches to worry about, etc. I think the HST is the choice machine. It is not a very loud machine, even at full throttle. Let us know, and good luck with your decision.

 

[sammyboy]

Thanks for your valued opinion re; GST or HST. I can hardly believe it but after going and trying an HST on Sunday I came away liking it much more than the GST. Yes I'll lose some HP with the same tractor in HST but I really loved the smoothness and with an L3410 for what I'll be using it for that's more than enough ponies. I can afford to lose a small amount of breakout force ect. Thanks

 

[jedens]

I just took delivery of an L4610 HST last friday. Up till friday the only tractor I drove was a manual transmission. I can't speak to the GST from experience except demo'ing at the dealer. My dealer tried to steer me to GST but based on what I've read here I went with the HST. I now have 8 hours on it and I'm very glad I have it. Even if you don't do a lot of FEL work there is always reasons why you want to go from front to back quickly such as frequent turns maneuvering between trees, positioning for 3 point hitch connection, etc. I'm short (5'6") and normally needing to keep pressure on a pedal is tiring, but with the 4610 seat adjustments and the ease of the HST pedal I didn't feel any leg fatigue with approximately 4 hours of seat time two days in a row over the weekend. I'm now a strong believer in HST.
Joe

 

[Darren]

I use an HST on hiily terrain and nothing else does as well. Nothing beats slowing down to a crawlwithout clutching and still maintaining pto rpm for the implement. Anything you do whether it's mowing a heavier patch of grass or a hitting a thicker windrow of hay when baling, the HST lets you back off ground speed easily and let the implement work at full speed without stalling the engine.

Because of that you can run a larger implement than you might expect withan HST as compared to a standard transmission. You have creeper speeds that no standard shift tractor has outside of a Unimog.

 

[JATO_RaT]

As much as I like my HST tractor, I wish it could do one thing that a "gear tractor" can do and that is to mow at a much quicker speed. In medium, I find the speed much to slow. I hate running the engine at full PTO RPM which means even slower speed. High is not nearly strong enough to pull my hills. The solution for me is to keep my International for mowing. I find it as easy or easier to mow with it then my Kubota with HST. As far as everything else, your not going to find anything easier and probably safer then HST. Loader work is so nice with HST. I would like to try a GST tractor at my place just to see how the mowing would work. Also, I would like to change the pulley or gearbox configuration on my 84" mower so that I can keep the same blade speed while reducing the RPM of the engine. I find mowing is such a low demand on these tractors that I can easily mow at 1800 RPM with no lugging. My International has 2 PTO's, a 540 and a 1000 RPM, I use the 1000 RPM but cut the engine RPM in half or 1200 RPM, its so quiet and easy on fuel and very rarely gets loaded up. I believe for my L48, my maximum torque is at about 1700 to 1900 RPM. Rat...

 

[steveky]

I just purchased a L3010 HST... I went to the dealer and had already made up my mind I was going with the GST. He told me to at least drive the HST before I decided. I went with the HST and I've never regretted it for a second. Whatever you decide you'll be happy with your Kubota, mine amazes me everytime I use it.

Good Luck

Steve