Tractor Sizing L3700SU ground engagement capabillity

[logfarmer]

No he does not have any geared tractors to move. I just talked to him and he said from personal experience with an International tractor with a hydro that the hydro had burned up over a period of several years and when he had it repaired the mechanic told him it was from too much heat building up over time, that the ground engagement was too much for the hydro. My dealer thought that I would be better off with a 3240 with the shuttle shift or reverser I forget exactly what he called it. This discussion with him has been going on for several years and not just about the L3700 SU so I think he is honestly concerned about selling me something that is right for the job.
Just to ilistrate how he is: Several years ago, I stopped at a Branson dealer to look for a PTO powered chipper for my BX22. The branson dealer had a Valby 6000 which he tried to sell me for the BX22, I was just looking so I did not buy. Then I went over to my Kubota dealer and he happened to have sitting on his lot a Valbey 4000 chipper which since the Branson dealer had been redy to sell me the 6000 I thought that the 4000 would be fine for me. The Kubota dealer talked me out of the Valbey 4000 and said that although the 3 point would pick it up it would be just too heavey for the BX22 and I would not be happy with it. From the date tag it had been sitting on the lot for over a year he had a buyer (me) and talked me out of it.
To me that means that customer satifaction over the long run I more important to him than a sale even if he has a buyer.
Martin

 

[TripleR]

I would not use an HST for regular ground engagement work, but would have no qualms about using one as you describe. I use both HST and Hydraulic Shuttle Shift.

 

[TMR]

I would not use an HST for regular ground engagement work.

What about for 3-4 acres that I want to turn to "pasture"...ie...probably plow and disc? And then keep in good "pasture" condition. Other use is primarily in the woods building and maintaining trails...also some ground work with maybe a box blade or other ground "disturbing" implement??

Might I be better off with the simpler, "gear" type transmission? BTW...I am a fan of manual transmissions on autos so I have no particular desire for HST...I have enjoyed on my 25HP Sears...and probably also abused

Thanks...Tom R

P.S. Targeting 30-40HP...such as the 3700SU...or 4400...TMR

 

[nybirdman]

I have had two.....L3130HST and currently a L4240HSTC....and that's what I bought them for..ground engagement..two bottom plow,cultivator,roto-tiller,box-blade,7ft.rear blade.I also push a 8ft.Curtis snow plow with the current tractor.I work about 10 acres of food plots and gardens.
I also have about 500 hours brush-hogging.
If you were doing a hundred acres or commerical farming :go with a shuttle or gear tractor,but for the average guy the HST is fine.Keep your radiators clean...I saw a little rise in temp and the radiators were plugging up with duff.
I find the infinate ability to change speeds is the best thing in new tracotors(with HST).:thumbsup:

 

[logfarmer]

After talking to my local (1 hour drive ) dealer I decided to call the next closest (2 1/2 hour drive) dealer. He sells about 200 plus tractors a year and said they have hundreds of the hydro that is in the L seies out for 10 years and have not had problem one and many of the ones he has sold are used as I would use it. His opinion is that my local dealer who the other dealer knows has been burnt by the international hydro burning up and is gun shy for no good reason since in his experience with hundreds of this type of hydro he has had no problems.
Martin

 

[TripleR]

What about for 3-4 acres that I want to turn to "pasture"...ie...probably plow and disc? And then keep in good "pasture" condition. Other use is primarily in the woods building and maintaining trails...also some ground work with maybe a box blade or other ground "disturbing" implement??

Might I be better off with the simpler, "gear" type transmission? BTW...I am a fan of manual transmissions on autos so I have no particular desire for HST...I have enjoyed on my 25HP Sears...and probably also abused

Thanks...Tom R

P.S. Targeting 30-40HP...such as the 3700SU...or 4400...TMR

For the type of work you describe, I see no problem using an HST. As others have mentioned, using a box blade is hard work and we all do that to one extent or the other. If I was going to be plowing all day or pulling a pretty heavy disk day after day, I would go with a gear tractor.

Where an HST really "shines" is in stop and go variable speed, precise control FEL work etc. I can take my HST and touch an egg without breaking it, but on my geared units, precise control requires riding the clutch and on my Hydraulic Shuttle Shift is kind of iffy even then.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with geared units, I drove them most of my life and some people really like them, but for me I will take an HST unless my work or the size of machine precludes it.

If you have a few hours or days, there are numerous threads on here about gear v HST; some really informative and some kind of mean, but all pretty informative for the most part.

 

[Verticaltrx]

No he does not have any geared tractors to move. I just talked to him and he said from personal experience with an International tractor with a hydro that the hydro had burned up over a period of several years and when he had it repaired the mechanic told him it was from too much heat building up over time, that the ground engagement was too much for the hydro.

What he is talking about is comparing apples to oranges. The IH hydros date back to the 1960's and were much older less refined technology. They were also on much larger tractors than we are discussing here and it really was a completely different system. Those tractors did have some major problems with transmission failure as they got up in hours, I only know of a few that are still going without any trouble (and they were the smaller ones like the 656, etc). With regards to the new Kubota hydros you should completely disregard his comments.

 

[e30racer]

I plowed another 1/3 acre this weekend in wet heavy clay and the tractor did fine. Traction was the only issue but with the machine in 4wd it did fine.