L5030 GST or HST

[dmltrac]

I was all set to go with the HST. Took the wife to drive it. She didn't like the jerkiness of the HST (a lot due to not being used to the pedal, I'm sure). Plus I am wondering about loss of power of HST. Not sure I like the whine of the HST hydraulics. Have not found a GST to test, but have heard good things about it.
Does anyone have the GST configuration, if so how do you like it? Do you wish you had gone with the HST?
OR
Has anyone bought the HST and wished they had gone with the GST?
Decisions, decisions. AT least, after looking at all the other tractors, I do believe the 5030 is one heck of a tractor and the one I want to get. The 50 HP engine has less noise/vibration that the competitions and I like the loader. Now GST or HST....
mike

 

[Dargo]

I've had GST in the past and really liked them. A few years ago I ran across a deal on an HST tractor and nearly didn't buy it because I didn't like the HST. After having it for a while I got used to it, and now like both versions. I bought a new 5030HSTC this last year and again couldn't decide whether to go with the GST or HST. I guess the only difference I could see was that when doing loader work, after I'd gotten used to it, the HST tractor was slightly more productive and easier to use.

I'd venture to say that it should be pure preference for you. The debate on gear vs hydro rages on, and I won't even venture there at all. I honestly had no problem with the GST at all and still don't. I only bought the HST because of the slight increase productivity and ease of use in loader work, and because of the much slower speed I was able to run when using a large tiller in my hard clay soil. I didn't want to make two passes with my tiller (takes twice as long), and I could not till to the depth I wanted with the gear tractor in a single pass. The HST has a definite advantage in that particular application. I don't think you'll regret either choice. I opted for the HST for the reasons I mentioned, but I wouldn't say that either the GST or the HST are better than the other; just different choices that excel in different areas. Good luck!

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention; I think you'll like the size/power of the 5030. I really wanted the power and strength of the "M" series tractor, but I didn't want the weight and extra size. The 5030 seems to hit a nice balance between having good power without having too much weight or size. Sometimes I still wish I had a larger and stronger tractor, but when I look behind me and see the tracks I'm leaving in my soft soil over the winter, I remind myself what a heavier tractor would be doing and I'm okay again. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[_RaT_]

They are both great ways to go. If your wife was getting "jerked" around, it is her technique more then anything. Keep the RPM's down around 2000 or less to start. Use medium or low and make sure she does not have her whole foot on the pedal, just her toe.

If the loss of power has you wondering, the slight whine etc., do try out a GST. It is a great and easy to use transmission. By the same token the standard shuttle is excellent too. I don't recall now if you can get the L5030 in a shuttle.

I had the same engine in my Kubota L48 and now in my L3830 only with one less cylinder. They are both excellent diesels.

 

[gordon]

It took me quite a few hours of operation to get the hang of the hst. One thing that is hard to overcome is when the engine starts to bog down you have to let up on the hst pedal not push down like you would with a foot throttle.

After getting the hang of the hst would I turn back---NOPE.

Bottom line get what your most comfortable with

Gordon

 

[Wall]

I was trying to make the same decision GST or HST last spring. What I did was think about some of the jobs I was going to use the tractor for. One job cleaning up a bank behind the house using the fel. With the GST it would be operate loader, throttle, clutch, brake, steer, shuttle shift most likely back all the way down the bank and start over. With the HST just steer and operate the fel I could move 1inch or 1 foot in either direction on the bank using my foot on the treadle pedal the control you have of the tractor in AMAZING.

L 4330 HST

 

[_RaT_]

<font color="blue">With the HST just steer and operate the fel I could move 1inch or 1 foot in either direction on the bank using my foot on the treadle pedal the control you have of the tractor in AMAZING. </font>

This is so true. In fact, it is perhaps the biggest advantage but one that is learned and not always understood. Folks with standard transmissions may not be able to fully understand this since you do need to get on a HST tractor and work it to fully appreciate that comment "the control you have of the tractor is AMAZING." I find this kind of control is handy in precarious situations just as you describe. Mine come's into play when using the loader on slopes and mowing over the bank down into my pond. It is very steep and the margin for error is very, very tiny. One other thing I have found in using HST is the precision I have as well as the ease of using my 3 pt auger. Positioning it before and during the drilling could not be any easier. That's not to say that there aren't times that a GST would be more advantageous or perhaps better suited then HST.

 

[DmansPadge]

I think most people who are used to gears would be happier in the long run with the hyrdostatic. I'm not knocking the gear tractors! They are great and last a lifetime. But with the HST you have more precise movement of the tractor. It might take a little getting used to if you have used gear type tractors in the past but in the end I think almost anyone would be satisfied with the benefits of a HST.

 

[_RaT_]

I have had two gear tractors, one shuttle, and one standard manual. I have had 1 HST and have an HST currently. As much as I realy enjoy HST, there are times a GST or shuttle shift would be more beneficial. Currently I am ripping and dragging a lot of dirt. I am using my box scrapper. I know my gear drives would be more advantageous in this situation. Even though in low range, my HST is doing the job while maintaining a very acceptable temperature, I'm pretty sure I could be doing it a bit faster with a gear, at least the forward pulling part. I must say that given the choice, I would probably go HST again. I now have 600 hours using HST. I have well over a thousand with gears. From my little bit experience, I would say that if you really like what GST offers, go that route, it is not a mistake. But let me also say that it will take as many as 50 hours to really get the full understanding of the who, how, what and where's of HST. As simple as this transmission is to operate, it isn't so simple to get a full understanding of all it offers. Rat...

 

[gordon]

It took me closer to 100hrs to get the hang of it real well. Old habits die hard. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif


Gordon

 

[DDT]

It might boil down to if you want a cab of not. I like my hrdo. At times when mine gets jerky I use the cruise, problem solved for me.

 

[DmansPadge]

No dought Rat. I think that there are pros and cons of both. I think it really depends on what you are using the tractor for. HST has really came around lately and they are quite popular. IMO they are a little easier to control... that being said, I have limited use on gear tractors. It just seems to me that if I need to pull up another inch the HST is easier versus using the clutch. I guess it's all about what an individual perfers.

 

[Bob_Young]

Hi mike,
In your post you indicated an appreciation for peace and quiet....didn't care for the HST whine, liked the quieter Kubota engine. I like it quiet too.

Keep in mind that running the HST you'll be setting the engine speed at a 'high idle' probably over 2000RPM and leaving it there. Progress over the ground will be controlled by the HST pedal. You can, of course, throttle down when the load is light but to simplify things, it's usually kept at high idle. The power is kept online and tapped as needed by the HST; either for speed OR pulling power.

Every diesel I've operated makes a fair amount of racket at 2000RPM .... certainly more than it makes at 1200 or 1500RPM.

Point is, with GST, you can select an appropriate gear and, quite possibly, get the job done at 1200 or 1500RPM; and there'll be MORE jobs you can get done at the lower RPMs as the transmission losses will be less. Speed AND pulling power, in any specific gear, will be proportional to throttle setting. When you need neither, you back off on the throttle and enjoy a moment of quiet /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. Using the foot throttle makes this quite natural and the quiet moments more numerous.

Don't know about the others, but I hate the sound of an engine revving when it could be accomplishing the same thing at low RPM...but that may just be me. Besides noise, there are things like fuel consumption and wear that go along with the high RPM. Rarely are my gear tractors operated above 1800 RPM. On the other hand, the HST NH TV140 that I operated for the county last winter rarely operated below 1800RPM.

Now that I've thrown gasoline on this perennial debate, I'm outta here /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif!
Bob

 

[jhbusa]

DMLTrac, I have been pushing over / uprooting 12 - 14" trees with HST at 1800 RPM or less for 30 hours now. (I'm still breaking in the tractor ... hope I am not breaking the tractor). I have less than 50 hours on rented gear tractors of slightly less horsepower than the L5030. I too was worried about losing a couple of HP. But, you won't believe the power with the L5030 HST. Everyone's posts are dead on to what I have experienced in my short tenure with HST. My wife loves it so much, I barely get to drive the tractor anymore. She does the heavy work (sit and push the trees over) and I have to do the chain work while she drags them. Then I get to cut it all up with the chainsaw.

You won't regret HST. Don't plan on driving the tractor much if your wife or significant other decides to drive it a bit.

 

[_RaT_]

Bob, I think your going to find that what you mentioned here really ends up rarely being the case. I operate my tractor at about 1800 when doing loader work. It's just a nice RPM and the loader is still very responsive. At 1800 to 2000 RPM that little Kubota diesel is not only very smooth, but remarkable quiet. I would say it's not until your at over 2300 RPM that it is no longer "quiet". I much as you pretty much thought that would be the big drawback especially after operating 743 Bobcat skidsteers which need high RPM's to really to any skid turning. I don't think with a GST your going to be getting any more work down at 1200 RPM then a HST and at 1500 RPM, it's starting to really develop the torque. It's funny how just a hundred RPM or so can make such a vast difference. I rarely if ever mow at full PTO RPM, I typically go no higher then 2300 RPM which as I recall is somewhere around 475 - 500 on the PTO. Nonetheless, I do agree that you can be slighlty quieter on a GST, but not as much as you would think. If your getting a lot of whine, you need to drop down a range. I love it quiet as well.

 

[txdon]

<font color="blue"> "...She didn't like the jerkiness of the HST..." </font>
dmltrc, what really impressed me about the HST was the smoothness and the ability to move very slowly without holding in a clutch. I think RaT hit on the wrong ways to operate the pedal, mainly to keep the heel on the floorboard and use lower RPMs. I usually operate my 5030 at about 1800 RPM also except when I mow. To get the 540 RPM I go to a little over 2300 RPM. At 1800 RPM in Low I can push brush and sand till I loose traction. I hardly ever bog down unless I'm in the wrong range.

Since we all love pictures, the attachment is a road I just made by clearing all the underbrush with the FEL and then dragging the box blade. What Fun!
Have fun tractor shopping. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[dmltrac]

Thanks for all the replies. Looks like we all agree these are great tractors! I'll have to decide which direction to go, but it appears that neither would be a mistake.
mike

 

[InlineDieselFan]

You can't go wrong either way. But for me the boss drove both and then started to play with the bucket controls and 3-point. It was a quick decision, hydro or no tractor. She said it was so much simplier, that the decision was made right then and there.

steve

 

[btolle]

Neither would be a mistake but I love the HST on my B7510.

One thing that no one seems to have mentioned is the better control you have going downhill with the HST. If you want to slow down on a hilll ust let off the pedal a little and you will slow down, all the way to a stop if you want to.

I use the loader about 75% of the time and the HST is so much easier to use than gears would be. If you are going to be doing a lot of back and forth the HST is much easier.

As for any jerkiness, if it was jerking you should drop it into a lower range and press gently on the pedal. It didn't take me but a few hours to get used to.

Most of the time with my B7510 I operate in the 1,500 to 2,000 RPM range for loader and box blade work. Has plenty of power at those speeds.

The transmission does whine a little but seems to have gotten quieter now that I have 53 hours on it or maybe I have just gotten used to it.

I remember the days on my old 8N when I would get off and limp for an hour or so on my left side from working the clutch. I sure don't miss that!

Good luck with whatever you decide. Either way you will enjoy your new tractor.

Bill Tolle

 

[_RaT_]

Mike, again, I'll second that, neither is wrong, neither is a mistake.