Limited slip differential versus Hydrostatic traction control (HTC)

[Slummer]

Can anyone explain to me the difference between these 2 descriptions that I read about. I see the newest models (G series) have this HTC but it is an option when ordering the toolcat. If you have the left sided tires slightly off the road but with good traction and the right sided tires on ice, will the machine walk out of the ditch or will it be stuck?

 

[oldnslo]

If HTC this is truly individual wheel hydrostatic drive option then in theory it should be an all wheel drive with all wheels driving at very similar speeds. I could not find where they gave a good description of how the HTC works though.

 

[kevin37b]

Sounds like a skidsteer . You are basically stuck .

 

[yellowdogsvc]

From what I was told when trying to decided between waiting for a G or going with an F, other than the new motor and price increase that went with it, the traction option was the only difference I could see. From what I gathered, it is a like a braking system for the hydrostat. I may be wrong but I thought it provided a brake on side that was slipping and more power to the side that wasn't. Does that make sense? Maybe SSDoxie will read this thread and chime in. He's most knowledgeable on these things.

 

[Slummer]

That's what I'm thinking as well. When you read the brochure for the new G series, if it has the HTC option on it, if one side is slipping, it will divert the drive power to the traction side, theoretically allowing you to get out of a "stuck" situation. I test drove a new G series (engine I thought was a little quieter than the Kubota engine) and what I described in my opening thread happened. Drivers side slid off the road slightly, passenger side tire were on ice and I was hooped. Left tires sat there and spun. The HTC is supposed to be around a $700 option but if it got me out of that -- priceless!! Unfortunately, the G series is not in my tax bracket, that brings me back to the limited sip differential that is supposed to be in previous models. If it works like the G series that I test drove, I'm going to have to re-think the whole Toolcat purchase. I need to blow a lot of snow, keeping a private road open in Northern Ontario -- lots of hills and rock -- I love the front mounted snow blower but I need the traction as well. Currently using my T190 and on the hills, it just scary. Thanks for the comments so far, keep them coming.

 

[SSdoxie]

HTC is standard equipment in current 5610, is an option on the 5600. This works off the front axle comparing the speed of the wheels, when it detects 1 wheel is spinning faster it applies braking to that wheel and the opposite rear wheel to force wheels with traction to rotate. Same technology used in most of todays automobiles with some type of traction control.

 

[Slummer]

how well does the limited slip differential work in the older models - the 5600's that are more affordable.

 

[Xfaxman]

HTC is standard equipment in current 5610, is an option on the 5600. This works off the front axle comparing the speed of the wheels, when it detects 1 wheel is spinning faster it applies braking to that wheel and the opposite rear wheel to force wheels with traction to rotate. Same technology used in most of todays automobiles with some type of traction control.

Define current?

My 2012 5610 F series doesn't have it, as far as I can tell.

I think the locking differential only works in 2 wheel steer.

 

[Slummer]

From what I have found out about HTC, if you have it on your Toolcat, then you should have a toggle switch on the dash that allows you to turn it off. It turns on automatically when the machine is turned on but then you can turn it off with the switch, not sure why you would do that. The latest Toolcat brochure says that it was available starting in the D series. I spoke to someone yesterday with a 2009 for sale and they said they had HTC on their machine. You're the second person I've seen that have said that the differential only works in 2 wheel steer. We had the demo Toolcat in 4 wheel steer when we were stuck on the side of the road and the differential certainly had no effect at that time. Didn't think of putting it in 2 wheel steer at the time.

 

[SSdoxie]

Define current?

My 2012 5610 F series doesn't have it, as far as I can tell.

I think the locking differential only works in 2 wheel steer.

HTC was introduced September 2013. It can be retrofitted to earlier machines, D & F models.