Loss of power with hydro over gear???

cowboydoc · Jan 19, 2005

Yes you are correct that you do maintain full throttle with a hydro. My point was that if you are slipping or trying to gain traction it's not like you don't have some control over that by using the accelerator. Rarely if ever when I am going up a hill do I have full throttle, especially if it is a situation where traction is an issue. If traction isn't an issue then yes I go the appropriate speed.

DK35vince · Jan 19, 2005

( A few other members have already mentioned that hydro loss is minimal at worst. I really don't think you could tell the difference without using instruments one way or the other out in the real world. )

I agree with what your saying Mike. Most CUT owners probably wouldn't notice the differance.
I didn't buy a gear tractor because I don't like hydro (I do).
I went with gears because I could go with a slightly larger machine and still fit my buying budget.
I also knew if I went with gears I at least wanted the sycro shuttle and sycronized transmission

JerryG · Jan 19, 2005

Chris,
Sorry I didn't get back to you, but it looks like Doc has answered about the same as I would have. I will say that I have more than one hill that I mow that are 30* with a only 6-8' flat at the top. I mow up the hill, make a U turn and mow down, no problem. As I have said, very few compact tractor owners use all of the horsepower that their tractor has. I have one implement that does use ever horse that my engine will generate, but most don't. Having said that, gear or hydro is only preference for most, not absolute for either. It is like, how most here totes the loader advantage of a hydro, my goodness how many hours do most use their loader a year, 10-15 of the hundred hours they put on a year? Gear or hydro doesn't make any difference to only cut 30 minutes off of a persons yearly usage. That is why I normally say, get the one that you are comfortable with.

_RaT_ · Jan 19, 2005

my goodness how many hours do most use their loader a year, 10-15 of the hundred hours they put on a year? Gear or hydro doesn't make any difference to only cut 30 minutes off of a persons yearly usage. That is why I normally say, get the one that you are comfortable with. 

That is really very true Jerry. Sometimes we get so caught up in it. The average user here is putting on somewhere around 50 hours a year. I doubt any transmission is going to be all that much of a make or break it under these circumstances. While loader use can be done advantageously with a hydro, I think more importantly will be the experience you develop using the loader regardless of transmission or brand for that matter. With that in mind, any tractor is pretty darn useful.

MossRoad · Jan 19, 2005

any tractor is pretty darn useful. 

Millions of bad backs break into applause! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

KiotiJohn · Jan 19, 2005

Kioti tractors generally lose one HP to HST at the PTO.
My CK20HST has 15.5 PTO HP, the Gear has 16.5
The CK30 HST has 23.5, PTO the Gear has 24.0 according to the specs
The CK25 HST has 19.5 and the Gear has 20.0 PTO
The represent only 1/2 HP loss, but probably is truly 1 HP.
Not a significant loss, and I'm sure I woulnd't notice the difference. John

Henro · Jan 19, 2005

On the hill question I can't help but think there are hills, and there are hills.

For me, working around, close to and between trees on slopes, where somethimes the clearance is VERY close, and and I may be weaving between things as well as going up and/or sideways at the same time, I really like the slow speed control the hydro gives me.

If I were working hills in the wide open spaces somewhere, I doubt I would care what tractor I was on. For me personally, I think the hydro adds a bit of safety to my personal tractoring-on-hills-with-lots-of-trees experience. That could be because I have two left feet, or it could be because I get the tractor into situations where I need to go real slow to feel comfortable with my ability to control the tractor in a given, new situation.

In my mind, and in MY case, these are real issues and for me the hydro works best when I am on a heavily wooded hillside.

As far as JerryG's comment on the loader-use advantage, even though at least 200 of the 530 hours I put on my tractor in the first two years were loader work, when I think about it where would the hydro have been an advantage? When grabbing a bucket full, and maybe when dumping and changing direction to go back for more. A small part of the larger picture... Getting what you want and NOT getting hung up on perceived advantages of one over the other is really GREAT advice.

I'd still buy a hydro though, because that is what I want! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JerryG · Jan 19, 2005

I'd still buy a hydro though, because that is what I want! 
For the vast majority of CUT owners that is exactly right.

Moon · Jan 21, 2005

(
I'd still buy a hydro though, because that is what I want!
For the vast majority of CUT owners that is exactly right.
)

Me to.

Someone here on TBN said that it's more about traction than HP. You usually run out of traction before you run out of HP. I found this to be true. Sorry I can't remember who said it.

I've not driven the shuttle shifts and newer gear models. But I know I scared the dickens out of myself on my old 8N on a hillside with a bush hog. The 8N didn't have live power and that didn't help matters any. I tried hydro and liked it. Yea, it uses some HP but it makes my work easier and I feel safer on hills. In low going down a hill you don't even touch the brakes. My 8N I could gear down, but if I had to put in the clutch to stop, you better be quick on the brake (and the brakes on the old 8N left alot to be desired.)

Moon of Ohio

kybota · Jan 21, 2005

(
I tried hydro and liked it. Yea, it uses some HP but it makes my work easier and I feel safer on hills. In low going down a hill you don't even touch the brakes. My 8N I could gear down, but if I had to put in the clutch to stop, you better be quick on the brake (and the brakes on the old 8N left alot to be desired.)

Moon of Ohio )

Much agreed about the braking! It seldom comes up in discussions about the hydrostat vs. gear decision on TBN, but the braking action of the hydro appears to be a major plus for that type transmission. When I first test drove the hydros I was pleasantly surprized at how handy and effective that was.

A huge advantage to the hydros on braking, especially on hills.