Manual vs Hydrostatic

Thomas · Mar 30, 2010

Had both over the years,second HST in 15 years..would be very hard to go back to gear.

Easier on old knee caps,fel work,Mrs. like HST alot better.

crusty 1 · Mar 30, 2010

fallbrook,I also am cursed with an honest view that getts me in hot water,what,s a guy to do?We had an old hydro that held up well and I now have the bobcat hydro and no issues,but I can,t go back not a possibility for me.From some of your past posts you,re old as dirt now so just how long are you thinkin your going to still be able to use a tractor anyway?:laughing:

FallbrookFarmer · Mar 30, 2010

Thanks for the encouragement?
My goal in life is to be shot by a jealous husband at 99

TripleR · Mar 30, 2010

I have geared and HST. My preference is for HST, but lots of people like geared. I like the positive engagement of a geared unit and for heavy pulling, but I don't do much heavy stuff anymore so I use my HST units mostly as I now just mow, maintain roads and do FEL work with a little tree pushing/dragging.

MtnViewRanch · Mar 30, 2010

FallbrookFarmer said:
Am looking at a used tractor from a small scale seller
When I look at the price of new tractors, I get vertigo
?

Have you looked at used tractors at Pauly Equipment? I have seen one and two year old machines in the past for very reasonable money. Tell them what your interested in and they will keep your name handy so if one comes up.

Just a thought

FallbrookFarmer · Mar 30, 2010

I'll have to mosey over and take a look. Thanks.

Builder · Mar 30, 2010

I went from gear to HST back to gear (well, Hydraulic shuttle) I prefer the hyd shuttle over the HST. The HST's loud whining noise got tiresome and gave me a headache (I use my tractor a lot) and I never felt like I was putting enough of the engine's power to the wheels. It always felt "softer" to me than a gear tractor. The ease of use & convenience of the HST was nice, but Kubota's hydraulic shuttle is real easy to use, too.

I'm doing a job with my backhoe and a buddy's L3130 HST and his feels weaker & noisy, too.

RadarTech · Mar 30, 2010

Guys,
I am a relative newby here...
but I do have 250 hours on my HST...

about 30 on a gear 2500....
and maybe 15 on an old ford gear..

on hilly terrain, HST-- no doubt.
FEL HST---
bad knee--- HST

need to pull the barn down -- gear..

for the common homeowner-- HST..

on several other threads I have posted the story about a neighbors geared tractor..
we did know removal in his drive last winter.. and I ran circles around him.
I think I moved 3 buckets of snow to his one.

but YMMV...

J

dex3361 · Mar 30, 2010

For the work that I do(Brush Hogging, FEL work, Box Blade work and using Grapple) and the area I work in(hills that are very steep) a HST takes my operating to a new level of safety. I rarely touch the brake except when using the cutting brakes. I have used geared tractors for about 30 years and HST (if you count my 1972 Cub Cadet HST) for about 12 years. Using the old Cub cadet sold me on the Larger HSTs because they respond about the same.

Builder · Mar 30, 2010

RadarTech said:
Guys,
I am a relative newby here...
but I do have 250 hours on my HST...

about 30 on a gear 2500....
and maybe 15 on an old ford gear..

on hilly terrain, HST-- no doubt.
FEL HST---
bad knee--- HST

need to pull the barn down -- gear..

for the common homeowner-- HST..

on several other threads I have posted the story about a neighbors geared tractor..
we did know removal in his drive last winter.. and I ran circles around him.
I think I moved 3 buckets of snow to his one.

but YMMV...

J