Manual vs Hydrostatic

[FallbrookFarmer]

So,
If I get the general gist:
Hydro is obviously easier to use.
Manual is better if you need lots of pulling power
Hydro is as reliable as manual
Thanks for all the info/opinions

 

[workmytractor]

I love my MX5100 with the shuttle shift. Wouldn't go Hydro...Just a personal opinion though.

 

[Ken45101]

Do you prefer an automatic or manual transmission in your car or pickup?

If you prefer not to shift like 90% of the population do, then buy a hydrostatic.:thumbsup:

My two cents and you are being overcharged

IMO, the biggest advantage of an automatic transmission in a car is when you are stuck in traffic and have to hold the clutch in. I don't get my tractor into rush hour traffic :laughing:

My current pickup has an automatic. The previous was a manual transmission and I got significantly better (20-25%) fuel economy. If I were buying again, I'd probably look for a manual transmission.

Ken

 

[Ken45101]

So,
If I get the general gist:
Hydro is obviously easier to use.
Manual is better if you need lots of pulling power
Hydro is as reliable as manual
Thanks for all the info/opinions

Probably pretty accurate. Plus, hydro is more expensive to buy and maintain. Nobody debates UDT vs. SUDT for a manual transmission :laughing:

Ken

 

[Builder]

So,
If I get the general gist:
Hydro is obviously easier to use.
Manual is better if you need lots of pulling power
*Hydro is as reliable as manual
Thanks for all the info/opinions

*I might debate that one. Seen a lot of 50 yr old manual trans tractors still working just fine. Jury is out on 50 yr old hydros. Early hydros would need rebuilding by now.

Also remember that what you call a "manual" such as Kubota's glide shift or an MF powershuttle, is very easy to operate. My Kubota hydraulic shuttle barely ever requires a clutch.

One other thing other than the noise and loss of power on my hydro I disliked was the pedal configuration. I never got used to the "R" pedal location and the pedals never seemed to fit my foot rocking motion the way I liked. Some hydro pedals are better than others. Make sure you really like the way your foot feels in the hydro pedals. Seems like a minor issue, but it's not.

 

[Yankee]

I agree with the comment about pedal configuration and comfort. Having recently demoed a power shuttle trans, I also found it very easy for loader use. How do you find a shuttle to be in the woods, though?

 

[SPYDERLK]

I am looking at a Kubota 2400 that has a Hydrostatic trans.
Looking for opinions for those who have had both manual and hydrostatic, Obviously it's a lot easier operating, but how about reliability? Have any of you, had Hydro and gone back to manual?

Hydros are great for finely controlled movement and forward reverse operations. That said I just spent a lot of money on one with 1400hrs. Not worn out, but a part broke and messed it up enuf to suggest replacement. A gear trans would just about be needing a clutch.
larry

 

[FallbrookFarmer]

Hydros are great for finely controlled movement and forward reverse operations. That said I just spent a lot of money on one with 1400hrs. Not worn out, but a part broke and messed it up enuf to suggest replacement. A gear trans would just about be needing a clutch.
larry

Have I opened up ANOTHER can of worms?
I better go back to long philosophical rants about
economics

 

[TripleR]

*I might debate that one. Seen a lot of 50 yr old manual trans tractors still working just fine. Jury is out on 50 yr old hydros. Early hydros would need rebuilding by now.

Also remember that what you call a "manual" such as Kubota's glide shift or an MF powershuttle, is very easy to operate. My Kubota hydraulic shuttle barely ever requires a clutch.

One other thing other than the noise and loss of power on my hydro I disliked was the pedal configuration. I never got used to the "R" pedal location and the pedals never seemed to fit my foot rocking motion the way I liked. Some hydro pedals are better than others. Make sure you really like the way your foot feels in the hydro pedals. Seems like a minor issue, but it's not.

Very good points as I have never used a glide shift or power shuttle and guess many have not. I have "shuttle shift" on a couple of Cases, but they require a clutch. I need to keep this in mind when commenting.

Agreed, I did not like the HST on my BX2200, but really like the one on my BX2660. Some HST pedals cause me discomfort during long periods of use that was not noticeable short term.

 

[Specop_007]

I dont even think its really a fair question these days.

I'm running a '63 Massey. THAT is a "manual" transmission. No shuttle, no power, no hydro. Cripes I dont even have power STEERING.

Any modern day manual variant (shuttle, power) would be light years ahead of what I have now. :laughing:

 

[Gizmo2]

Those two reasons are exactly why I traded in my 1988 JD650. What a difference now. Wasn't getting any younger.

 

[Builder]

I dont even think its really a fair question these days.

I'm running a '63 Massey. THAT is a "manual" transmission. No shuttle, no power, no hydro. Cripes I dont even have power STEERING.

Any modern day manual variant (shuttle, power) would be light years ahead of what I have now. :laughing:

I fondly remember my Kubota 285DT. Manly-ma manual trans and no power steering, either. Tough as nails. :thumbsup:

 

[dieselfreak]

Get a GM truck with an Allison automatic. Works just like a medium duty automatic, but also have a manual shift mode so you can toggle through all 6 gears! :thumbsup:

I second that, an '11 DMax would be just what the Dr ordered!!

df.

 

[Specop_007]

I fondly remember my Kubota 285DT. Manly-ma manual trans and no power steering, either. Tough as nails. :thumbsup:

I think people lament hydro vs gear too much.

I've come to the conclusion it isnt in the direction change the hydro stands out. Todays modern "manuals" will get you 10 feet forward and 120 feet back as fast as the hydro's will. Where the hydro's shine in my opinion is in changing the speed of the direction your already going. If you do a lot of fast slow then get a hydro. If your doing a lot of forward reverse get a manual simply because it saves a few bucks.

 

[dex3361]

I don't hear it mentioned much about the Hydro/Geared discussion but I see the extra safety of never passing through a freewheeling situation while on steep hills. The shuttle has a autoclutch lag while it shifts so on a steep hill would you have to hold the brakes? The geared trans you have to push the clutch and pass through neutral and hold the brakes. The hydro you just roll back on the pedal and change directions not even hitting the brakes and not feeling like you are a foot slip away from a catastrophic joy ride. On hills it is great.

 

[TripleR]

I don't hear it mentioned much about the Hydro/Geared discussion but I see the extra safety of never passing through a freewheeling situation while on steep hills. The shuttle has a autoclutch lag while it shifts so on a steep hill would you have to hold the brakes? The geared trans you have to push the clutch and pass through neutral and hold the brakes. The hydro you just roll back on the pedal and change directions not even hitting the brakes and not feeling like you are a foot slip away from a catastrophic joy ride. On hills it is great.

Boy that's the truth. I do a lot of bush hogging with my Case and a ten foot rotary cutter along pond levies and on some I have to back down to the edge. I have shuttle shift and I am never comfortable doing this.

 

[BTDT2]

What the hay - I'm old and I like automatic transmissions in my vehicles like 90% of rest of the population do.

So why on earth should I want to manually shift a tractor when I can press a pedal and have a smooth response - both forward and back?

Sorry - but old school sucks.

 

[FallbrookFarmer]

I don't hear it mentioned much about the Hydro/Geared discussion but I see the extra safety of never passing through a freewheeling situation while on steep hills. The shuttle has a autoclutch lag while it shifts so on a steep hill would you have to hold the brakes? The geared trans you have to push the clutch and pass through neutral and hold the brakes. The hydro you just roll back on the pedal and change directions not even hitting the brakes and not feeling like you are a foot slip away from a catastrophic joy ride. On hills it is great.

I think that you have just made up my mind for me.
Have had too many JOY rides downhill, while trying to
shift. EXCELLENT point! Thanks.

 

[Reg]

Do you prefer an automatic or manual transmission in your car or pickup?

If you prefer not to shift like 90% of the population do, then buy a hydrostatic.:thumbsup:

My two cents and you are being overcharged

...and how much "shifting" do you suppose folk do on their "manual" transmission tractors ?
Somewhere between little and none; depress the clutch, select a range, select a gear and go.
Usually you will stop to select a different gear if the ground speed isn't quite what you want and just start over.
This isn't like a car or truck where you go up and down 5 or 6 gears to do anything.
I typically don't change gears on hills just because the grade has changed.

ymmv, etc and probably does.

 

[Reg]

I don't hear it mentioned much about the Hydro/Geared discussion but I see the extra safety of never passing through a freewheeling situation while on steep hills. The shuttle has a autoclutch lag while it shifts so on a steep hill would you have to hold the brakes? The geared trans you have to push the clutch and pass through neutral and hold the brakes. The hydro you just roll back on the pedal and change directions not even hitting the brakes and not feeling like you are a foot slip away from a catastrophic joy ride. On hills it is great.

...and you would be fumble-farting around between gears on a steep down grade because ?

What is wrong with selecting the gear you want to go down the hill in BEFORE you get to the steep and nasty part ?

Oh, requires forethought - Gottit (-: