Need pro's and con's on the LX410 and the LX4100

[Katahdin]

Opinions from an HST owner.

Cons of the HST:

The price. You guys with the Shuttle Shifts definitely are getting nice cash breaks, I envy you!

Parasitic power loss. The PTO HP output on the LX are surprisingly low. My 4tnv88 puts out 45hp, and the PTO output is measly 32.5hp. Really? I haven't figured out why this. I'd like to think its because the HST transmission is super heavy-duty for a tractor in its class, but who knows. I can say I can run a 6 foot cutter up a steep hill with tall grass no problem, in Medium gear. So I'm not unhappy with the power, just pointing out the stats.

Gentlemen, start your engines! If we were to race a shuttle shift LX against a HST LX, I'm guessing the shuttle shifters would win. Its fine for my purposes, but you can't help but feel the tranny is a little sluggish. I guess that's why they call 'em slush boxes.


PROs of the HST:

On uneven terrain and loader work I find the HST very handy and precise. I have not driven the shuttle-shift, but I can't imagine it can creep as slow over and around obstacles as well as the HST.

You have two independent throttles, the hand lever throttle, and the foot pedal throttle. When I'm moving between bush hogging spots I find its convenient to power down the hand throttle, turn off the PTO, then drive away using the foot throttle. When you reach your destination and stop, the engine idles down automatically, and now its safe to turn on the PTO and bump up the RPMs using the hand throttle.

Its safe and easy to drive for new tractor owners. Just take the foot off the pedal and the tractor will come to a smooth halt.

 

[bsinhc50]

Katahdin, you are right about the loader work which is something I do readily with my EX3200 as was the case on Saturday. I had to move a bunch of debris from the creek bank and was able to creep up to it so as not to push it over the bank. I tried to imagine using a shuttle in the same way and feel it wouldn't work out as well. So, I'm probably going to stick with a hst if I upgrade to the LX4100.

Anyhow, Thanks to everyone who posted their pro's and con's on both types of tranny's, it is appreciated.

 

[NHSawyer]

I really like having the shuttle shift. I would not want my foot on a pedal the whole time I am on the machine. I do a lot of back and forth pushing snow banks and the shuttle shift works great for that.
The only con on the shuttle is when backing up to an implement then the hydro would be better as I see it.

 

[bsinhc50]

NHSawyer, The shuttle shift will always interest me and maybe down the road I'll get one but for now, I've decided to keep my EX3200 because I just bought a CC Z-Force S series zero turn mower. I went this route after my 6ft rmm broke on Saturday and a friend of mine suggested I go to a zero turn, like he did. Russ mows 10 acres and he used to mow it with a 30hp New Holland with a 6ft rmm and said it took most of the day to get it done. But, after buying a CC Z-Force zero turn last year he said he's cut his mowing time in half and the cost to run the zero turn is much lower than it was to run his tractor. As for my 6ft Befco rmm this is the second time the same pulley bearing seized and getting the new pulley put on isn't an easy job. I put a post in another section wondering if anyone else is having similar issues with Befco Cyclone mowers because it only has 200 mowing hrs on it and both bearings seized after 100hrs of use on the same pulley.

Anyhow, Thanks for your comments, they are appreciated.