New hst plus or gst?

[dsn142]

New member here,great site,loads of information.I was a John Deere fan but last year I needed a smaller tractor and decided to try a Kubota.I purchased a B2630HST with the La403 fel(I looked at the Deere 2520, close to $2300.00 more than the Kubota)and now I am sold on Kubota.Now My question,I am selling my B2630 and want to get a GL3240 with the La 724 fel,I am not sure if I should get the HST or GST? I do use the fel regularly,but I have heard pos and cons of the new HST.I liked the HST on my B2630,but the GL3240 is a bigger tractor and my Deere has a power reverser on it that works fine with a fel.I believe that the GST on the Kubota is about the same as the power rev on the Deere.
Anybody that owns a GL with a HST plus that has a some hours on it sure would like any feed back.
Thank You

 

[n8wrl]

Go drive it. The debates are endless - I LOVE the HST. I don't have the HST+ but I've heard great things about it. If you do any loader work at all, you'll love HST - you just forget about the mechanics and move. It's great!

-Brian

 

[TalonDancer]

...Now My question,I am selling my B2630 and want to get a GL3240 with the La 724 fel,I am not sure if I should get the HST or GST? I do use the fel regularly,but I have heard pos and cons of the new HST.I liked the HST on my B2630,but the GL3240 is a bigger tractor and my Deere has a power reverser on it that works fine with a fel.I believe that the GST on the Kubota is about the same as the power rev on the Deere.
Anybody that owns a GL with a HST plus that has a some hours on it sure would like any feed back....

First -- Welcome to the TBN Kubota forums

I have about 165 hrs on my GL3240 HST+ since 8/16/07 (see signature for details). I put about 30 hours on a rented L39 with GST before buying my GL3240. I would chose the HST+ over the GST in a heart beat

Note: During most of those hours my GL3240 was configured as a TLB. I don't mow and have not used any PTO implements. YMMV

BTW I was initially disappointed in the HST+ Auto Throttle feature. Then some helpful TBN members pointed out that it could easily be adjusted with 2 - 10mm wrenches - DUH. After making the Auto Throttle adjustments, I am very pleased with the HST +. It has ALL of the good features of the HST you're used to on your B2630 + Auto Throttle, D-HS, Stall Guard etc.. Together they make the HST+ very comparable to the GST. The ONLY thing I now miss about the GST is the ability to walk though the complete range (12 forward, 8 reverse) without stopping. But I rarely need to do this.

For the last 125+ hours I've had Auto Throttle ON 95% of the time. I almost always have the HST set to M and use the D-HS (rabbit - turtle) and "cruise control" to replicate the GST ranges 4-8. Which BTW was what I used most on the L39's GST.

IMHO the HST+ combines the best of both worlds - HST & GST.

Talon Dancer

ps You may want to check out this thread about the HST +. Skip to near the end to avoid the whining by some guy called Talon Dancer

 

[dsn142]

Talon dancer thanks for the information.I was going to try and make my decision based on people such as yourself who have had the HST plus for a while.

 

[TalonDancer]

Surely there are more TBN members with HST+ and/or GST experience that can help this new member

Talon Dancer

 

[dannyk]

My two cents: Go with the HST. I have no experience with the HST+, but I do have a Kubota with the GST and one with HST. I still find the GST cumbersome relative to the HST.

Danny

 

[Baby Grand]

DSN142,

Well, Talon Dancer has shamed me into responding. I bought an L3240 with GST a few months ago and I love it. Now for some disclaimers. I have a life total of 20 hrs in the seat of any kind of tractor; all of it on the L3240. Also, I have never operated an HST anything. So take my comments with a grain of salt.

I chose the GST to get another 1.5 HP at the PTO for mowing and future ground engaging tasks and because I love a good manual Gbox. I am extremely biased about the last bit, perhaps unreasonably so. Probably goes back to the Mack R600 Quadraplex lumber truck in my misspent youth. Old #17. Loved that truck.

It's the simplicity of the thing that I like. If your engine speed is right and your ground speed is wrong, then shift. If your ground speed is right, but your engine speed isn't, then shift. Otherwise forget about it and think about stability, low limbs, soft soil, angle of attack, etc. Of course you can always downshift in >anticipation< of doing some grunt work or driving downhill. You really don't need to use the clutch, but I do anyway.

As Brian says, go drive them both and make up your own mind. Either way, I suspect you'll be very happy. Let us know what you decide.

Jim

 

[dsn142]

Thanks to everyone for their input.Trying to sell my B2630 with la403 fel with rear tires filled $14,100.00.I have had it in the newspaper here in Missouri,but only 1 call in 3 weeks.I have a price on a GL3240GST LA724 fel with a 66"bucket, rear tires filled.$19,100.00.If I decide to go with HST plus add another $400.00.
I did test drive both GST and HST plus,both are nice,but I guess my concern is that with any new first production (HST plus)I was always told wait until all the bugs are worked out.The reason why of my first post ,Maybe its not like that with tractors(I HOPE).
Let me know what you think of the prices of my used B2630 and the new GL 3240.

 

[hayden]

To me there is no decision to make. I wouldn't buy a tractor without HST. I would probably have bought an M series instead of an L were it not for this exact issue. I particularly like the new HST plus. I just can't see any criteria by which a GST or manual shift provides any advantage in any way over an HST.

From what I've seen the folks who go with GST or manual shift do so because that's just what they know and are comfortable with, and I completely respect that - after all, you should buy what you want, not what I want. But for me, there's no comparison.

By the way, I had the same complaint with the Auto Throttle over-reving the engine relative to the tractor movement and speed. Like TallonDance, I made the simple adjustment that someone here discovered and have it tuned just as I like it now.

 

[hayden]

I did test drive both GST and HST plus,both are nice,but I guess my concern is that with any new first production (HST plus)I was always told wait until all the bugs are worked out.

I had the same concern before buying my L5740HSTC, but a query here on TBN about early quality issues with the Grand L40 series yielded almost no issues at all. Here's the thread with everyone's responses http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/108004-satisfaction-check-grand-l40.html

One thing to keep in mind is that HST technology has been around for a VERY long time and is very mature and reliable. It is also used in some VERY large equipment - stuff that puts our tractors to shame - like some of the big Cat dozers.

 

[TalonDancer]

...I have a price on a GL3240GST LA724 fel with a 66"bucket, rear tires filled.$19,100.00.If I decide to go with HST plus add another $400.00....

I am very happy that I did NOT get my tires filled. My BH90 nicely balances my GL3240 with LA724 and 66" HD bucket or with the Bradco pallet fork without filled tires. Note I have had to remove rocks in order for the LA 724 to lift some pallets. So I _know_ the BH90 balances the LA724 FEL at max capacity

OTOH by Rhono 72" BB is not quite heavy enough at the LA724's max capacity BUT it does balance a heaping FEL of road base pretty well.

IMO filled tires are just more weight to haul around and only required if you use the FEL WITHOUT a rear implement. Which ain't goin to happen on my tractor

Talon Dancer

 

[EastTnFarmboy]

For what it's worth, I love my GL 5240 with HST+. I am sure there are applications where a GST or DT is better, but for almost everything I've primarily used it for so far (mowing, bushhogging, loader/grapple work), it is extremely convenient. (I have owned an old gear driven tractor previously but not a GST.) I had always bushhogged with an old Ford or Massey. Since most of my bushhogging is in the woods (logging roads, hunting trails, etc.), the HST is a dream compared to the other tractors I had used. Good luck!

 

[radman1]

I did have a Kubota 3710 gst. Currently have JD 3720 HST and Case-IH Dx29 with HST.
The HST does rob some hp compared to gst. It is noticed if pulling heavy loads or traveling down road with trailer or up hills. Go with the HST. It is a proven transmission with few problems. The loss of hp means you just may have to go a little slower to keep the power up but it won't be noticeable in most cases. The convenience of HST is much more desirable than GST. My JD hst and the new kubota hst+ have more features than I ever use. Some of them are more gimmics than really needed. The load match feature and cruise control is all I ever use and 95% of the time, the plain classic hydrostat is what I use.

 

[dsn142]

I think I am sold on the HST plus,now if I can sell my B2630,the dealer has a GL3240HST LA724 fel 66" bucket just waiting for me.
Another question,does anybody know if the GL's come with a 12v line to the rear of the tractor for a boom sprayer or do I have to add it?

 

[TalonDancer]

Seriously consider getting the L2239 HD _round back_ 66" bucket. It is a lot stronger than the standard 66" bucket and the round back nicely fits a standard round end shovel which makes hand shoveling* out of the bucket much easier. If you search on my posts you'll find several pictures of the L2239 HD bucket carrying 1/2-3/4 ton blocks of limestone. Several of these had more rock outside the bucket than in it -- they were lifted and held in place by hooking the top of the rock under the pipe at the top of the bucket. So the full 1/2-3/4 tons was being carried on the very front edge of the bucket -- without bending the bucket

There are three unused green spade type plugs (12v) at the back of the seat that are wired to the Working LIght fuse and are only hot with the ignition on.

Talon Dancer

*Yes I know that hand shoveling may seem "pre-FEL". But there have been many times that I needed to place a couple of buckets full of top soil in a area that I couldn't reach with the FEL bucket, or when I needed to thinly spread the contents of the bucket on a flower bed (that was already planted), etc.

 

[Bob_Young]

My tractors are quite basic compared to the advanced versions you're considering, but that won't stop me from throwing in my 2 cents anyway. I've got both HST (on a little B7610) and dark-ages 8x2 gear (on an L4300) and think highly of both...in the proper application.

For field work where you need to get maximum grunt to the ground, I'll take gear. Select the gear, set the engine speed and then forget them while you pay attention to the task and any impediments to progress. As the earlier poster said, Up or downshift as required. Simplicity in itself. Like Powershift on Ag tractors, GST should be a great productivity enhancement over straight gear....for field work.

For tight work, such as extended loader sessions, operating in the woods and in or around structures; HST is the way to go. You have to be really good and consistent on a clutch to even come close to the precision of HST. Also, tasks like rototilling or snowblowing, where precise control of groundspeed is needed while operating at a preset engine speed, beg for HST. Set the engine at PTO RPM and use the pedal to either creep or sprint or anything in between. I'm still hazy on the HST+ features, but they seem to be simply additional control options for the same basic HST transmission. As such, there wouldn't be much to fear in the way of new product bugs.

Too bad you can't keep the B2630; it would complement the Grand L nicely and you wouldn't have to take a hit by selling....can't have too many tractors, y'know.
Bob

 

[dsn142]

Well I bought a new Gl3540 HST,LA724 FEL with the rear tires filled(R-4 tires)today.I test drove a 3940 and the 4 cylinder engine sold me on the 3940,until the salesman quoted me a price of $22,850.00 with same equipment that the 3540 has on it.He would not budge on the price of the 3940.Imo I could not justify paying an additional $1700.00 for a 4 cylinder engine.
Thanks to all about their input on the HST plus great new feature

Can't believe the salesman would'nt budge on the 3940

DSN142