OK. I am sold on hydrostatic

[TMAC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( when you say "cruise" you mean to say a hydro handle is not standard? OMG> My dads MF 12 only had a handle, ahead of its time I guess.)</font>

No not the good old handle controls, these CUTs we use have HST pedal controls instead of the handle controls by the steering column. A farmer I use to work for had a HST wheel horse lawn mower that use to have that type of handle control.

When I say "cruise" I mean cruise control. You get to the speed you prefer to travel and you hit the cruise control rocker switch, let off the hydro pedal and it's set, locks into your selected speed of travel. Anywhere from 0 - 14 mph on the Class III Boomers. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

Egon,

More like they're placed in the perfect places for an obstacle COURSE!!! LOL. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Alan L.]

Not to get any kind of HST vs gear war going here, but while it might appear that brush hogging is not one of HST's strongest suites, when you find varying types and thicknesses of grass to cut it is so easy to regulate the exact speed with the HST to get the best cut.

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Not to get any kind of HST vs gear war going here, but while it might appear that brush hogging is not one of HST's strongest suites, when you find varying types and thicknesses of grass to cut it is so easy to regulate the exact speed with the HST to get the best cut. )</font>
I don't think you're getting any war going that hasn't been going on all along. As for brush hogging not being one of HST strongest suites, I find it quite suitable to brush hogging. I set the cruise control after I find the speed I want and just go cutting. I have cut very high stuff without any lugging down. I suspect anyone who doesn't know HST well might think it's handicapped at brush hogging, but it's not. Varying types and heights of grass have not caused me to have to even change my speed so far. As far as I'm concerned, there should be NO war at all. Some like HST and some like gear. A lot of people run one or the other down, and they've never really used the one they don't like. It's human nature at it's best, but those of us who've used both know both are pretty darn good. John

 

[Ole_Hickory]

I have used geared tractors all of my life until I got my 1st hydrostat 4 years ago when i purchased my JD 4400 and the hydro is the best by far for brush hogging on these WVa hillsides and ledges and doing anything else. It gives me infinite control in whatever I do and I feel much safer with the hydro in mowing/ logging,not to mention its ease of operation.

 

[art]

When farmers are doing haying the hydro's have a lot of benifits! The flexibility of being able to run the equipment under a more constant load and speeds that are right for the conditions with only one adjustment works just as good as when you are mowing your lawn. Believe me farmers have something else to do to and efficiency of there time is really important to them. All of the major manufacturers are coming out with multi range hydros with horsepower close to 200 for there flexibility. These are far more productive then the old two range hydro's that IH first built in the sixties.

 

[To20Chris]

Guys, I never did say that brush hogging was an area that HST was handicapped in, I just said that it did not seem to be an area where it has an advantage. With cruise control, I would think it is about the same as setting a hand throttle. And again, if you have reason to be changing speed a lot, then HST would have benefits. I just don't do that much when cutting fields, but then I'm not on steep hills and don't have a huge number of obstructions.

 

[Poppa]

I seriously considered a gear tractor but ended up with HST. This being my first tractor I can't compare the two. I can say that learing how to backup to an implement sure seems easy with the infinite speed control of the HST, not to mention the built in braking when you release from the peddle.

Hardest thing I have seen so far with the HST is learning where the brake is since I rarely use it. I think I have used the clutch more just engaging the PTO.

Now of course if my father saw me writing this he would probably kick my can from here to the coast. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif But what do you expect from an old Truck Driver? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Mike

 

[slowrev]

Yes wives seem to have a goal of making the mowing more difficult with obstacles /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Egon]

More difficult-- NO-No-No !!!!

They are trying to maintain your hand /foot/eye coordination and combat the stress of aging.

Egon