Poll: Your satisfaction with your HST transmission

[farmall40]

What work were you doing, and what tractors were you using.......just out of curiosity?

I am a contractor, so I use the unit in many ways. I mostly use the loader moving heavy clay. The power this thing puts to the ground is amazing. The motor does not lug down like a hydro, just keeps pushin through the pile. I have a 40HP Case Farmall with a cab.

 

[irvingj]

I also have little to no experience with a geared tractor (some time on one as a kid), but I'd rate mine at 9.5.

Only issue I have is the "wheelies" that sometimes happen when slowing down in reverse- it takes a light touch on my 2310, especially when it's not completely warmed up. Otherwise, for mowing, blowing snow, moving dirt piles, and some brush clearing/trailer moving, it works very well.:thumbsup:

 

[Rhinorider]

I give mine a 9.5... Here in WV on steep ground you have a much softer touch with HST. The .5 to the negative is loss of power a few times I wish I had that little bit of extra Ummmph.

 

[Dead Horse]

I have an HST and a gear.

each is very useful yet has its slight drawbacks.

I rate my HST a 9.9 and I have 1,500 hours on it and 2,500 hours on the gear.

Were I to purchase a new tractor, I would go with an HST. It is just so much more user friendly and versatile.:thumbsup:

 

[RobertN]

I have about 900 hours on HST tractors. Had my old Kubota B8200HSTD for 12 years, and this NH TC40D for a little over a year.

- I would rate the HST in general with a 10 across multiple tractor brands
- If I just had to come up with a minus, it would be whine. I usually wear a hardhat with face shield and ear muffs though.
- I had over 700 hours on the Kubota with no HST issues; sold with total of 1250 hours.
- I drive a mix of manuals and auto's. Pickup has an auto, car has a stick, motorcycles are a version of a stick. Water Tender has a Detroit V8 with 10spd stick.

Of my other various notes...
- I thought I understood the useless steering brakes on the Kubota, but it was not till having my TC40D that I was enlightened. Kubota, you're great tractors, but move the brakes!
- I actually kinda like the Kubota treadle pedal better than the side by side pedals on my TC40D.

I have driven/used numerous CUT's and smaller Utilities, up to 40HP. I liked them all, but the standout in gear was the L35 TLB with GST. If I did not have HST, I would like a GST type tranny.

 

[RobertN]

I would not dispute that you could put that many hours on a tractor without changing the fluid. Especially, if the system is kept sealed.

But.......... I have never seen an owner/operator manual for a car/truck/fire-engine/tractor/lawn mower/ect/ect that did not have a recommendation for fluid and filter changes.

I'd bet somewhere in the manual for that tractor, they recommend a fluid/filter change at a LOT less than 20,000 hours

i mean exactly what i said.we have a 78 7700 ford that has never had the hydro oil changed in it as far as i know,i know it hasnt been changed in 20yrs for sure.now we add hydro oil to it as needed.because over the years weve blown hydro hoses on the fel.the tractor has over 20,000 hours on it an still going strong.only 1 major repair an that was a new motor 20yrs ago because the block cracked an ford knew the block would crack sooner or later.

 

[devildog1]

I've had three HST kubota tractors with FEL's and one Oliver Super 55 that was gear with out a FEL.The Oliver had a 2 speed reverse and was mostly used with a Lorenz 72" 3 point snow blower or 72" back blade. No issues with BB but sometimes with snow blower fast reverse was to fast and reverse low was to slow. Never had a issue with any of the Kubota's with FEL's or BB and snow blowers.
DevilDog

 

[Carl_NH]

I had JD gear tractors on the farm and then an L175DT with BH (gear) now a B21TLB for 11 years and would never go back to a gear for TLB work. For long fields plowing/discing or where one needs HP to the ground or implement gear would be better. I have a 20 YO Cub Cadet - Hydro - never a problem in over 700 hrs.

Drawbacks HST very few (warmup time and whine) and as others have commented hooking up implements I set the brake and then inch back and forth off the tractor to align, also when in BH mode I can reach the HST pedal facing backwards to reposition.. I rate it a 9.4

 

[crazyal]

My neighbor who owns the lot next to me comes up every so often with his MX5000. I try not to laugh when I hear him grinding gears when shifting from forward to reverse. I'm sold on HST.

 

[beppington]

Up thru Carl NH's post #128, I count 65 total ratings with an average rating of 9.28