Poll: Your satisfaction with your HST transmission

[herringchoker]

I use my Kubota B7800 mostly for FEL work, bush and rough grass cutting and snow blowing. I've put over 300 hours on it 7 years. For what I do, I would have nothing else but HST. I've never had a problem with it. In the past I have had larger gear-driven and torque converter power shuttle tractors. I've had my first automatic pickup truck for just over a year and the family sedan is a manual, as were most of its predecessors.
Back to the HST - I rate mine as a solid 9.9, just because nothing is perfect. :thumbsup:

 

[ecruzin]

No seat switch on my DK45SE either. I would have to give it a 9 rating because I only have 25 hrs on it and I still don't know all of its capabilities. Being able to stand up when using the loader or in tight quarters is definately a plus. Only downside I have noticed is that I have to stop to change ranges from low to medium or medium to high. I have not tried to shift on the fly, but I assume that is a NO-NO. No regrets on buying the HST.

 

[Rob-D]

9.5
Hard to beat for my work.
My car is an auto (first one) but it has a sport tranny so I can shift around. Porbably won't buy anymore stick boxes. I drive my friends 990 once and awhile. It's fun but would I want to do it everyday? I don't think so. I do a lot of loader work, snow plowing, etc. HST is the best for that.
Rob

 

[dex3361]

I would rate my HST tractors at 9.9. I have a 1972 Cub Cadet that has a HST transmission that is swashplate transmission similar in design to what the Kubotas have, This little CC has been flawless in operation for the 15 years I have had it.. I put about 160 hours a year on it. I would say it has 3000 hours conservatively. The L4400HST and BX1500 operate better than the CC because they have speed ranges. But the CC sold me on HST transmissions.

 

[milkman636]

I see on your profile you have a Bobcat CT335 which should be similar to my Kioti DK35 HST--it doesn't have a seat switch. By setting the cruise control I'm able to drive standing up. Also, I am able to set the parking brake without shifting to neutral.

Perhaps your comments refer to the John Deere listed in your profile? Or is the Bobcat CT335 different than the DK35 (e.g. CT335 has seat switch and DK35 doesn't)?

When I stand up on my CT335 without the range selector in neutral + brake lock engaged the engine stops. I have not actually looked for the switch, but I have to assume there is a squat switch under there somewhere. I am still trying to decide whether to look for it or just get used to it.

I know that if I go looking and find it, I'll jump it out for sure. I have been trying to concentrate on other parts of the tractor, and thinking seriously about investing in some factory manuals.

 

[vwnotrunning]

Only about 16 hours on my LS I3040H, but I give it a 9.2. Would be a 10 but I think I still have some learning to best utilize it. Much better than the gear tractor I was used to for FEL work.

 

[bigbull338]

my MX5100 has 2 kill switches under the seat.1 will stall the motor down if you get up to get off or kill it.the other is a PTO safty switch,an it will kill the tractor if you get up an off the tractor with the PTO running.

 

[k0ua]

10 out of 10, have never found anything better.. drove Manuals at work and home for about 35 years, but all auto's now. have owned 2 Standard shift tractors over a period of 15 or so years. They all worked good, but not as good as the hydro. If you want to stand up, use the cruise control. Hydro whine is much less now with 79 hours than when new, hardly noticeable now. Really enjoy the control and precision when doing so many of my tasks. I have never plowed. I would not mind doing it, in fact kinda like the idea, just don't have any dirt

James K0UA

 

[kco]

When I stand up on my CT335 without the range selector in neutral + brake lock engaged the engine stops. I have not actually looked for the switch, but I have to assume there is a squat switch under there somewhere. I am still trying to decide whether to look for it or just get used to it.

I know that if I go looking and find it, I'll jump it out for sure. I have been trying to concentrate on other parts of the tractor, and thinking seriously about investing in some factory manuals.

Interesting--I didn't know the tractors had those differences. I can see the logic of the safety switch but I'm happy I don't have it.

One thing I don't like on the DK35 is the parking brake. It seems to take a lot of brake pedal pressure to set it. I think a handy feature would be to have some electric/hydraulic switch that would set it easily. Also, another nice feature would be to have a parking brake/HST warning that might warn you (beeper?) if you try to move with the parking brake engaged and shutdown after say, 2 seconds, if you continued to try to move with the parking brake engaged. I'm getting more used to it now, but the tractor is so powerful that it doesn't even complain if I try to move it with the parking brake engaged. I know there is a warning light but it isn't always easy to see in bright light.

On easy terrain I often don't use the parking brake and instead just make sure the bucket is down while stopped.

 

[browny]

I would give it a 9. I had about 500 hours on my MF1533 and really like it. I don't know if I would do any serious plowing with a 1533 though. Only 10 hours on my MF1643 hydro. I guess I like the simplicity of using a tractor with a hydro, but I never drove a syncro/power shuttle.