Poll: Your satisfaction with your HST transmission

Alan L. · May 10, 2011

My tractor is 11 years old, I bought it new, it has about 850 hours on it. No issues whatsoever with the HST. I give it a 10, I can't imagine another kind of transmission.

Lightnsound · May 10, 2011

My B7610 HST performs great. No problems with the machine after 4 years and 360 hours.

I have limited experience on a friends geared tractor and I greatly prefer the HST.

My everyday vehicle is a Jeep Wrangler with a 6 speed manual transmission, and the fact that I like a manual transmission makes me like the HST. The ability to change my "gearing" continuously with the pedal without using a clutch is great. ( please don't flame me, I know it's not really gearing, but you know what I mean ) If I'm mowing and the machine bogs down, all I have to do is back off the pedal which effectively downshifts the transmission. As soon as I'm over the tall patch of grass I can lean back into the pedal and increase travel speed. And for loader work I love HST.

I just hate that the hydro controls are right under the brakes. I think I'm going to fabricate some sort of a hand control or find a way to build a second pedal on the other side of the tractor for the hydro so my feet can run the split brakes.

EE_Bota · May 11, 2011

I rate it a 9.

People who need a gear tractor due to lots of plowing and field work most likely know the advantages of gear over HST, so I will add to it here.

Edit:My BX2200 is around year 2000, has 850 hours no troubles.
My Subaru is a 5-sp manual. Would prefer automatic, but have had one of the same brand fail. Also had a manual of the same brand fail, but it was a 5-sp, so I fixed it myself (rtv sealant clogged an oil lube hole.) My JD rider is manual....I WISH it was hydro. My motorcycle is manual (since automatic trannies in motorcycles ARE available.) If I did lots of field work, my tractor would be gear or shuttle, not HST.

Jeffnew · May 11, 2011

New BX owner, long-time manual transmission car owner.

HST=9.0. I like the smoothness and the ease of getting in and out of tight spots. I LOVE the ease of teaching my 12-year-old son how to drive "the tractor" and making him responsible for pasture and lawn mowing.

beppington · May 11, 2011

Up thru Jeffnew's post #55, I count 31 total ratings with an average rating of 9.25

JDgreen227 · May 11, 2011

For me, and my uses (85% mowing, 10% snow removal, 5% other) I rate the HST on my Deere a solid 9. One of the greatest advantages to a HST is that ANYONE can climb on and drive a tractor with one, and the ability to move just an inch or two forward or back at a time is a huge asset over a gear tranny. Last, I never have to use my brakes except for parking on a slope.

bigbull338 · May 11, 2011

grsthegreat said:
what do you mean gear oil is never changed. of course it is changed. i changed my geared tractors hydraulic oil every other year (aprox every 200 hrs) They also have hydraulic filters that needed changing. i think my hst only uses 2 quarts more fluid than the gear version, so its a non issue in overall cost savings for me.

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.

grsthegreat · May 11, 2011

bigbull338 said:
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.

hmm, well ive owned, leased and driven alot of geared wquipment over the years, and all of their owners manuals specify changing times for hydraulic fluids.... then again i know people that never change their engine oils...never. and their cars just keep on running. lucky i guess

kco · May 11, 2011

Sulla said:
DK45 SE HST. The biggest advantage I can see is that I am free to concentrate on the job I'm doing without having to think about shifting and proper gearing.

I ride motorcycles and drive both manual and automatic transmission cars. When I am in my car for work I want to think about my work, not my car, so I take the automatic. Same applies with the tractor I guess.

For my use on hills, winding trails, and lots of mowing in irregular spaces I could not have imagined how dramatically easier the HST has made it over my previous gear tractor. I was completely comfortable with the gear tractor and never consciously thought about shifting, etc.

But Sulla's post made me realise why the HST is so much easier for my type of work. i.e. you can completely concentrate on the work at hand.

beppington · May 11, 2011

grsthegreat said:
hmm, well ive owned, leased and driven alot of geared wquipment over the years, and all of their owners manuals specify changing times for hydraulic fluids.... then again i know people that never change their engine oils...never. and their cars just keep on running. lucky i guess

Since ~1994 I've been mowing my ~1/2 acre lawn with a Sears Craftsman 32" riding mower with hydro transmission I bought new, & I haven't once changed the fluid, added fluid or even checked it. It just keeps on goin'.