Poll: Your satisfaction with your HST transmission

[RHP]

I love my HST and after years of owning a 1952 8n Ford, the HST is a luxury. I use it for loader work, brush-hogging and back-blade work primarily. I'd rate it a 9.5.

 

[beppington]

Up thru RHP's post #141, I count 76 total ratings with an average rating of 9.25

 

[KubB2700]

BTW, prior to my B2710 HST my tractor for about 10 years was a 1947 FORD 2N with all the quirks that entails(6V, generator, positive ground, 3 speed trans, PTO and hydraulics that required the clutch to be engaged, mechanical brakes,Schebler carburetor.) When I got the Kubota HST diesel, thought I'd died and gone to heaven...

 

[ctgoldwing]

I only have 70 hours on my lil Kubota but I can't imagine using it without HST- snowblowing, loader work, post hole digging in the woods, tree/brush clearing and grooming my totally uneven, steeply sloped driveway with a box blade. I'm sure it could all be done with a clutch but I'll save clutching for my motorcycle. I'm 9+ on a 10 scale of happiness

 

[garc]

A solid TEN. No question about it. Granted this is my first and only tractor with almost 500 hours on the clock but regardless of any potential shortcomings one might associate with HST, none of which I am aware, there is nothing better out there when it comes to my frequent, and sometimes constant, forward and reverse direction changes :thumbsup:. Backing my rear mount flail mower onto the edge of my pond with a 500 foot circumference is just one example. I wouldn't attempt it if I had to clutch and/or shift. It's 20' deep so timing and safety are critical. Automatic braking is a great safety feature as well! For someone always going forward plowing miles of fields or roadways it might be a different story.

 

[sjohnson79]

I would give HST a 9 :thumbsup:

 

[NC tractor driver]

As long as it doesn't fail I rate it as a 10. When I have to do work on it the rating might be lower.

 

[tomfifield]

I am going with a 9.9 and I am not sure why I took of the .1. Some of my land is hilly and HST has been a life saver. If I was just plowing big fields gear would be fine but for tight and fine work with the bucket it is HST for me.

 

[Relaskop]

We've had our Kubota L3940 for about a year, using for various jobs on woodland in middle Georgia, and could not be more pleased. We considered other transmissions, but are glad we went HST. Numerical rating? I suppose about 9.5.

 

[ColdRider]

I had a B7200 Hst for 17 years,2200 hours and never a problem with the transmission. My new L3800 with 30 hours is HST also. If I need to buy another in this lifetime it will be Hydro too. 9.9 for the whine and brake pedal set up. I'm comfortable with the pedals but the whine is taking a while.

 

[AKfish]

JD110LB with 865 hours and solid as a rock! I'd give the HST a 10... if I had cruise control - I don't like having to keep my foot on the pedal all the time. So, I'll have to go with a 9.5

AKfish

 

[Grateful11]

We're just blown away by the HST on the L3940, we had a big bush hog project today, turned into a family affair. I just can't imagine us bush hogging where we did today with any gear drive tractor, maybe a shuttle shift with power reverser but this job turned into a piece of cake even in the heat we had today and the results were mind blowing, my wife can't get over how it looks. It's really getting dry here if it wasn't we probably couldn't have gone into some of the places we went into. With HST and in low range and 4WD everything just went so smooth the L3940 handled the SQ720 B. Hog just fine, 2" trees no problem. There were so many wild blackberries the whole area smelled of pureed blackberries. It basically a back in with bush hog high lower down and drive out, too rough and steep to drive across. We should have done a before and after picture.

 

[Redneck in training]

My tractor is also HST. I have driven gear tractors in the past occasionally. I think, especially in inexperienced hands, that HST is hard to beat. I vote 10.

 

[longvalley]

I rate my JD2520-HST as a 10. For all uses, especially loader work.
Added bonus (big bonus!) is that She Who Must Be Obeyed (SWMBO) drives the tractor and has given it the seal approval. :thumbsup:

 

[tungularafishcamp]

Got my L2800 a few years ago. Was gonna get a geared one to save a little cash and I prefer shifting and the better feel/control it gives me driving. Then my wife weighed in and wanted the hst so it would be easier for her and the kids to learn.

Am I glad I listened to her, love the hst, I do a lot of forklift work and need to stand up to see a lot so I just tuck the seat switch under the split loom and then untuck it when I am done. The whine was annoying but if I am gonna put a bunch of time on it I put the earmuffs on hooked up to an ipod.

Bought a bigger tractor for the family farm in Oregon this last winter and got a L48 hst. Course everyone complained that it wasnt geared til they drove it and all love it now. And another bonus this one isnt near as noisy as the 2800

10s all around from me

 

[Rob-D]

I noticed some people talking about the nuisance of keeping their foot on the pedal. I have the auto type cruse and with HST the two compliment each other very well. Glad the folks here pointed out to get it when I was talking about a new machine.
I don't know why Deere doesn't just include it, it's a hundred dollar option and worth every bit of it in my view.

Rob

 

[BethesdaEC]

I had a B7200 Hst for 17 years,2200 hours and never a problem with the transmission. My new L3800 with 30 hours is HST also. If I need to buy another in this lifetime it will be Hydro too. 9.9 for the whine and brake pedal set up. I'm comfortable with the pedals but the whine is taking a while.

I have teenagers, I can't even hear whining anymore, it all just disappears into the background.

 

[sugarmaple]

Both my Kubotas are HST. Love them both but for a few not entirely minor quibbles. On My 4330, the pedal arrangement as frequently noted is somewhere between stupid and useless. I like the JD and newer Kubota arrangement much better, but I am loyal to orange. There are times I would like the power HST robs, but overall, it is wonderful. I give it an 8.5 which would be a 9.5 if it had the newer pedal arrangement. I also wish Kubota made a "woods" package to protect driver and tractor while logging. Kubota plastic is made of molded diamond dust and is awfully expensive as a result.

 

[CarlL]

Guess I have to give it a 10. After all, I have been heel and toeing my 1982 B7100 HST for nearly 30 years. It has graded my land with a box blade, put in countless fence posts with a post hole attachment, tilled up the garden, mowed and mowed and mowed with the RC60-71H.

The fluid has been changed twice over the time I have owned it, along with the filter. Have never had a single problem with the transmission or the clutch.

 

[Gator6x4]

In 1971 I was looking for a new lawn mower. I settled on the Wheel Horse garden tractor as being the one I felt the most comfortable on. In sales negotiation the Salesman/Owner advised I should strongly consider the Hydro Trans. Long story short I purchased the Wheel Horse with the Hydro Trans. The first time I mowed my yard I said: Why did you wait so long to get this? Everything I could get with a hydrostat transmission since, especially tractors has had one. I rate hydro's at a 10.0. (Still have the old Wheel Horse)