PST vs HST

[poolecw]

Which do you guys prefer and why...an PST or HST? Before people chime in with the typical "drive it and find out which suits you better", let me say that you can't figure out all the pro's and con's of each transmission while driving around a dealer's lot. I'm looking for opinions and feedback from end users that have lots of experience with their tractor.

The HST looks like it would excel when you constantly are switching from forward to reverse while the PST looks great for typical tractor duties such as bush hogging and plowing.

Has anyone wished they opted for a different transmission? If so, they why?

 

[TripleR]

You already seem to have a pretty good handle on it already. I usually recommend someone new to tractors to rent one for a weekend to get a true feeling for it. I have only fell in love with one tractor on the lot, the others, I have had to get use to once purchased.

I drive both an HST and a geared unit and have quite a bit of experience on both types, though more on geared tractors.

I really need both types, BUT I find the HST easier and less tiring to use even when compared to our hydraulic shuttle shift. For close in work the HST allows me more precise control and I really like its versatility on hills.

So for me, I prefer the HST if I have to make a choice.

 

[JerryK]

With the PST, you get the power transfer of a normal shuttle trans without the little HP loss of the HST. They shine when used for plowing/disking/mowing.. and also are great for loader work. The HST shines in loader work/any close quarters work/snowblowing/etc. I have both a PST [ J.D. reverser ] and a HST. For what I use a tractor for, I prefer the HST... But both are fine transmissions..

 

[JerryK]

Another thing, the HST is a little more user friendly if you have other operators other than you running it once and awhile. Some people are hard on clutches not knowing how to make them last.

 

[WM75Guy]

For loader work I like the HST except for the whine. My Boomer 8N has the CVT which has shuttle shift. I use it for mowing and tilling. It does not have the HST whine.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I was doing some box blade work today with my HST model and was reflecting on the many hours I've spent on geared tractors. A geared tractor is great for plowing or mowing, especially where there are few direction changes. I'd rather have gears in that situation. I've heard people say that finding the right gear for the right speed for the job can be a problem. In my experience, once you've run a certain chisel plow, tandem disc or whatever for a few hours, you pretty much know what gear to use for each implement.

But I'm doing a lot of FEL/grapple work and the HST really excels in that situation, and I'm glad I've got it. A hydraulic shuttle would be my second choice in that situation, but it would be a distant second.

 

[ddb123]

Go HST and you'll never look back.

 

[Redneck in training]

Geared tractor is great for mowing only of there are not obstacles and the quality of the grass is consistent. If you have obstacles and the grass is inconsistent HST is hard to beat. Reason being the PTO speed is completely independent from the traveling speed. As the grass gets heavy and starts bogging the engine just ease on the pedal and when the grass discharges and engine unloads step on it again. The same is true about going around obstacles such as trees. My HST has hardly noticeable whine. I can hear some slight whine only at 100% load.

 

[JerryK]

Ditto on the HST whine. My 5035 had some initial transmission/rear end gear whine whilst the gears were getting lap'd in, but that has gone away... or I am used to it... or a combination of the two. Maybe in a cab'd tractor it might be more noticeable... but I am an outside guy.....

 

[k0ua]

It would seem that the larger the tractor the less the whine. My DK35se has very very little and only noticeable when heavily loaded as in too high of a range selected.

 

[nybirdman]

We have geared and HST,much prefer the HST for all of our tasks.Safer for less experienced operators for sure.

 

[arrow]

At one point I could not understand the draw to HST "trannies" So I tried two. A Kubota guy brought one up for me to try on my land. Hated the pedal as it was simply pivoted in the middle. Then tried a Mahindra 3016. I felt it was underpowered and rpms had to be kept up if you wanted to do work. Now granted this is not a worldly experience on hst tractors. I'm thinking a lot may have to do with tractor sizes bigger being better for hst but as it stood, I stuck with the shuttle shift. I like the idea of maintaining the quiet and peace of the woods being able to do work at almost idle and I have never found that I could not finesse a geared tractor in close quarters. As I use my tractor for snow plowing and skidding heavy stems and with 28 hp, I'm glad I stuck with the geared

 

[JerryG]

A power shuttle is lot different than a plane standard transmission. I have had a PowerShuttle for years and love it.

 

[arrow]

A power shuttle is lot different than a plane standard transmission. I have had a PowerShuttle for years and love it.

If you consider not having to use the clutch to change direction, Otherwise you still have to find a gear and place it there. They are certainly different in construction where synchronizers are replaced with either clutches or planetary gears.

 

[TomSeller]

I think both are more than acceptable for most operations. I don't get too hung up on the different transmissions. A PST doesn't need to be clutched so it is plenty maneuverable. If I have a ton of altering movements, I use a HST as they have finer control. If it is a normal balance of work, a PST is just fine. The PST is often better without the high rpm and whine. Maybe it is just me, but the whine wears on me, even with full ear protection.

 

[TSO]

I have used both. There are definitely times when a shuttle shift will outshine HST, and like has already been mentioned, those times include plowing, mowing, brush hogging, and other ground engaging tasks. I do feel that shuttle shift puts more power to the ground than HST, hands down.

But for the convenience of operation, and the lack of fatigue associated with shifting, HST is the winner hands down when it comes to overall usability.

As for the whine, I noticed it often on my previous tractor, a 23 HP Kioti CK20. However, on my current tractor, I ONLY notice it if I'm in Hi range and bogging down the hydraulics.

Doesn't bother me much tho.

 

[maxmah3621]

If I was doing a bunch of ground engagement work and rear end work such as bushhogging and disc, box blade and so on and some loader work I would go with a PST. Now if I was on the tractor from morning till dusk working the loader I would buy a HST in a heart beat. I often Have customers who come in asking for a HST but Not a fan of the HST price. to which is when I ask them what they are using it for. I will say if I were to go but a tractor today I would buy the PST for the simple fact of ease of operation of all types of jobs, also do to long term cost of repairs many years down the road. I love the set up of the Mahindra 35 series PST and wouldn't trade it for a HST. Personal opinion

 

[Redneck in training]

This also only my personal opinion. When bush hogging HST beats any kind of mechanical trany. The exception might be only if the mowed area is free of obstacles and the tractor has enough power reserve to run the mower in any grass. Here is why. On HST the PTO speed and tractor speed are not tied together. So going around obstacles doesn't require shifting or shifting in reverse. If the tractor has only small power reserve and mower starts bogging the engine (like on most SCUT, CUT tractors) it is easy to slow down or even stop until the grass is discharged and then continue at whatever speed.

 

[Hermio]

RIT, you got it exactly. For mowing on uneven terrain, or uneven grass/brush height, the HST allows you to vary your speed as needed. Gear drive usually means selecting a gear for the most difficult part, and loafing along for the rest. I have always been able to bushog more acres per hour with an HST. In the woods, an HST might save your life, if you run into a hidden obstacle or run into a stout low-hanging branch. Just lift your foot and it stops. You don't always have enough time to find the clutch in an emergency.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I had a Yanmar 4220 with powershift and loved it. It had 4 speeds, N and R in 3 ranges. I never found anything that would stall it so bad that I couldn't downshift to a lower gear. I selected the range for average load so that I was in gear 3 and then could shift to 4 for light areas but give me 2 lower gears for heavy loads. I really liked it but HST is pretty close in performance and everything can be done with your foot, leaving both hands for steering, FEL operation or hydraulics. I don't think one would notice the loss of engine power in anything but the lowest powered units. One just has to get a bit more engine power to give you the edge in performance. When properly used, HST users wont notice the loss. I can actually load my FEL bucket when in loose dirt with it in High range and not stall the engine by just backing off the HST pedal as I move into the dirt. It wont spin the tires like it will in M range but for transporting material from a spoils pile to a distant area, being able to do that without shifting ranges is great.
Also I don't have to run WOT for the HST to work. It works well at 1500 RPM for all but the toughest application. For backhoe use, about 2000 RPM works good for speed and reduced noise-2600 is full throttle and really increases noise for that last 600 RPM.

For CUT tractors, I wouldn't buy anything but an HST. I do have shuttle shift geared utility tractor but it will wear out a leg in FEL F/R action in short time. For bush hogging, disking or even tilling it is fine. I can get as slow as I need to with the creeper gear and 20F/20R. transmission