Should have listened better

[aledobud]

On the subject of tractor salesmen and their product knowledge, I was generally unimpressed across all the brands and dealerships in my area. Just knowing simple things like maintenance access points stumped most of them. Where I bought my 1533, I did so because of location and after talking to the service manager. The guy who delivered the tractor knew more about it than the salesman. I did notice that the smaller dealers where the owner or a relative was the salesman definitely knew their product better. These were Kioti and LS here, but I didn't buy one of those BECAUSE of the dealer size. Don't know if they will be there next year.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

My loader tractor doesn't have a hydrostat tranny, and some days it spends most of the day doing "loader" work...

I'm just glad I don't have to spend my day listening to a hydrostat whining away! I hate that sound, it get's very old very fast!

Learn to use your shuttle with the clutch and be happy with it! I can honestly say, I wouldn't trade my shuttle shift tranny for a hydrostat, even if I could!

SR

 

[aledobud]

I, and my left knee, love the HST. I went from a totally manual (no shuttle) to HST and have not regrets. I don't really notice the whine, but I can see how it could bother some. I need to start using hearing protection anyway.

 

[DavesTractor]

I'm a little late to this thread, but if salesman is totally wrong on a major issue that was the deciding factor on getting that tractor (represented it as a power-shuttle), then I think the dealer should have taken it back. The customer relied on this expert to his detriment.

Another example would be if a guy said he was buying a tractor and his major concern was that once a week he had to unload a pallet of salt weighing 2000 lbs from his trailer. He asks, will it do it? You say yes. If it won't, I say you take it back.

Now if a guy asked if it will mow hood high grass on a hot day and still stay cool in the cab....we have way too many variables. How thick, how high, how low are you mowing, how hot, how fast, what size mower....you get my drift. But if I told a guy I was selling him a power-shuttle for which you did not need a clutch to change directions and I found out I was wrong, my goodness, do what it right and back the deal out.

 

[dickfoster]

I, and my left knee, love the HST. I went from a totally manual (no shuttle) to HST and have not regrets. I don't really notice the whine, but I can see how it could bother some. I need to start using hearing protection anyway.

I imagine an HST would be just as bad for a right knee. If anything worse than a clutch is on a left knee. At least with the clutch it's occasional use while with the HST pedal it's constant. I thought that rocker pedal was almost painful and awkward to use and couldn't wait to get off the tractor.

 

[teg]

...I thought that rocker pedal was almost painful and awkward to use...

Wow... {head scratching icon} my HST petal acts like my truck's gas pedal... Don't even think once about it. No problem what so ever... I've driven full days with a gear and HST... not even close to how good I feel getting off the HST tractor.

 

[Teachu2]

I imagine an HST would be just as bad for a right knee. If anything worse than a clutch is on a left knee. At least with the clutch it's occasional use while with the HST pedal it's constant. I thought that rocker pedal was almost painful and awkward to use and couldn't wait to get off the tractor.

Exactly my situation - after five surgeries over three decades to my right knee, I need to be able to move it a bit. Leaving it on a gas pedal for ten or fifteen minutes is painful. I use cruise control when cruising in my highway vehicles, and move from floorboard to highway pegs and back on my Harley. Left knee is fine. I bought a geared tractor with a shuttle, and use the hand throttle when I mow. When I'm doing loader work, I don't even notice the clutch.

As an added benefit, the wife doesn't want to drive it...

 

[Dadnatron]

I've found that after working on my tractor (JD 5100) for a weekend, when I drive a car/truck, I try to switch the blinker to go forward and back. My issue, is I grew up on a gear shift, and therefore, I still use the clutch far more than I need in order to do what I want. But, thus far, its working for me.

I am sorry that your purchase isn't what you desired. It doesn't matter what anyone else wants or likes... they aren't paying your payment nor did they 'think' they were purchasing something they weren't.

 

[Teachu2]

I am sorry that your purchase isn't what you desired. It doesn't matter what anyone else wants or likes... they aren't paying your payment nor did they 'think' they were purchasing something they weren't.

Amen to that!

When I was shopping for my tractor, one dealer offered to bring two models to my property (30 miles away) and let me demo both for the weekend - no charge, no strings attached. Said he'd just put them in his rental fleet if I scratched them up. Guess where I bought from.....

 

[MinnesotaEric]

My loader tractor doesn't have a hydrostat tranny, and some days it spends most of the day doing "loader" work...

I'm just glad I don't have to spend my day listening to a hydrostat whining away! I hate that sound, it get's very old very fast!

Learn to use your shuttle with the clutch and be happy with it! I can honestly say, I wouldn't trade my shuttle shift tranny for a hydrostat, even if I could!

SR

Bigger HSTs don't really whine.

 

[dickfoster]

Wow... {head scratching icon} my HST petal acts like my truck's gas pedal... Don't even think once about it. No problem what so ever... I've driven full days with a gear and HST... not even close to how good I feel getting off the HST tractor.

It is in a very awkward position and you have to keep your foot on it while doing anything, not so with the shuttle. Maybe if it had had a two pedal setup instead of that awkard and uncomfortable rocker they had on the 1538 that I test drove, I'd be driving an HST today instead of a shuttle. I guess different strokes for different folks pretty much sums it up.

 

[DavesTractor]

It is in a very awkward position and you have to keep your foot on it while doing anything, not so with the shuttle. Maybe if it had had a two pedal setup instead of that awkard and uncomfortable rocker they had on the 1538 that I test drove, I'd be driving an HST today instead of a shuttle. I guess different strokes for different folks pretty much sums it up.

Dick, I'm wondering how you were placing your feet on the HST "rocker". Nobody that I know uses it like a rocker on the 1533/38. You put your foot beside the pedal with your heal on the floorboard and press the pedal like a gas pedal. The pedal is shaped like an upside down hockey stick. I can see if you put your foot fully on the long part of the pedal and tried to operate that way, it would not be comfortable. I think your vehement dislike of this pedal arrangement could be cured with a little fancy footwork.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Dick, I'm wondering how you were placing your feet on the HST "rocker". Nobody that I know uses it like a rocker on the 1533/38. You put your foot beside the pedal with your heal on the floorboard and press the pedal like a gas pedal. The pedal is shaped like an upside down hockey stick. I can see if you put your foot fully on the long part of the pedal and tried to operate that way, it would not be comfortable. I think your vehement dislike of this pedal arrangement could be cured with a little fancy footwork.

Dave, have you ever noticed that "IF" you leave your foot on the pedal and raise your foot to let off the pedal that your foot is caught under the break pedal? This happened to me several times while roading a 1533 back and forth from the local dealer.

Your foot migrates forward and in an emergency stop, good luck because your foot will be caught between the rocker pedal and the break pedal.

I agree with dickfoster, I hated the pedal. Actually thought that I would like it, but after roading for 4 miles, it would be a deal breaker for me if I were ever even considering one. I'll keep my 3215, very happy with it these past 8 years. :thumbsup:

 

[DavesTractor]

Dave, have you ever noticed that "IF" you leave your foot on the pedal and raise your foot to let off the pedal that your foot is caught under the break pedal? This happened to me several times while roading a 1533 back and forth from the local dealer.

Your foot migrates forward and in an emergency stop, good luck because your foot will be caught between the rocker pedal and the break pedal.

I agree with dickfoster, I hated the pedal. Actually thought that I would like it, but after roading for 4 miles, it would be a deal breaker for me if I were ever even considering one. I'll keep my 3215, very happy with it these past 8 years. :thumbsup:

Never had that issue Brian, but I can see what you are talking about.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I've never used the brake pedals other than as a parking brake on an incline. Taking my foot off the 'go' pedal will nearly throw me off the seat.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I've never used the brake pedals other than as a parking brake on an incline. Taking my foot off the 'go' pedal will nearly throw me off the seat.

Your 3016 as is my 3215 are different animals. The newer machines tend to act not quite so abruptly, or at least that has been my experience.

 

[clevalley]

I've never used the brake pedals other than as a parking brake on an incline. Taking my foot off the 'go' pedal will nearly throw me off the seat.

Your 3016 as is my 3215 are different animals. The newer machines tend to act not quite so abruptly, or at least that has been my experience.

My 2555 HST will come to an abrupt stop if you take your foot off the forward pedal. Like OldPilgrim, it has almost taken me off the seat depending on what I was doing.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

My 2555 HST will come to an abrupt stop if you take your foot off the forward pedal. Like OldPilgrim, it has almost taken me off the seat depending on what I was doing.

Well. I have not operated a 2555, so I have no comparison regarding your tractor. I thought that we were talking about the 1500 series. I guess not though, just all different models which I have not operated all the different models.

 

[oldpilgrim]

Well. I have not operated a 2555, so I have no comparison regarding your tractor. I thought that we were talking about the 1500 series. I guess not though, just all different models which I have not operated all the different models.

My 3016 is the same tractor as the 1526, just renumbered when the 1500 series was introduced.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

My 3016 is the same tractor as the 1526, just renumbered when the 1500 series was introduced.

Correct, and the 1533-38 are different machines altogether. I think that if you were to operate the 1526 you would find that the HST has a much softer start-stop than your 3016. I know that there is a noticeable difference from my 3215.

Maybe I'm wrong, would not be the first time, but I know that there is a difference between my 3215 and the 1526 that I operated.