Transmission type selection

[Gordon Gould]

Thank you all. I feel I have learned something from this thread.

I like to look at all the trouble threads to see what problems are out there and how people fix them. I find it quite interesting, and I try to learn from the experience of others and the vast knowledge posted here. Somehow by doing this I arrived at the misconceptions that I had on HST tractors.

 

[Ford tractor]

Ok, I've read almost all of the replies to the OP's questions.
One question keep coming into my head.

Everybody agrees that if you're doing field work, plowing etc, that a geared transmission is best. But nobody has said WHY? Does and HST have problems with long straight heavy loads?

Wedge

There are no problems, just the benefits of HST are the ability to change direction and vary speed easily. When you don't change direction and operate at the same speed -- those benefits go away. Then it's down to the slight (~10%) drop in fuel efficiency.

I have 3 tractors (not counting lawn mower size machines). 1 crash box gear tractor, one power shift and the smallest and newest one is hst. I choose the hst for most loader operations even though the bucket is the smallest. It is more productive moving dirt -- that's all I care about when using the loader, productivity.

I also would like to cast doubt on the statement that hst's are non-reliable. That's not been my experience at all.

 

[foggy1111]

I thought of another reason to own a Hydro......I have a couple of grandsons that are soon able to drive and help me in my food plot and hunting land work. Kids dont learn about gears and clutches anymore.....and hydros are easy to learn on. Easy to learn and safe = big benefit IMO. :thumbsup:

 

[jenkinsph]

Thank you all. I feel I have learned something from this thread.

I like to look at all the trouble threads to see what problems are out there and how people fix them. I find it quite interesting, and I try to learn from the experience of others and the vast knowledge posted here. Somehow by doing this I arrived at the misconceptions that I had on HST tractors.

Gordon,
Having read lots of your posts and considering what you do with your tractor you might want to try out a hydro tractor next time you consider a new machine. Most of my time in the seat has been on gear tractors and like most of the people who have operated them you can be proficient with gears. For the last six years or so I have used the ehydro Deere's and find them easier to work with especially in close quarters.. Still have a gear tractor that I am fond of too.

From what I have been able to discern about most peoples' uses of tractors on TBN a hydro tractor is well suited for them. My reasoning is based on the fact that they perform a wide variety of tasks with one machine in most cases. Very few members are involved in any serious farming with large acreage tillage needs where a large gear tractor would make more sense.

 

[RoyJackson]

Ok, I've read almost all of the replies to the OP's questions.
One question keep coming into my head.

Everybody agrees that if you're doing field work, plowing etc, that a geared transmission is best. But nobody has said WHY? Does and HST have problems with long straight heavy loads?

Wedge

HST results in some power loss and probably some less fuel economy. This means little to a guy tilling or plowing an acre or so, but those losses can be considerable when working a couple hundred acres.
Also, there's no advantage to HST in field work...the operator isn't shifting gears constantly. But the losses in efficiency can add up.
Heck, even when I had a collarshift transmission (non-synchro) and finish mowing an acre yard, I shifted from a forward gear to reverse only occasionally.
I think a lot of you HST guys think a gear guy is shifting frequently. That's not the case with most work, other then back and forth loader work (even then, the difference is in fractions of a second).

I've read these HST vs. gear threads for the last 10-11 years. They never get resolved...and this thread won't be the last.
Just buy the transmission you want. If you're an experienced operator, you won't need to ask which one to buy. If you're a person just getting into farming...well, I'd guess most (but not all) responders (including me) are non-agricultural operators and our opinions wouldn't really apply.

 

[jenkinsph]

Roy,
I agree this issue of transmissions has been going back and forth for a long time without being resolved. Doubt it will be resolved anytime soon either.

Using a hydro is more than eliminating the use of the clutch or power reverser tranny to change directions though. The more important advantage is the control of movement such as when finish grading with a boxblade. Sometimes you only move a few inches and need to slow down or stop to adjust the box before proceeding with finish work and this is easier to accomplish with a hydro tranny.

I suspect if you used a newer ehydro tractor for a few weeks you would better appreciate the benefits. You may still prefer gears but atleast you would have a better comparison.

 

[RoyJackson]

Roy,
Using a hydro is more than eliminating the use of the clutch or power reverser tranny to change directions though. The more important advantage is the control of movement such as when finish grading with a boxblade. Sometimes you only move a few inches and need to slow down or stop to adjust the box before proceeding with finish work and this is easier to accomplish with a hydro tranny.

I suspect if you used a newer ehydro tractor for a few weeks you would better appreciate the benefits. You may still prefer gears but atleast you would have a better comparison.

Actually, in my case, there would be little benefit. One of the results of a stroke (about 12 years ago) is very little control over my right foot (I can push down, but I cannot lift my foot up (trying pivoting the toes up while setting with feet on the floor...the ball of your foot comes up too...that's what I can't do). I've adapted to this and, in my particular case, the hand throttle and low gear works best...for close work.
But that's just my particular situation...

 

[k0ua]

Roy I can see how your situation would not work so good with a hydro, I have wondered if someone with arthritis in their right ankle would be able to work a hydro very well, maybe better with the 2 pedal setup instead of a treadle like mine. I have trouble with my left knee, and the less clutch work the better with it. Getting old is not for sissies.

James K0UA

 

[bigbull338]

as said there will always be debates over gear or HST tractors.an both have their place an uses.for me i wanted tobe able to drive a tractor when i wanted to or needed to,because it was pretty much impossable for me to use the clutch anymore.an it sure is a blessing tobe able to get on the tractor when i want to.

 

[RoyJackson]

and it sure is a blessing to be able to get on the tractor when i want to.

That's all that counts!!

 

[bigbull338]

that is 1 of the reasons that i bought the tractor.i was seeing stuff like shredding an putting out seed that i could do when i wanted.an i could work as long as i wanted.then the year before i bought the tractor we had mudd all winter an kept sticking the 2wd tractor,so that clinched the 4wd drive.

 

[jenkinsph]

Dang it all the old fellas are showing up this morning.:laughing:

The ehydro problem can be fixed with the electric toggle and actuator control assuming you still can use your hands. All we need now is an electric brake actuator to go with it. I am sure all the technology is already existing as Deere has had an electric operated parking brake on the larger backhoes for years.

My dad did sell his tractors when he could no longer get up on them. He said climbing up to get on the seat of his 4020 was too scary and was afraid he might hurt someone else. He was glad he was able to enjoy them as long as he did. Hope everyone here can enjoy their tractors awhile longer.

 

[RoyJackson]

Dang it all the old fellas are showing up this morning.:laughing:

I was 48 when I had the stroke....how old are you?

 

[jenkinsph]

I was 48 when I had the stroke....how old are you?

I am 59 hoping to make 60.

 

[bigbull338]

well dang i hate to say this but i had whats considered a stroke when i was born,an im 46 now.so ive been dealing with it all my life.

 

[slofr8]

Had a gear tractor and made do. I even got good at shifting on the fly. Thought shuttle shift might be OK and it might BUT....I bought a hst and today I was clearing brush. I would try and scrape alders with my grapple and miss a few. No big deal to back up and get it with an hst. Had it been anything else I think after an hour or so I would have said F it and just delt with the out come. Thats when I think things can happen like jill pokes jamming under the tractor. For me and what I do hst. is the way to go.
Dan.

 

[MHarryE]

I have 40 acres of my own and have one tractor to do everything. During the past week I have been plowing, disking, cultivating, hauling big bales, brush hogging, finish mowing, blading and FEL work. My only choice would be hydro. I also drive for my cousin, disking and cultivating. His JD 7720, 130 HP, with 20 speed electic shift, shuttle, electric throttle, and electric hydraulic controls that I drive is great out in the large fields but would really suck for some of my all around use. And I drive for my BIL/nephew who have a whole host of older IH tractors. They are all 8 speed plus Torque Amplifier and they all suck. So in having driven 9 tractors in the past month and had my choice of only 1, it would be a hydro hands down. But give me a couple sections of land to disk - you would have a hard time getting me out of that 7720 and its air suspension or better yet, its newer replacement as it is now 5 years old.