Transmission type selection

[Gordon Gould]

Are you talking about the HST or the tractors themselves? Posts/threads on bad HST systems are few and far between. I'm not saying HST is perfect but, "lots of problems and troubles"??

I probably should not have commented because it is just the impression I have. But it seems there is a lot of talk about over heating, noise, vibration, excessive whining, broken fans that require splitting the tractor to fix, inability to use steering brakes, foot pedals that don't return to center ... stuff like that. I am happy with what I have, even doing hours of loader work in the cold moving snow banks back along the road and if others are happy with thier equipment that is all that is important.

 

[BethesdaEC]

I probably should not have commented because it is just the impression I have. But it seems there is a lot of talk about over heating, noise, vibration, excessive whining, broken fans that require splitting the tractor to fix, inability to use steering brakes ... stuff like that. I am happy with what I have, even doing hours of loader work in the cold moving snow banks back along the road and if others are happy with thier equipment that is all that is important.

The broken fans are only an issue on the Kubota BX series and the discontinued JD2305. Rather than having a radiator style cooling system they have a fan blowing directly on the cooling fins of the transmission. This fan is located underneath the tractor which is fine for mowing but not so good for forging a path through the woods. They do whine but I don't even notice it anymore and the diesel is already making a lot of noise. I have pallet forks on my tractor and I really like how surgical I can be with HST, I can literally creep forward with millimeter accuracy. There is a little lose of PTO HP due to the HST, but several HP is already going to the hydro pumps regardless of HST or gears.

 

[Gordon Gould]

It is a world of trade offs. But maybe I have the wrong impression. I wonder if I could do what I like to do best without a hand throttle to set the RPMs, a free right foot to operate the differential lock and steering brakes, and a free left foot to stomp on the clutch in a hurry if things start going wrong. If I need to use a clutch for loader work thats fine with me it seems like a small price.

 

[TripleR]

I probably should not have commented because it is just the impression I have. But it seems there is a lot of talk about over heating, noise, vibration, excessive whining, broken fans that require splitting the tractor to fix, inability to use steering brakes ... stuff like that. I am happy with what I have, even doing hours of loader work in the cold moving snow banks back along the road and if others are happy with their equipment that is all that is important.

It sure is.:thumbsup:

The really hard part is predicting with what someone else will be happiest.

 

[TripleR]

It is a world of trade offs. But maybe I have the wrong impression. I wonder if I could do what I like to do best without a hand throttle to set the RPMs, a free right foot to operate the differential lock and steering brakes, and a free left foot to stomp on the clutch in a hurry if things start going wrong. If I need to use a clutch for loader work thats fine with me it seems like a small price.

Gordon, you say you have never used an HST, I have found it very difficult to determine what works best without trying it.

"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is." - Yogi Berra

 

[Gordon Gould]

Gordon, you say you have never used an HST, I have found it very difficult to determine what works best without trying it.

"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is." - Yogi Berra

I agree with that 100%

 

[RoyJackson]

Gordon, you say you have never used an HST, I have found it very difficult to determine what works best without trying it.

Same most likely applies to HST people discussing gear transmissions meaning they've never operated a gear tractor.

I have, BTW...buddy of mine had an 855 Deere and now has a 4310 with hydro. I haven't operated the 4310, but I've got some hours on the 855.

 

[k0ua]

Same most likely applies to HST people discussing gear transmissions meaning they've never operated a gear tractor.

I have, BTW...buddy of mine had an 855 Deere and now has a 4310 with hydro. I haven't operated the 4310, but I've got some hours on the 855.

Thousands of hours, and 16 years on 2 gear tractors, a few hundred hours and slightly less than 4 years on 2 hydro tractors. For what I do now, its hydro for me.

James K0UA

 

[Soundguy]

hard to argue about gears being better than HST for laoder work, except that a shuttle, especially a power shuttle is decent .

for plowing.. I like gears. for open mowing.. I like gears.. etc.

just my opinions..

soundguy

 

[flusher]

Which transmissions are better suited for front loader work,
HST, GST, or gears?
I was thinking about a HST but am wondering about gears.
What about for tilling, plowing, bush hogging, finish mowing?

For field work (plowing, discing, mowing, planting, raking, baling) where you drive the tractor in one direction with infrequent turns, a gear tranny (shuttle shift type is nice) is a good choice.

For frequent FEL work, HST has benefits when a lot of reversing is required.

My Kubota B7510HST had a hydrostatic tranny. My current tractor, a Mahindra 5525, has a simple gear tranny (8F/2R) without shuttle shift. I've taught myself to use the 5525 for FEL work and it's no problem since I'm never in a rush when I'm using my tractors (haste makes waste--and sometimes trips to the ER).