Unpopular HST?

[_RaT_]

In my area, HST is pretty much the tractor they stock and will order the GST or DT. I asked why he stocks HST and the answer is simply that it's what folks want after they try it. I tend to agree. I still find the shuttle tractors a very close second though and would certainly tell folks interested in one that it too has some advantages over HST.

 

[art]

Good post, the bulk of our different brands we sell the hydro the most by about 1/3. Salespeople should ask what are you going to do and who is going to operate it. There are the older retired guy that used to farm, gear drive,that's what the M was. The city guy going country is normally the hydro do to kids, wife, as well as self with lack of good skills and only occasional use. There is more as some people get by with the economy versions just fine.

 

[rtimgray]

Hambone, you asked:

One thing nobody has mentioned.
Maybe he sold all of the HST's, all that is left is the gear.....

This was in my original post:

I asked him if that we because he sold out of HST tractors quickly or what, and he said that the HST were nice but not very good sellers for them. He said they probably sold the standard transmission 10 to 1 versus the HST, so they just didn't stock very many.

(addendum: the "we" in the "if that we because" should have been "was")

I had wondered if it was just because they sold so quickly and that was why he had so few HSTs, but he said that they just didn't sell enough HSTs to keep very many of them on the lot. I didn't ask if folks drove both the HST and DT models as a commonplace occurance or if they just came in and bought the DT.

We are in a relatively rural area, but there are lots of hobby farms and that type of thing springing up.

As the group of us picking out the tractor for groundskeeping went around looking, we tried straight gear tractors, shuttle shifts and HSTs and there wasn't a clear concensus. We were not fond of the JDs at all, gear or hydro, although some of the guys liked the New Holland Hydro, but also liked a gear version. Almost everyone liked shuttle shift on the Kubota, Kioti and Challenger that we drove (one of the Challengers had a power shuttle while the other was a mechanical shuttle). The guy who is going to be the primary operator of the tractor so far has said that he doesn't have a preference of HST vs. Gear vs. Shuttle - he just wants something better than the 20 HP craftsman lawn mower we have now.

 

[NoTrespassing]

Hmm....From your last post it kinda sounds like its going to be used for mowing. It's replacing a craftsman 20 hp. mower? I've got the L3710 HST, I've also got an old gear 1947 Farmall Cub that I mow with when its running, and I have rented the 37 hp. Kubota with shuttle shift for a couple days before I bought mine.

Just my opinion but if it were me, and I was buying for mostly mowing I'd go straight gear.

For all around versatility I'd go with HST it especially excels in loader/grader work.

I would imagine the reason he doesn't sell many HST's is due precisely to his sales pitch. If I hadn't read this forum and I went into a dealer and he tells me he sells geared vs hst 10 to 1 I'd walk out with a geared tractor and visa versa.

Kevin

 

[rtimgray]

The way it is shaping up, we are going to purchase two pieces of equipment: a ZTR for doing most of the mowing and a tractor for bushhogging the rougher areas (and areas that do not require consistent mowing), snow removal in the winter (we only get a couple of inches IF it snows, so that is not a big concern), and just some general tractor/loader use (we have to keep at least a 2' perimeter of pea gravel all around our buildings, so we can use the tractor to freshen this up as the years go by. We also plan on getting some pallet forks for the tractor because all of our forktrucks are cushion tired and not suitable for use off of concrete or asphalt). So the tractor isn't going to get nearly as much day-to-day use as the ZTR. I doubt that we will even get a finish mower with the tractor.

 

[frank_f15]

i think u will find that the average compact tractor is is usually prefered with an hst tranny, wheras the larger tractors in most cases go with a geared transmission. for a lot of forward and back(fel work) don't think u can beat the hst

 

[yellowsocks93]

Yep, all the new John Deere comapcts we sell are HST except the one I bought. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[_RaT_]

Frank, when you say larger tractors, what do you mean? Non compacts? I don't really know of any large tractors that are HST. It's pretty mucha compact thing. Construction equipment uses a lot of torque converter stuff and farmers pretty much use manuals from my limited knowledge. As far as larger compacts like JD's 4610/4710, NH's TC 40/45 or Kubotas L5130, L4630 or L4330, I know in my area, HST is still by far the dominate transmission sold. For general compact tractor duties, I don't know how you can beat it. For continuous ground engaging work like ripping soil, a geared tractor is probably a better way to go, but then, for serious ground ripping, I don't think any compact is really the optimim choice. For our orchards, we have had as big as a Caterpillar D11. The single kelley ripper penetrates the soil to a depth of 7'. At that depth, even the D11 has issues.

 

[don716]

A friend of mine bought a D1750 HST 4x4 new in 1974 and he said he has no problem with the HST.He uses it all the time bush hogging mostly. He said he would put it to the test with mine whenever I want. I've got a B7500HST 4x4. I will probally pass on his offer.

Donny /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[art]

With the ZD21doing the mowing then an L-4300 would be great with a Bush hog SQ84T mower.