Well.......................this isn't good

[RandyinTN]

That's not my point Mr Finn.

As most tractor owners are cheap ********* like myself, when the electronics or even a simple device such as a solenoid craps out and the trans case has to be split for the repair and the part is NO LONGER AVAILABLE, who is going to want this piece of crap when the gear drive version still works just fine.

New vehicles have obsolescence designed in. For example Ford Motor Company doesn't keep key codes or electronic files for those key codes longer than 10 years. Don't think tractor manufacturers are any different.

Regards, Fred

Thank you for the meaningful posts Fred. They really benefited the topic at hand and everyone who has read this thread.

 

[The Fred]

Whatever

 

[k0ua]

Whatever

Who is going to split his tractor to replace a clutch? Is he going to do it? Far more clutches fail than hydrostat solenoids. Hydrostat failures are rare, Clutch replacements in your gear tractors are NOT rare. Especially when operate by novice clutch riders.

 

[DK35vince]

Who is going to split his tractor to replace a clutch? Is he going to do it? Far more clutches fail than hydrostat solenoids. Hydrostat failures are rare, Clutch replacements in your gear tractors are NOT rare. Especially when operate by novice clutch riders.

Can't speak for the OP, but if I ever need a clutch I plan to do it myself. (2160 hours, haven't needed the first clutch adjustment yet.)
Hoping for thousands more hours from original clutch.

 

[k0ua]

Can't speak for the OP, but if I ever need a clutch I plan to do it myself. (2160 hours, haven't needed the first clutch adjustment yet.)

Your clutch isn't ruined because you know how to operate a gear/clutch equipped tractor to preserve its clutch disk integrity. Not all operators do. And if you have the wherewithal and the tools and the space to replace the clutch when that time comes, that is a good thing. Not all do.

We hear AT LEAST as many clutch replacement stories here as hydro troubles. And the majority of CUT owners have hydro machines.

 

[Pawatch]

Your clutch isn't ruined because you know how to operate a gear/clutch equipped tractor to preserve its clutch disk integrity. Not all operators do. And if you have the wherewithal and the tools and the space to replace the clutch when that time comes, that is a good thing. Not all do.

We hear AT LEAST as many clutch replacement stories here as hydro troubles. And the majority of CUT owners have hydro machines.

What is the ratio of HST to manual transmissions sold?

 

[k0ua]

What is the ratio of HST to manual transmissions sold?

No one has figures like that, or at least they would want to release to the public, but judging by the number of cuts on a dealers lot and looking how they are equipped, I would say 3 to 1 Hydro over gear. With in increasing trend to hydro. Try selling your gear CUT on craigs list. Now full sized farm tractors, is a total different story with all of the variation of geared tractors in the vast majority.

 

[k0ua]

This is one of the reasons I coined the phrase "if you have to ask should I buy a CUT with a geared transmission or a hydrostat" you NEED a hydrostat. And here is why. The very fact you asked means you know nothing about tractors. And being a newbie you will be more inclined to not knowing how to take care of a geared tractors clutch and will likely put more wear and tear on it. Resulting in higher repair bills than you would have had if you had went with a hydro. Besides hydro is better suited for the type of tasks that a homeowner does anyway. Just like geared tractors are better suited for plowing fields and other constant speed tasks due to their greater efficiency. Thats my story and I am sticking to it, even if I have received some flak for saying it.

 

[SirMaxwell]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^And THAT folks is the reason not to buy an HST machine. Warranty fixes it now but what about 15 years from now?????

Ahh, and there it is, the ubiquitous post that uses the OP as further proof of their brilliance and how stupid all those that think differently are.

 

[SirMaxwell]

That's not my point Mr Finn.

As most tractor owners are cheap ********* like myself, when the electronics or even a simple device such as a solenoid craps out and the trans case has to be split for the repair and the part is NO LONGER AVAILABLE, who is going to want this piece of crap when the gear drive version still works just fine.

New vehicles have obsolescence designed in. For example Ford Motor Company doesn't keep key codes or electronic files for those key codes longer than 10 years. Don't think tractor manufacturers are any different.

Regards, Fred

I own, and know of even more, many automatic vehicles over 30, 40, even 50 years old and they run perfectly. Yet I have one manual, and it;'s waiting for me to install a clutch. Granted I was hard on the last clutch, but none the less. As to your solenoid sample, well by golly those of us that are not afeared, will simple figure out a replacement for a simple solenoid.