What happened to GST?

[Jay4200]

I just looked on Kubota's site to price out an L4400, and saw that the '00' L-series is only available in gear or HST. I'm a GST man - what happened to glide shift? Am I being forced to step up to a poofy Grand-L?

Personally, I think the number of models available is ridiculous. I've been considering getting a B-sized tractor, but literally gave up trying to figure out which would be best - I found it impossible to decipher the 435 different but similar-sized models that all seem just about identical to me.

There should be 4 models of tractors - teensey, small, medium, and large. Make everything else an option.

JayC

 

[David_Kb7uns]

If you go through the prior products list from Kubota , it has been quite a while since the GST was offered on an Standard L series, With the electronics for the GST it will be matched with the ItelliPanel instrument cluster found on the Grand Ls. And because of I think the power transmission capabilities of the GST, it is only on the GL3240 up to GL5040 with the two larger tractors derated in HP for the GST versions.

The Grand Ls are not poofy either, walk around one and climb under it and you will find quite a bit of heft in the frame and castings along with a lot more loader capacity and the large external 3 point cylinders.

David Kb7uns

 

[Jay4200]

If you go through the prior products list from Kubota , it has been quite a while since the GST was offered on an Standard L series, With the electronics for the GST it will be matched with the ItelliPanel instrument cluster found on the Grand Ls. And because of I think the power transmission capabilities of the GST, it is only on the GL3240 up to GL5040 with the two larger tractors derated in HP for the GST versions.

The Grand Ls are not poofy either, walk around one and climb under it and you will find quite a bit of heft in the frame and castings along with a lot more loader capacity and the large external 3 point cylinders.

What I meant by poofy is that they have stuff like the "IntelliPanel instrument cluster" .

JayC

 

[TripleR]

What I meant by poofy is that they have stuff like the "IntelliPanel instrument cluster" .

JayC

I like poofy.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

What happened to GST?

HST is what happened to GST. Probably couldn't sell enough of them after people tried the HST to keep making them.

 

[crazyal]

My guess, too few people wanted it. Either they wanted gears and a clutch or they wanted HST and Kubota wasn't selling enough of them to justify having all three in the line up.

 

[crazyal]

I think you'll have to step up to a M5040 to get the transmission you want Jay.

 

[bilrus61]

I just traded in my L4200 to a L5040 both with GST. I've got 25 hours on the L5040 and really like the larger sized tractor. While its only 7 PTO horsepower stronger the whole larger frame gives me a "little big tractor" feel while the L4200 was a "big little tractor".:laughing:

Yeah it does have "poofy" stuff like telescopic links but I'll overlook that for now. Here is what makes it so much more tractor than my old and faithful L4200. Much stronger loader with 20 degrees more bucket rollback. Coupled with the 72" bucket instead of the 60" on the L4200 I can easily carry twice the gravel with it. Cat. 2 three point hitch with extendable links. Woof! Bigger tires and stronger three point lift make me feel like I'm on a monster.

Downside is the hourmeter is actual hours instead of engine revolutions! I like the engine revolutions hour meter better as I have a WATCH to keep the time. As with all electronics I highly doubt it will be as durable as the old guages that worked perfectly fine on my L4200. I guess that just the difference in the hour meter system will put 1/3 more hours on this tractor at the same rate of use as the L4200. Much of my tractor use is hauling gravel/soil which I do at 1400 to 1600 rpm. Other stuff I've not been too happy with is a too sinsitive OPC that turns the tractor off if you lift up in the seat any at all. The gas lever is mounted too far away down close to the dash. I find with my arm I have to sorta reach around and under the steering wheel and the loader joystick to change the gas. Other than those three issue the tractor is so far darn near perfect.

It has the exact same engine as the MX5100 that is Kubota's main economy utility tractor at present. I counted 14 of them on my dealers lot today! So its a engine that Kubota is going to sell lots of and have lots of parts for for many many years. The MX5100 has the exact same PTO rating as the L5040 GST , 44 PTO hp. My friend is a partial paraplegic and used to use a hydro. Years ago after I got my L4200 I told him to check out the GST and now he is on his second Kubota with a GST. They are a very nice transmission.

 

[nebraskasparks]

I was looking at various models with shuttle shift or glide shift...had the same ideas about hydrostatic being a lawn mower option until I started renting a couple various models.

My old Jubilee was a man's tractor with armstrong steering...with the FEL it took a lot of manhandling. Over the age of 50...I like all the poofy stuff, power steering, pto that engages without having to double clutch and move a lever down by my ankle, wheels that engage all the time even when moving around muddy areas and the best feature is the intellipanel that says "hey old fart...press clutch to start engine!"

I'd rent one the L series and give it a good work out. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Agrantina]

Hey- I like my L3240 GST.. and yes I bought it over the DT and HST do to the price. It had been at the dealer for about 1yr, but only had 3 hrs on it. It was put on the lot and everyone walked by it to the HST. Me too at first. Then after getting serious about buy something in my price range I looked at it and the dealer really wanted to sell it. I was not getting a FEL and just wanted the basic tractor with AG tires. The grand is just that GRAND..I love the GST and I am completly satisfied.. Now I can see that the GST and hills don't like each other so you have to be alittle careful- but nothing any different than a clutch gear tractor. The DT and GST has more HP on there PTO rating than the HST does for what thats worth:thumbsup:

AndyG

 

[sbussell]

Any pros and cons to having a GST? Considering a B2320DT(first real tractor) and wondering if it's worth the $1000 to shift gears. Thanks for the input.

 

[crazyal]

Any pros and cons to having a GST? Considering a B2320DT(first real tractor) and wondering if it's worth the $1000 to shift gears. Thanks for the input.

What do you plan on doing with the tractor. Each type, gear, GST, and HST have places they out shine the others and other places that they just don't do as well.

 

[sbussell]

Initially I will be using the tractor for loader work and snow removal. At some point I will probably add a MMM and tiller.

 

[TripleR]

Initially I will be using the tractor for loader work and snow removal. At some point I will probably add a MMM and tiller.

That is the type of work where a HST excels.

 

[dfkrug]

Each type, gear, GST, and HST have places they out shine the others and other places that they just don't do as well.

The Glide-Shift Trans (GST) is one of several gear trannies sold by Kubota,
since the 80s. Some would say it is the ultimate type of gear trannie. What
disadvantages does it have vs. the DT (dual-traction unsynchronized) or
FST (fully-synchronized) gear trannies? The only thing I know of is price.

 

[crazyal]

Well as you said price. But if you main use for the tractor is something like pulling a plow then DT is probably your best option. Plus it's simple and of the different types it's been around a lot longer.

 

[Jay4200]

The Glide-Shift Trans (GST) is one of several gear trannies sold by Kubota,
since the 80s. Some would say it is the ultimate type of gear trannie. What
disadvantages does it have vs. the DT (dual-traction unsynchronized) or
FST (fully-synchronized) gear trannies? The only thing I know of is price.

I would guess that the disadvantage over DT is slightly more complexity - two clutches, and I believe that straight gear puts more power to the PTO. What does "dual-traction" mean anyway? I don't know what FST does - I'd guess no clutch required but no direction lever? Advantages of GST(and maybe FST?)...what's a clutch? I think I've stepped on mine twice in 5 years. I can see the advantage of HST for loader work though, simply because it would be easier to make the bucket move faster since the motor is revving fast all the time. GST is pretty good for loader work though - way better than gear. The direction lever makes forward to back instant, but I chop the gas when I make that shift - letting off the gas right when I stuff the bucket into a pile makes the lift slow, although I usually manage to curl and lift enough to get a full bucket during the slight engagement pause, so the movement is usually seamless. Personally, I don't like HST - I don't like having the motor scream away while modulating travel speed - it just doesn't register correctly in my brain. My lawn mower is set up that way and I always feel like I'm not quite in control. I definitely like having a gas pedal. I also think I rack up 1/2 the hours on my meter because I only rev the motor when I need extra power (or when I get frustrated). With HST, you pretty much have to run the motor at the RPMs required for your worst-case power scenario all the time. Apparently it's also hard to use the split brakes with HST - I have a friend with a B26 HST who complains about that.

OTOH, if somebody took away my 2500-hour L4200GST and dropped off a new L5040HST, I wouldn't complain. 'Course, if I had to pay for it, I'd probably stick with GST.

JayC

 

[TripleR]

I own and run both HST as well as geared units and my HSTs are not "screaming" all the time as I vary engine RPMs to fit the power needs just as I do on my geared units.

 

[dfkrug]

I would guess that the disadvantage over DT is slightly more complexity

There are lots of variations on the gear trans theme, and this is just
Kubota. Other big makers offer similar choices with different brand names.
Gear vs. HST is a whole other topic, and there are thousands of lines
written on TBN about that. There is heaps written about GST, too.

Some things to note:
> though Kubota charges more for the GST vs FST, DT, these electro-
hydraulic trannies should go longer without clutch maintenance, since the
foot clutch should be rarely used, and it is a wet-multiplate unit. OTOH,
the others have dry foot clutches that are wear items that will need
replacement and tractor-splitting. The earliest GST I drove was an L2650
of about 1990 vintage, if I recall. I think that even the early ones had
wet foot clutches. Some newer non-GST Kubotas may use wet multiplate
foot clutches, too. I do not know. The GST does have more electric
controls for added complexity, but it has proven reliable. Again, the GST
is 2 thumbs up if your tractor use calls for a gear trans.

> DTs I have owned have either had a dash-mounted fwd-rev shuttle, or
a between-the-legs stick shift. Some shuttles had synchros, some did not.
The between-the-legs stick shift style is simply awful, IMO. I have never
driven a fully synchronized range and shuttle like the FST. Although you
may have the same trans on a rare 2WD Kubota, the DT (dual traction)
seems to mean 4x4. The 2WD version sometimes is designated "F".

 

[crazyal]

I can see the advantage of HST for loader work though, simply because it would be easier to make the bucket move faster since the motor is revving fast all the time. GST is pretty good for loader work though - way better than gear. The direction lever makes forward to back instant, but I chop the gas when I make that shift - letting off the gas right when I stuff the bucket into a pile makes the lift slow, although I usually manage to curl and lift enough to get a full bucket during the slight engagement pause, so the movement is usually seamless. Personally, I don't like HST - I don't like having the motor scream away while modulating travel speed - it just doesn't register correctly in my brain.

Not sure about some of the other models but the GL40s have auto throttle which only gives it 'gas' when you step on the pedal so you don't need to rev the motor up. Or you can set the hand throttle to a middle RPM, like 1500, to have extra RPMS to make the FEL move faster and have more power and not have to reduce it to shift from forward to reverse. A big advantage of HST for loader work is you don't need to shift, pull a lever, or even let off the throttle. You just simply push the HST pedal in the reverse direction.

Maybe I'm mistaken but I've always associated DT and gear with a standard transmission like a car. It's simple and cheap. The ones I have used were unsyncronized and shifting gears was always a challenge. Even to this day I can still feel the grinding of the gears, lol.