which type

[jimmyj]

I third Egon's advice. Give 'em a try.

I LOVE hydro. This is a debate that will never ever end.

 

[JoelD]

As others have said, shuttle is different from power reverser, my dozer had the reverser, flick a lever and go from forward to reverse, lots of parts in there though to make that happen.

I hate to bite into this one again but can't help myself, besides I like to hear myself type.

In the end I think if you plan to do a bunch of loader work, hst makes life a bunch easier, less shifting (I personnally don't mind shifting but if I was doing it all day every day, I'm sure it would get old fast).

If not, gear does a more efficient job of transfering the power to the ground.

I went with gear as I was nervous about hst braking (no evidence that would happen, just in case), as I'd much rather replace a clutch plate than rebuild an hst.

As others have said, only way to choose is to try both.

Good luck,
Joel

 

[IXLR8]

Like others have said, your best bet is to try them yourself. I much prefer shifting gears in my car... but I got HST in my tractor. My opinion is that if you have lots of loader or precision work to do.. get the HST. If you have lots of open work, plowing/tilling/mowing, get the gear.

 

[Gittyup]

XlR8 is right on. I have both kinds of tractors. Go HST unless you are doing a lot of field work.

My CK25 is shuttle. I like it fine. But, when going into a heavy pile I find it is slower because in order to make sure I don't ride/burn the clutch and still get a heaping bucket, I switch from high range to low range (which means stopping), usually 1 high to 1 low, or going from 4 low to 1 low before digging into the pile. And have to switch back to transport. This is a lot of clutching.

Of course, if it's light material 4 low all the time works too.

HST is just better for this kind of work as well as for mowing and material handling. Just think if you let your foot slip off that clutch while loading into your truck and smack the side of your truck with your tractor. That should be enought to convince you.

Also with the shuttle, you are like a circus juggler between operating the FEL, the steering wheel, the shuttle, and the gear shifter - hands switching back and forth, up and down. Much easier with HST.

 

[JoelD]

XlR8 is right on. I have both kinds of tractors. Go HST unless you are doing a lot of field work.

My CK25 is shuttle. I like it fine. But, when going into a heavy pile I find it is slower because in order to make sure I don't ride/burn the clutch and still get a heaping bucket, I switch from high range to low range (which means stopping), usually 1 high to 1 low, or going from 4 low to 1 low before digging into the pile. And have to switch back to transport. This is a lot of clutching.

Of course, if it's light material 4 low all the time works too.

HST is just better for this kind of work as well as for mowing and material handling. Just think if you let your foot slip off that clutch while loading into your truck and smack the side of your truck with your tractor. That should be enought to convince you.

Also with the shuttle, you are like a circus juggler between operating the FEL, the steering wheel, the shuttle, and the gear shifter - hands switching back and forth, up and down. Much easier with HST.

Can't argue with this post.

Hydro is definitely easier for loader work.

Joel

 

[KubotaSam]

I know I would have a lot easier time using my 3 PH snow blower if I had a hydrostat instead of a gear drive. It works fine when I am blowing the drive. But when I try to move the snow banks the town plow leaves by the road I wish I could keep the snow blower speed up while slowing or stopping the tractor motion. With a gear drive when the snow blower loads up and the rpm's drop I need to push in the clutch (which stops the blower) the shift into neutral then let the clutch back out to rev up the blower to clear the snow.

 

[greenmule]

never used a snow blower..but..duel stage clutch?

 

[DK35vince]

With a gear drive when the snow blower loads up and the rpm's drop I need to push in the clutch (which stops the blower) the shift into neutral then let the clutch back out to rev up the blower to clear the snow.

Your blower stops when you push the clutch because your machine has a non-live PTO.
Most modern gear drives have a 2 stage clutch or Independant PTO. Where the PTO continues to run when the clutch is depressed.

 

[JoelD]

I understand my machine has two stage clutch, push part way down and I can shift gears, push all the way down and the PTO stops spinning, I've not had a PTO driven implement on so I don't know for sure, but fairly certain that is what my manual states.

Joel

 

[DK35vince]

I understand my machine has two stage clutch, push part way down and I can shift gears, push all the way down and the PTO stops spinning, I've not had a PTO driven implement on so I don't know for sure, but fairly certain that is what my manual states.

Joel

Yes, the 3054 and the CK gear models have the 2 stage clutch. (except for the CK 20 gear, it has non-live PTO).
The DK models have Independant PTO. The PTO is turned on by flipping a switch on the dash panel. The PTO runs as long as the switch is turned on, reguardless of the clutch being in or out.