Henro
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2003
- Messages
- 4,982
- Location
- Few miles north of Pgh, PA
- Tractor
- Kubota B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini EX
<font color="blue"> Is the hydrostatic transmission good for hills?
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Hills are where the HST shines, at least in my eyes...
I find the HST nice on my Western PA hills (I have to look hard to find a flat spot). The big advantage is when changing direction, at least for me. I can back down to something and then go back up again, and the whole time the tractor is "in gear" and I never have to rely on the brakes alone to hold me during the transition from down to up.
Also, I like the ability to creep when weaving between trees or changing angle on a slope. It is not that gear tractors are not good, just that the HST for me on the hills, where there are a lot of trees to get around, seems to be a safer (or at least easier to use) option.
I like the fact that if I want to I can stop, put my foot on the brakes, and think about my next move when needed. And during that time both the brakes and the HST are holding the tractor in position. I really think the HST advantage increases as speed decreases. And speed for me decreases as pucker factor increases, so the more worried I get the greater I appreciate the HST, so to speak.
I am sure if there were no HST tractors, I would have a gear one and would be happy with that too. Both are fine. Many are happy with either. The more experience one has with gear tractors, the less important the difference becomes I would bet. For a new tractor owner, the HST can be a positive from the safety perspective, at least in my opinion. It was and continues to be in my case.
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Hills are where the HST shines, at least in my eyes...
I find the HST nice on my Western PA hills (I have to look hard to find a flat spot). The big advantage is when changing direction, at least for me. I can back down to something and then go back up again, and the whole time the tractor is "in gear" and I never have to rely on the brakes alone to hold me during the transition from down to up.
Also, I like the ability to creep when weaving between trees or changing angle on a slope. It is not that gear tractors are not good, just that the HST for me on the hills, where there are a lot of trees to get around, seems to be a safer (or at least easier to use) option.
I like the fact that if I want to I can stop, put my foot on the brakes, and think about my next move when needed. And during that time both the brakes and the HST are holding the tractor in position. I really think the HST advantage increases as speed decreases. And speed for me decreases as pucker factor increases, so the more worried I get the greater I appreciate the HST, so to speak.
I am sure if there were no HST tractors, I would have a gear one and would be happy with that too. Both are fine. Many are happy with either. The more experience one has with gear tractors, the less important the difference becomes I would bet. For a new tractor owner, the HST can be a positive from the safety perspective, at least in my opinion. It was and continues to be in my case.
