B7510 hydrostat VS regular shift??

[tommyz270]

Hydrostat VS regular gear - need your input please.

I'm thinking about a B7510.

Going to do digging, moving dirt, grading, mowing, tilling, etc...

Have driven a regular transmission one with a loader on the front but haven't driven a hydrostat yet.

I'm sure everyone has opinions, would like to hear them.

Would also like to hear why you like which one and if there are pro's/con's.

I heard on the hydro, if you overload it when digging, it will die.

I also do not ride the clutch, I pretty much work the bucket instead of the clutch on a regular and I know if I use the hyrdo, I'm going to try to floor it when I dig, but if I'm in low, that may not matter.

Thoughts??

 

[art]

Every thing you want to do is the easiest with a hydro! It can all be done with a gear as well but not quite as easy.

 

[tommyz270]

Anyone else have opinions about hydro vs regular?

Has anyone gone through the same "struggle" to figure out which one to use or buy?

 

[/pine]

how steep is the terrain you'll operating on ? if it's flatter HST is fine...if it's up and down and or steep...I'd go with gears...jmho

 

[tommyz270]

Art - Can you explain why it's easier with the hyrdo? Just wondering how it's actually easier to manuever....

 

[tommyz270]

/pine - both - some steep, some flat, some hilly - why the gear if it's steep? Does the hydro have a hard time going up a hill and using the loader at the same time?

 

[Ductape]

Would also like to hear why you like which one and if there are pro's/con's.

I heard on the hydro, if you overload it when digging, it will die.

The hydro will bypass if its overloaded. Its a built in safety feature, and keeps things from breaking.

I might consider a gear drive if most I did was mowing and bush hogging, where I'd select a gear, set the throttle, and sit back and enjoy the ride. For all other work, especially loader work..... back and forth, back and forth, I'd only consider hydro. Even for mowing..... many hydros now have cruise control. I like that your ground speed is infinitely adjustable, no matter the task. Example: With my first tractor (gear) I had a rear PTO snowblower. When making a pass, especially the first pass, running at PTO speed..... the tractor would go too fast in low range. The blower would fill with snow, and bog the motor down. With a hydro, I can keep the blower at PTO speed, and creep as slow as I need to and keep the blower working efficiently. Apply this to tilling, or most any other task.

 

[tommyz270]

Ductape - OH,..... so with hydro, guess I never thought that....

With a gear, it's either GO or depress the clutch and not go... even at slower speed, but the slowest speed on a gear is gear "1". With the hydro, I can go a little slower or faster?

With a hydro, is the pto and drive separate? I say this because when I engaged the pto with the gear, it engaged both and ran at it's own speed and to slow it down, I could lower the rpm's, but that would effect both...

Interesting.... Anyone else to help me?

 

[Ductape]

With a hydro, is the pto and drive separate? I say this because when I engage the pto with the gear, it engaged both and ran at it's own speed and to slow it down, I could lower the rpm's, but that would effect both...

Interesting....

Bingo !!!! But again, depending on what you do with a tractor, it may not matter for you. I'm certainly not knocking gear drives, I just find the versatility a hydro indispensible for me.

 

[Altex]

Re: Hydrostat VS regular gear - need your input please.

Welcome Tommy!

I went Hydro. If I was just moving forward, then I wouldn't have got HST. But, in tight spots repeatedly going forward and reverse, it's great! Very efficient.

Using the FEL my right foot is on the pedal. Pedal back and you go reverse. Pedal forward and you move forward. The more you press either way the faster you go in that direction. Left hand to steer and right hand on the FEL controller stick. No shifting. Easy as pie and can move alot of dirt fast.

Have a clutch for the left foot which gets you in Low, Mid or High gear. But, once in gear your right foot controls all the movement. Also have cruise control so you can give you right foot a rest.

And yes PTO and Drive are independent. I can set my Brush Hog at 540 RPMs and with my right foot contol the speed of the tractor fast, slow forward and reverse or just stand still while keeping at 540 RPMs. It's great to get back in those corners or between trees. I can move back and forth like a pendulum.

I have hills too. Haven't had any trouble. Tractor always stays where it should. If it's too steep, you really shouldn't be there with any type of trans. Think Safety.

... I heard on the hydro, if you overload it when digging, it will die...

When I overload my Hydro it just gives out a squeal. The Valve is relieving the pressure in the Hydro when maxed, doesn't die.

Hope this helps.

 

[tommyz270]

Re: Hydrostat VS regular gear - need your input please.

Altex - Great information, thank you.

Gears don't bother me and actually like using them, but you gave some great insight into what you use it for and why...

The one bad thing about the gear is that if you put it in N and release the clutch, the pto works and then if you put it in gear and release the clutch, the pto works, but it doesn't "keep" working in between.

Good to hear the tractor stays where is should on a hill - that's another concern for me.

Wish they would have put the brake pedal on the left with the hydro pedals on the right or something... that part is kind of frustrating....

Don't know why they didn't make the pto and the gears indepedent - think you should be able to have the pto run separate from the grears....

 

[tommyz270]

Re: Hydrostat VS regular gear - need your input please.

I have another question about pricing in the other thread area on pricing and someone mentioned something that really hit home for me....

Gear - Every time you want to go forward or reverse, faster or slower, you must depress the clutch, which dis-engages the pto.

Hyrdo - You can go forward, reverse, faster or slower (without changing L/M/H speed) and never have to engage the clutch, so the pto (bush hog) continues to run.

Anybody know if the MMM also stays running or disengages with the hydro or gear?

 

[dex3361]

how steep is the terrain you'll operating on ? if it's flatter HST is fine...if it's up and down and or steep...I'd go with gears...jmho

I own 3 HST tractors and I chose HST because I operate on the hills mostly and I find that an HST is safer and never lets go on the hills like when changing directions or changing gears or just pushing the clutch in. I dont even use the brakes the HST does all of the holding. Thats my observation from using them.

 

[dex3361]

I originally owned a geared/standard shift tractor and I used a HST cub cadet lawn tractor that is 27 years old and just loved the way it worked. I then tried a friends HST 45HP tractor and it felt the same way. I bush hog a lot on the hills and the tractor moves forward to reverse without touching the brakes and never freewheels. When doing loader work you can scoop up a load and press the reverse pedal to back up, then press the forward pedal and go to the full speed of the range that you are in. Loader work is usually don in mid or low range and high range is used for traveling at higher speeds. My HST has aprox ground speed range of 0-3MPH in low range,0-7MPH in mid range and 0-13MPH in high range and the reverse speed in each range is about 75% of the forward speed. I rarely use the cutting brakes on this tractor but on the L4400 I can use the cruise handle to move it forward and my foot to press the left or right cutting brake.

 

[Altex]

Re: Hydrostat VS regular gear - need your input please.

...Hyrdo - You can go forward, reverse, faster or slower (without changing L/M/H speed) and never have to engage the clutch, so the pto (bush hog) continues to run...

Kind of right. Hydro you can go faster or slower within your gear speed. The action similar to a car in 1st gear, the gas pedal allows you to go fast or slow within that gear. But, I have a Two Stage Clutch. Meaning if I press the Clutch half-way down I can change gears to L/M/H and really go faster or slower acording to the gear. And this can all happen while the PTO stays at a constant 540 rpms. Now If I press the Clutch all the way down it disengages the PTO so I can flip the switch/lever to turn the PTO off or on.

I really don't know about the MMM. But, what I've read is that alot of people would rather use a 3PT Finish Mower. Easier to maintain, take on and off, cheaper, and doesn't interfere with ground clearance.

 

[tommyz270]

Re: Hydrostat VS regular gear - need your input please.

...I really don't know about the MMM. But, what I've read is that alot of people would rather use a 3PT Finish Mower. Easier to maintain, take on and off, cheaper, and doesn't interfere with ground clearance.

I agree about the finishing mower, but I don't have a large field or yard I'm mowing. I have my little area around my house, but more importantly the property with weeds, etc. - I'll plan to get a bush hog for that, use the MMM for around the house and disconnect when I go to the property.

I think I will get one with terf tires and then buy a set of rims/tires that are R4 tires. This way, when I work around my house, the terf tires won't tear up my lawn but the R4 will give me the grip I'll need when grading the road and moving dirt/clay/rock at the property.

Anyone have any input on where to get rims/tires cheaper than Kubota dealer?

I plan to get one with a loader, MMM (for around the house), off brand bush hog (anyone with ideas on brands/places to buy), and second set of aggressive tires, and used box blade. Will eventually get tiller....

 

[tommyz270]

Re: Hydrostat VS regular gear - need your input please.

One more thing, just wanted to say thank you for all the information to everyone. I know sometimes it feels like we are "beating a dead horse" with comments, but everyone's comments and experiences has truly helped me in deciding. I think I'm probably heading for the hydro - can't see any true benefits for a gear after this thread....

 

[JerryG]

I have a standard shift even if it isn't a old rock crusher grind the teeth if you try to shift without stopping transmission. It is a PowerShuttle transmission which is synchronized and shifts on the go like a car. The brakes work very well because they aren't the old dry drum brakes which have been soaked with oil like a lot of the old rock crusher transmission tractors have after many years of use. They are wet disc brakes that will stop the tractor anywhere the tires have enough traction to hold it.
I mow very steep places without any problems.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/4155/cat/500/sort/3/ppuser/258

 

[tommyz270]

JerryG - Did you do that console and sliding top yourself? You are crazy!! Looks like you enjoy your tractor though!! What's up with the "strobe light" switch?

 

[JerryG]

JerryG - Did you do that console and sliding top yourself? You are crazy!! Looks like you enjoy your tractor though!! What's up with the "strobe light" switch?

I made the console and sliding top. The top goes back far enough that it keeps me covered during light rain and from the sun when I am using the backhoe. I have a magnetic strobe that I mount when on the highway. I have never got around to mounting it permanently.
As far as crazy. It has to be mowed because if I sprayed it, that would cause erosion.