Hydrostatic vs hydraulic shutle transmission

[870wing]

I've been reading a lot of the threads and everyone seems to be suggesting to go with HST over gear transmissions. What are the positive virtues of each type of transmission. I'll get the ball rolling.

HST
Good for repetative back and forth work like gravel pitt work or loading hay bales.
Good choice for new drivers, especially those use to automatic cars and trucks (not trying to start a flame)
Good choice when varied speed adjustments are required like in tillering or mowing around the garden.

Gear
Good for field work like plowing or discing.
Great for going down steep hills with a large load of hay or logs behind the tractor (motor braking)
Slightly less expensive to repair.

What are your positive observations about each transmission type.

 

[GoldenCityMuse]

An HST will have better resale value according to many.
Fewer & fewer folks know how to use a clutch, so the demand is so much less for a clutched vehicle, and this will carry over to utility tractors.

 

[topbuilder]

For a box blade tractor, the shuttle is a dream.

 

[k0ua]

I've been reading a lot of the threads and everyone seems to be suggesting to go with HST over gear transmissions. What are the positive virtues of each type of transmission. I'll get the ball rolling.

HST
Good for repetative back and forth work like gravel pitt work or loading hay bales.
Good choice for new drivers, especially those use to automatic cars and trucks (not trying to start a flame)
Good choice when varied speed adjustments are required like in tillering or mowing around the garden.

Gear
Good for field work like plowing or discing.
Great for going down steep hills with a large load of hay or logs behind the tractor (motor braking)
Slightly less expensive to repair.

What are your positive observations about each transmission type.

The HST is also good for going down steep hills with a large load. The HST transmission itself acts as a brake.

I would disagree about the cost to repair. I am not sure that can be proven one way or another. It will also depend somewhat on the operator. A good operator of a gear transmission the clutch will last for decades. A bad operator of a gear transmission the clutch can last a few hours. Clutches are neither cheap or convenient to repair.

Gear transmissions can get away with using the Cheaper hydraulic fluids. Hydro's tend to like the higher quality fluids they are designed for. One less filter to buy/change with a gear machine. (hydrostatic filter)

If your knees are worn out the HST is the way to go. No left leg work with that clutch and no braking needed either. The hydro pedal is usually worked with ankle or just a toe.

Hydro's are great for any kind of precision work.. like using pallet forks to put a big load in your $50,000 pickup truck.. You have so much better control of creeping speeds. Don't believe it? look here:

I defy anyone to do that with any kind of gear transmission.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I like the fact that I can give my hst a lot of rpm's and still just creep, in either direction, like in the video.

Lots of power, little speed.

For those of you using a pto implement, you can set the motor at pto speed and still go as fast or slow as you want by varying the hst speed with your foot. With a hog/mower on the back, get that blade going the correct speed and infinitely vary your travel speed for the needs of the terrain.

 

[bh10]

The HST is also good for going down steep hills with a large load. The HST transmission itself acts as a brake.

I would disagree about the cost to repair. I am not sure that can be proven one way or another. It will also depend somewhat on the operator. A good operator of a gear transmission the clutch will last for decades. A bad operator of a gear transmission the clutch can last a few hours. Clutches are neither cheap or convenient to repair.

Gear transmissions can get away with using the Cheaper hydraulic fluids. Hydro's tend to like the higher quality fluids they are designed for. One less filter to buy/change with a gear machine. (hydrostatic filter)

If your knees are worn out the HST is the way to go. No left leg work with that clutch and no braking needed either. The hydro pedal is usually worked with ankle or just a toe.

Hydro's are great for any kind of precision work.. like using pallet forks to put a big load in your $50,000 pickup truck.. You have so much better control of creeping speeds. Don't believe it? look here:

I defy anyone to do that with any kind of gear transmission.

There is something called a creeper gear, will do what you are doing. I put 2400lbs pallets in my $55k truck all the time with a Shuttle, never have had an issue.

 

[k0ua]

There is something called a creeper gear, will do what you are doing. I put 2400lbs pallets in my $55k truck all the time with a Shuttle, never have had an issue.

True, but how many CUT's have creeper gears? I can't think of any right off. Mostly an option in Utility tractors, like your RX There might be some CUT out there with a creeper range, as soon as you challenge someone to go as slow as I can with a hydro in a gear rig, and someone will come up with one.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

First off, I have never owned an hst tractor. I wouldn't buy one, either. I like gear drive and a shuttle shift. But, I am also set in my ways, and like what I like. I don't understand the argument of one is easier, better, or worth more. I guess each has its place, and it should be up to each individual to choose.

 

[murphy1244]

These type of threads never end up well. Its mostly a personal choice.

 

[DK35vince]

Its a personal preference thing.
Myself, I would probably lean toward the hydraulic shuttle.

 

[redman135]

If you have little or no tractor experience go for hydro as you don't need to UNLEARN gear reflexes.
If like me you have 35 years gear reflexes, then stick with gears as many years wears a very deep groove. I tried hydro, but on my hills for me it is a bad idea. I know another farmer who loves his hydro, HOWEVER he made a strong point that learning hydro reflexes after 20 years of gears wasn't easy.

DK35vince has best summed things up.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I've said it before on this forum several times: If I was going to be out in a field plowing or discing all day, I'd take the hydraulic shuttle (or even a regular shuttle) every time. But for everything else, I'd much prefer the HST.

The simple answer is to buy two tractors so you can have one of each. See how simple it is?

 

[k0ua]

I've said it before on this forum several times: If I was going to be out in a field plowing or discing all day, I'd take the hydraulic shuttle (or even a regular shuttle) every time. But for everything else, I'd much prefer the HST.

The simple answer is to buy two tractors so you can have one of each. See how simple it is?

There is the real answer... a smaller hst tractor and a larger field tractor with gears. But I don't have any fields, so I just have the 35 hp hst tractor. Or which ever one you like and want. I still have far more hours on gear tractors than hydro tractors. And my first loader (on an old 8x2 gear transmission) was a dual stick loader too. I was asked when I bought the rig if I wanted a 2 stick or a single stick loader. I told them I wanted the two stick, because that was what I had seen and thought it would be for the best to learn on. What a moron. I should have taken the single stick. Of course I learned on the two stick and got along fine with it.. But the single stick is so much better.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I drove a gear for 25 years. When switching to an HST 2 years ago, I had no issues. In 150 hrs of use, I have never reached for the shift lever or tried to depress the clutch.

I don't really understand why some might have issues unlearning a gear .

I'll never go back to a gear.

 

[Handloader109]

I've a little (25hp) scut with hst. Learned to drive tractor with old geared tractors with poor brakes. I Love the way my hst works, I'm going down a hill, take my foot off drive pedal and the tractor stops. No real braking necessary.

 

[WesternMN]

I know this has been batted back and forth quite a bit and it seems like HST wins well over half the vote. Where I think it gets a little more muddy is when you get into the 60-90 hp type machines. Tractors large enough for real field work but still small enough to be considered a "utility tractor". In the smaller machines I don't see much advantage to shuttle. But for a all around tractor capable of everything from mowing the lawn to making round bales, the power shuttle seems like a nice compromise between traditional gears and HST.

I've been struggling with this myself as I was about to buy a Kioti NX5510 HST with cab and then found a barely used, same year, Kioti RX 7320 with power shuttle for the same price. Part of me wanted the HST and part of me appreciates the power and feel of gears. When I looked at them both side by side and sat in the cabs it became very hard not to take the RX.

 

[Btown]

True, but how many CUT's have creeper gears? I can't think of any right off. Mostly an option in Utility tractors, like your RX There might be some CUT out there with a creeper range, as soon as you challenge someone to go as slow as I can with a hydro in a gear rig, and someone will come up with one.

I think TYM might have it. I not 100% sure on that but I seem to remember that, but it could be on their larger ones.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I'll agree with the previous poster that you really need to have two tractors. :thumbsup:

cut-HST
utility or larger-Gears

 

[JerryK]

I'll agree with the previous poster that you really need to have two tractors. :thumbsup:

cut-HST
utility or larger-Gears

I would argue that you need four.... HST/Gear open station, HST/Gear Cab..... Try running that past the woman in charge...

 

[k0ua]

I would argue that you need four.... HST/Gear open station, HST/Gear Cab.....

Hey, now you are talking:thumbsup: