Hydro vs SS for 45 HP Compact Tractor

[4tillingdirt]

Hoping to hear input from owners who have owned both. I had a dealer tell me that if he were buying one to mow or do rotary cutting he would get a hydro but for everything else he prefers the SS.

Thanks

 

[jeff9366]

What is SS?

Are you considering a second tractor?

 

[nybirdman]

SS-standard shift;I would presume.I have owned two HST tractors and much prefer them over gear shift.My son has a straight gear shift and likes it.HST is much better for the inexperienced and FEL,roto-tilling ect.

 

[Texasmark]

People who have never been on a tractor before; people with a lot of FEL shuttle work be it cleaning out poop or moving feed, hay, piles of gravel, or mowing around a lot of obstructions I'd say the hydro is perfect. For everything else I like my shuttle and SS.

I heard a guy on another forum say that he can't stand the HST whine. Might be something to consider. I have a shuttle SS and hydro steering and have whine at the PTO rpms too, must be the hydro steering like is common these days. I have HST lawn mowers and the only one where I can hear the pumps is on the 26 hp 5' Ferris, but it is an industrial rated IS700Z

 

[4tillingdirt]

What is SS?

Are you considering a second tractor?

Shuttle shift - where you just have to use clutch to move lever forward and reverse.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Lots of going back and forth the hydro is sure nice and easy to use.

Long rows such as mowing and the shuttle style will put a few more hp to the blades.

Why one would want a gear only style now a days except for large field work is beyond me

 

[rScotty]

Lots of going back and forth the hydro is sure nice and easy to use.

Long rows such as mowing and the shuttle style will put a few more hp to the blades.

Why one would want a gear only style now a days except for large field work is beyond me

I agree with that, Okie. Back when all tractors were manually-shifted gear box machines I can remember how impressed I was with the powershifting shuttle shifts. In fact I was so impressed that it's embarrassing now to look back and see how long it took me to make the next move - up to HST.
The thing I like most about HST is how it gives a person the ability to work delicately with the FEL. With HST I can work right up to the edges and corners of things with as much power as I need and still have fine control that a shuttle shift, power shift, or geared machine just can't match.
Even better is HST with multiple ranges and fingertip hi/low.

And even as we debate this, there's probably some company out there getting ready to introduce the next new transmission improvement. Maybe something with all trac and traction control.
rScotty

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Shuttle shift - where you just have to use clutch to move lever forward and reverse.

Not sure about other brands but my Kubota GST has a hydraulic clutch shuttle shift and you never touch the foot clutch to do any shifting. The FST and GST Kubota transmissions are fully synchronized so you do all shifting while on the move.

David

 

[coobie]

Hoping to hear input from owners who have owned both. I had a dealer tell me that if he were buying one to mow or do rotary cutting he would get a hydro but for everything else he prefers the SS.

Thanks

Owned both prefer the hydro older I get.Not to mention the cab tractor is the cats A--

 

[rustyshakelford]

Hydro is hands down the best in that size tractor. Yes the whine can be annoying but how easy mowing smaller places and doing loader work more than make up for it.

Brett

 

[Goose69]

Love the hydro on my new tractor
It makes tractor life so much easier. And much easier on my surgically repaired ankle, and knee than pressing a clutch.
Also I can have my kids pull the tractor forwards and back it up while hooking up implements Like a trailer, the baler and Haybine, with less stress.

 

[Tractorable]

Not sure about other brands but my Kubota GST has a hydraulic clutch shuttle shift and you never touch the foot clutch to do any shifting. The FST and GST Kubota transmissions are fully synchronized so you do all shifting while on the move.

David

I have a stupid question. If you never have to use the clutch for shifting on GST/FST tractors then why do they have clutches? I don't get it.

 

[paulfun9]

Call me old fashioned but I still prefer the shuttle Now understand I have really nothing bad to say about a HST as they work and work good and seem to hold up for a good long time but for me doing long runs threw the field its much better to simply use the gear than the HST. It uses less fuel, seems to be less noisy and when in areas where speed isn't going to be constant its much less stress on my knee pushing the throttle than any HST pedal I have ever used. The gear also hold more power and doesn't drop nearly the same amount of speed gong up as the HST's I have owned.
Now many will argue some of the things I point out but this is my experience and remember I own both and have owned many of each as well as the same brand and size with one being HST and the other being gear.

Now what is best for your needs will depend on You, your property and the particular jobs you have for the tractor.
Some of the folks who still have and prefer the gear are just simply put born operators who have a feel for machinery and just seem to become one with the machine. Remember not everyone is able to be a top race car driver so be honest with yourself about this as it really is the biggest factor IMHO!
Everyone has different property and I would bet the person telling you to go gear has some big long runs with gentle turns and runs at a set constant speed for hours at a time. This is where the gear will excel but be assured that an operator with a good feel for machinery will run all but side by side with a HST where the short runs and loader work are concerned and some will be even faster and get closer making it look like kids play but again are you a "born operator" ?
Most of the folks here choose HST for a reason and those who argue productivity are somewhat correct but if I remember the sales pitch back in the day, wasn't that they were faster it was that I could get more from a poor operator and had less frustration looking for good operators who wouldn't break everything or burn out clutches. There was lots of truth in this then and there still is today.

 

[4tillingdirt]

I would be using it to scrape gravel driveways, haul much around the yard, plug and seed yard. Might occasionally use loader/box scrape to fix go-kart track. Prob have 2 - 2 1/2 acres of grass.

 

[Rmart30]

I would be using it to scrape gravel driveways, haul much around the yard, plug and seed yard. Might occasionally use loader/box scrape to fix go-kart track. Prob have 2 - 2 1/2 acres of grass.

I would go HST for that.

 

[paulfun9]

I would be using it to scrape gravel driveways, haul much around the yard, plug and seed yard. Might occasionally use loader/box scrape to fix go-kart track. Prob have 2 - 2 1/2 acres of grass.

I would probably suggest a HST with such a small lot to cut.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

I have a stupid question. If you never have to use the clutch for shifting on GST/FST tractors then why do they have clutches? I don't get it.

The BX series tractors and some of the B series HST tractors do not use a clutch either but have a bell housing type transition.

As far as the Grand L series having clutches other then the FST(fully synchronized transmission) needing the clutch Kubota offers 3 transmission choices and I think it provides a universal interface.

Every once in a while you have hit the clutch to shut everything down in an emergency but not required very often and that may be the purpose that the clutches are there for users not familiar with the drive system.


David

 

[4tillingdirt]

I would probably suggest a HST with such a small lot to cut.

Well I wouldn't use the tractor to cut the grass.

 

[Cataclysm]

I would be using it to scrape gravel driveways, haul much around the yard, plug and seed yard. Might occasionally use loader/box scrape to fix go-kart track. Prob have 2 - 2 1/2 acres of grass.

Hydro for your listed needs. Gear if your going to almost exclusively run a plow/disk. I've owned both.

 

[4tillingdirt]

Hydro for your listed needs. Gear if your going to almost exclusively run a plow/disk. I've owned both.

So you think the hydro would hold up just as well?