HST vs Manual trans

[bckskin2]

I am looking at new tractors and so many of them have the HST transmission. I use my loader to move snow, dirt, and sometimes gravel would the HST do the job. I have used manual Transmissions for years. I occasionally mow with the tractor, but not often

 

[vulcancowboy]

My Kubota L3400 has the HST. I love it, especially for loader work, except for the "whine" which is just part of the deal.

 

[KennyG]

HST is ideal. You can quickly reverse and you can vary the ground speed while keeping the engine speed high for the hydraulics.

 

[motownbrowne]

Love my two HST tractors. For doing loader work ,i wouldn't want anything else. Of course, if all you're doing is loader work, you might consider a skid steer.

 

[jeff9366]

LINK TO T-B-N ARCHIVE; HST VERSUS GEAR: hst vs gear transmission - Google Search

 

[Thomas]

HST to for loader hands down...easier on the clutch and quicker,just pick the right range and don't bog transmission and motor down.

 

[nybirdman]

HST is easier for "everything"that a home-owner/hobby farmer would ever do.I manage my 100 acres with an HST;that includes dirt plowing,snow plowing,roto-tilling,bush-hogging ect.
My son has a small gear driven,open station tractor that he uses mostly for wood gathering and bush-hogging.
You may give up a little power to the HST but over-all it has served me well.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have one of each (HST and gear) and my go to is the much smaller HST tractor. I love not having to clutch and shift to reverse. The gear is OK for mowing but I think HST would be good also and much easier to reduce speed while keeping the engine RPM steady when hitting tough spots.
For hobby farming and general homestead maintenance, it is HST all the way.

 

[s219]

Unless you have a reason to not want HST, I think it's more all around versatile with few downsides. For repetitive front loader work it's hard to beat and so much more productive than a gear transmission.

 

[CincyFlyer]

On the opposite end of things, I like a manual shuttle for most everything. Most, 'cuz I have a PTO stump grinder that uses the tractor motion to drag it across stumps. That is tedious with a clutch! So I usually "roll the bucket" to pull the tractor forward (unless the stump is on a slope, for which I just ride the brake.) But that's the one and only thing, so far, in 150 hours of "tractoring" with shuttle, and I may make a one-wheel driver to go on the SSQA mount to pull it along, if I find I'm using it more than I thought.
In the last couple of weeks I've moved about 30 yards of topsoil, and 20 tons of sand and gravel, using the FEL. I don't even think about the clutch, and shifting the shuttle, I just do it! No problem. Also, it's nice to, say, drag a sub-soiler without doing anything but steering. More power at the PTO for a given engine, as well. I've used a box scraper and a finish mower, no complexities whatever.
I'd imagine that I can fix anything that goes wrong with my manual transmission (but it's likely that nothing will go wrong). I don't know about an HST, certainly it would be more costly.
And it's cheaper with a shuttle—you can spend less money on a tractor, or get more tractor for the money. Finally, you can build up your left leg muscles! (Actually, I did feel it a little after a day's dirt moving, but got used to it quickly.)

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Kubota is one of the few tractor manufacturers that offers 3 transmission choices on The Grand L models.

HST Hydrostatic transmission with different speed ranges.

FST Fully synchronized transmission 8F/8R with shuttle shift on the steering column.

GST Glide shift transmission 12F/8R with shuttle shift on the steering column.

The GST is lesser known but it is a fully synchronized electro-hydraulic shifted and clutched transmission where the gear selector is moved and the ECU controls the clutch, shifts the gear selection forks and then feathers the clutch packs.

Another less known variable speed transmission is the CVT where variable size pulleys using belts to transmit power are used with a gear range selector.

David

 

[k0ua]

I have a phrase that I coined: If you have to ask, you need a hydrostat.

I stand by that phrase. Here is why. There are scenarios that the hydrostatic equipped tractor is superior, and there are scenarios where the gear equipped tractor is superior. BUT if you are asking the question, that means you don't have the experience to know what these scenarios are.

By default you need the transmission that is easiest to operate by all people but especially for a novice, not as easy to tear up by a novice (think clutch repair). and for most applications, and the way most novices will employ the tractor the most efficient. If you are a farmer and you have applications (like plowing for instance) that require maximum horsepower applied to the ground per gallon of fuel consumed, then the gear/shuttle transmission will excell.

So if you have limited or no tractor experience you need a hydrostat. No if's and's or but's about it. If you are an older person just starting out in the tractor world, you need a hydrostat. Your old left knee will thank you many times for not wearing out that old cartlidge any more than it already is.

Are there downsides to a hydro? Of course. And if you like I will go into them, but the Upsides outweigh the downsides hands down for most people.

Why do you think the majority of tractors sold in these size ranges are hydro? It is because of demand for them.

 

[Cataclysm]

I have a phrase that I coined: If you have to ask, you need a hydrostat.

I stand by that phrase. Here is why. There are scenarios that the hydrostatic equipped tractor is superior, and there are scenarios where the gear equipped tractor is superior. BUT if you are asking the question, that means you don't have the experience to know what these scenarios are.

By default you need the transmission that is easiest to operate by all people but especially for a novice, not as easy to tear up by a novice (think clutch repair). and for most applications, and the way most novices will employ the tractor the most efficient. If you are a farmer and you have applications (like plowing for instance) that require maximum horsepower applied to the ground per gallon of fuel consumed, then the gear/shuttle transmission will excell.

So if you have limited or no tractor experience you need a hydrostat. No if's and's or but's about it. If you are an older person just starting out in the tractor world, you need a hydrostat. Your old left knee will thank you many times for not wearing out that old cartlidge any more than it already is.

Are there downsides to a hydro? Of course. And if you like I will go into them, but the Upsides outweigh the downsides hands down for most people.

Why do you think the majority of tractors sold in these size ranges are hydro? It is because of demand for them.

X2. I went from a gear/shuttle to hydro. Hydro is the way to go unless your just doing heavy tillage.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Give me a shuttle shift gear drive any day. My b2320 is HST, AND I HATE IT... The other two tractors are gear and with fel's, I'd go up against anyone doing loader work for speed. At the end of the day, buy what you are comfortable with.

 

[k0ua]

Give me a shuttle shift gear drive any day. My b2320 is HST, AND I HATE IT... The other two tractors are gear and with fel's, I'd go up against anyone doing loader work for speed. At the end of the day, buy what you are comfortable with.

I have no doubt that an experienced operator (which you are) can operate a shuttle or even a "coffee grinder" unsynchronized gear transmission as rapidly as someone that is using a hydro transmission. But what I contend is that you will be doing many more repetitive movements. Especially on the floor mounted gear shifter. Not to mention all that left leg work (depending on the type of shuttle). At the end of the day, you will have done thousands more movements than a person operating a hydro. Also don't discount the amount of clutches that have to be rebuilt by novices operating them and riding the clutch. And rebuilding a clutch in a tractor is a lot bigger job than in a truck. If you are an experienced operator you know what you want, and you know how to operate it properly. If you are not... well then, you need a hydro.

 

[Texasmark]

Sounds to me like you are the HST man. They are might handy for "shuttle" type work.

 

[davek78063]

Tractor mechanics love shuttle transmissions. They get to charge $2000 when the inexperienced burn them up.

 

[mopardude318]

I would have went with an HST if it was available in the larger tractors...Hydraulic shuttle will be just fine for me on the M7060, I'm a new operator, and I'm getting along just fine with it. Not a big deal as some make it out to be.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I am looking at new tractors and so many of them have the HST transmission. I use my loader to move snow, dirt, and sometimes gravel would the HST do the job. I have used manual Transmissions for years. I occasionally mow with the tractor, but not often

Personally, on a tractor, I only prefer a hystat on my zero lawn mower, for all my real work I want gear drive. I just can't stand that dang hydrostat whine going on and on...and on! It just get's to me...

No big deal, once you learn to use a gear drive tractor, it's just fine and you don't have to have the motor wound out to put power to the wheels either, and a gear drive with a shuttle, makes short work of loader work...

Gear drive cost a lot less and puts more power to the pto too...

Make mine gear drive pleeeaseeee...

SR

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Another less known variable speed transmission is the CVT where variable size pulleys using belts to transmit power are used with a gear range selector.

David

Are you implying that all tractor CVT's have a belt in them??

IF so, you are severely misinformed!!

SR