How does an HST compare in pulling power with the same tractor and a gear trans?

[ptsg]

What's the point of doing test on Low range or even use Low range as an argument? Everyone knows that any tractor with any transmission can do well in low range.

But, in the real world application, is a field plowed in Low range? Do you go on the road in low range? No...

Just bare tractor, no loader or implements, the HST will slow down significantly on a slight hill, where the Gear just keeps going at full speed. If the grade of the hill increases, the HST will most likely have to stop in the middle of the road to drop to Medium range and the Gear will just drop a gear or two on the move and keep going. There is your difference between the two transmissions.

Low range proves nothing other than that both transmissions can spin the wheels, unless that's a thing too...

PS: I have nothing against HST, in fact, would be the right transmission for my use but it would have to be special ordered at a much higher price tag.

 

[crazyal]

No need. There have already been Nebraska drawbar HP tests of identical tractors with HST and gear. Gear always higher HP to the wheels. Tested on dry pavement pulling test rig.

I guess if you need to pull a plow on pavement then gear is the way to go. All kidding aside the fact is that almost everyone has different conditions. For me spinning tires is a much bigger issue than HP. Gear could get an extra 1000hp to the wheels but if they are going to spin then what's it matter. I've watched a friend with an old Ford gasser slam the front end on the ground after popping the clutch while trying to pull a log. He suddenly was looking at blue sky and in went the clutch. That lead to backing up slightly and trying a gain only to see sky. On my property he would have dug some holes.

To me the places where gears shine are too few to justify the downside of a geared tractor. I like gears. I like shifting. But even I have gave in to the power of an automatic transmission in cars. Sure a geared vehicle is going to get better fuel economy but there's things like hill starts, parking, etc that life throws at you. I'll buy an extra few HPs and burn some more diesel to be able to use the loader on my tractor without having to deal with a clutch.

 

[milkman636]

It would be nice to see that messicks test repeated with both tractors in lowest gear setting so we could have a better picture of the HST performance at both ends of the curve.

Another factor that comes into play in this video with the gear transmission is torque rise as the engine slows down. The HST transmission goes into relief before that rise happens in High range.

 

[RickB]

I guess if you need to pull a plow on pavement then gear is the way to go. All kidding aside the fact is that almost everyone has different conditions. For me spinning tires is a much bigger issue than HP. Gear could get an extra 1000hp to the wheels but if they are going to spin then what's it matter. I've watched a friend with an old Ford gasser slam the front end on the ground after popping the clutch while trying to pull a log. He suddenly was looking at blue sky and in went the clutch. That lead to backing up slightly and trying a gain only to see sky. On my property he would have dug some holes.

To me the places where gears shine are too few to justify the downside of a geared tractor. I like gears. I like shifting. But even I have gave in to the power of an automatic transmission in cars. Sure a geared vehicle is going to get better fuel economy but there's things like hill starts, parking, etc that life throws at you. I'll buy an extra few HPs and burn some more diesel to be able to use the loader on my tractor without having to deal with a clutch.

Nebraska tractor tests and similar European controlled condition testing are intended to answer the exact question the OP posed. If you want to change the question then the test conditions may have to change as well.

 

[crazyal]

Nebraska tractor tests and similar European controlled condition testing are intended to answer the exact question the OP posed. If you want to change the question then the test conditions may have to change as well.

It's like the comment about tractor pulls. At a tractor pull there's equipment that grades and compacts the tract after each pull. It's done so each puller has the same conditions. My point is that we don't all live on a tractor pulling track and the question shouldn't be "which one can pull more" but "which one is right for the tasks I plan on doing".

 

[Mat4644]

Any way you slice or dice it the HST will always have less torque available to the wheels.

 

[k0ua]

It's like the comment about tractor pulls. At a tractor pull there's equipment that grades and compacts the tract after each pull. It's done so each puller has the same conditions. My point is that we don't all live on a tractor pulling track and the question shouldn't be "which one can pull more" but "which one is right for the tasks I plan on doing".

Now you are on to something.