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

Sawyer Rob · Sep 22, 2022

4570Man said:
Anything can fail but a dry clutch is a wear item that will fail. And the labor to change it is fairly expensive.

99.9% of the failure of a dry clutch in because of the operator, now we are back to the newb not knowing how to drive a tractor!

I've never replaced a clutch in any of my tractors, dry or not.

SR

scootr · Sep 22, 2022

I studied the specs and there is a loss but it is not big, I think it was 5% or so in what I saw. I simply got enough hp to where the loss was negated by the overkill - after 30 yrs of shuttle shift, it is a bit weird to have the tractor work like the lawn mower but it has it's advantages in tight quarters and motor rpm control.

jyoutz · Sep 22, 2022

4570Man said:
Since a hydraulic shuttle would cost the same or probably even more the than a HST the vast majority of compact gear tractors are the bare bones dry clutch unsynchronized gear trans. And that’s a very operator unfriendly transmission to use for anything involving speed changes or direction changes. Increased reliability simply isn’t true either. You’re more likely to have to split that tractor to put a clutch in than the chances of the HST ever tearing up.

You have summed it up nicely. The hydraulic shuttle transmission that 5030 is talking about is superior to the unsynchronized gear transmission with dry clutch that some people are saying is superior to a HST in a CUT. They are nowhere near the same thing.

scootr · Sep 22, 2022

Anti theft...

5030 · Sep 22, 2022

Same here like 'what is that other pedal for and what is that thing sticking up through the floor....lol

No 'Valet' parking for us. Valet's don't have a clue either....

5030 · Sep 22, 2022

Sawyer Rob said:
99.9% of the failure of a dry clutch in because of the operator, now we are back to the newb not knowing how to drive a tractor!

I've never replaced a clutch in any of my tractors, dry or not.

SR

Never replaced a dry clutch in anything either. The clutch pedal is not a foot rest nor is it to be used as an excuse for running slow.

jyoutz · Sep 22, 2022

scootr said:
Anti theft...

It’s not a matter of knowing how to use something. It’s a matter of what is nicer to use. I had a tractor with an unsychronized transmission with dry clutch for 21 years. I used it for everything and it worked. It was also a PITA and I would never buy one again. Love the HST in my current machine.

ptsg · Sep 22, 2022

4570Man said:
Since a hydraulic shuttle would cost the same or probably even more the than a HST the vast majority of compact gear tractors are the bare bones dry clutch unsynchronized gear trans. And that’s a very operator unfriendly transmission to use for anything involving speed changes or direction changes. Increased reliability simply isn’t true either. You’re more likely to have to split that tractor to put a clutch in than the chances of the HST ever tearing up.

What was the last gear driven tractor you drove? Those old Ford 2N/9N tractors that were already bad enough in their time, let alone now? Must be if you think that the todays geared transmissions are still the old school unsynchronized with maybe 3 gears...

Most tractors these days have synchronized forward/reverse shuttle along with the main gears. Some even have the range gears synchronized as well. Changing directions on those tractors is as fast and simple as is moving your foot on an HST pedal.

ptsg · Sep 22, 2022

Here I am, moving some dirt with my geared tractor. Accordingly to the internet myths spread all over, by the end of the video, I should've replaced the clutch, had surgery on my left knee since it was destroyed to death with all the clutch use, oh and technically I could've done the job in the first place since geared tractors are terrible for this type of work? I also run the rototiller with this tractor and according to yet another myth, geared tractors can't run tillers because they won't go slow enough or something silly like that.