2-Speed vs. 3-Speed HST

[texasjohn]

My Kubota has 3 ranges. Never knew there were some tractors with only two. The 3 is very natural to me and just right... I tend to agree with all posts prior to mine re when to use each range and why.

 

[hazmat]

When I decided to upgrade from My New Holland TC18 one of the must haves was a 3 range tranny - low is too slow, and high doesn't have enough power to get up my hill - medium is just right... Of course having 30HP (B3030) vs. 18 helps too...

I'll bet dollars to donuts that when Deere updates/replaces the 2520 model, it will have a 3 range tranny.

 

[tcarter1]

From practical experience on my L2800, I can say that the 3 speed HST is very useful. I use the rotary tiller in low range, mow and do most other utility functions in mid range. The only time I use high range is transport.

 

[schmism]

the new hollands go from a 2speed to a 3speed between there subcompact and compact. (tz and TC)

There have seen a couple of posts that say the 2 speed doesn't have a low enough gear to get the most grunt out of the tractor. (bypass before spinning the tires)

I love my 3 speed, low for FEL and drawbar work (can spin the tires before bypass even on fairly hard ground). 2 for most everything else including mowing. and 3 for transit and some mowing in summer when i just need to knock the weeds down on hard ground.

If you plan on any kind of FEL work regularly, drive all of them and see how fast they will back up. When doing FEL work you REALLY need a rabbit reverse/turtle forward setting. the one thing i hate about mine.

 

[Runner]

"It had to be in low to get into the pile with the fel and than back th high to get to where you were going."

This was my experience as well with the 2520 when moving a 25 ton pile of gravel. I'm not sure if a third range would help, but have to think that something in between low and high would have been about right. Actually, just a slightly lower gearing on the high range might be fine too, since I'm not into hot-rodding around on tractors, just would like to be able to move a little faster when doing the chores.

For mowing, low seems fine because I have lots of hills and rough ground and a heavy mower (72 inch RFM). However, this year I'll be trying out the 62D belly mower, so I may be wishing for more speed...

I'll be doing the first mowing of the season this weekend, weather permitting, and find out for sure.

 

[Sniggle]

I have not tried a 2 speed HST, but in my first 40 hours with my 3 speed HST I have utilized all speeds:

- Low speed when pulling a box blade with scarifiers down or a landscape rake through thick rough terrain or digging out rocks

- Medium speed for normal landscape rake work, back blade work, loader work (I suspect mowing also, although I have not done that yet.

- High speed to get from point A to point B or when doing jobs that can be done fast (backward raking broadcast grass seed to cover).

I know I would be frustrated with only 2 speeds.

 

[bandit67]

I had a 2 speed hydro on my subcompact, and pretty regularly wished I had a 3rd range. I've rented quite a few larger machines over the years from small compacts to full size, all with the 3 range.

I decided that my next machine would be a 3 range. I logged 8 hours on a B7800 last fall, and ended up using all 3 ranges throughout the day.

I don't understand why JD won't go with a 3 range on those machines, and after hearing that the new 30.5 hp JD 2720 was also to be a 2 range, I decided not to wait around for it's release later this spring.