Advice on Hydrostatic Transmission vs Gears

[stevem5215]

K46 can be serviced. You must remove it and turn it upside down. I've done my Craftsman one twice now. Both times the fluid was beat up and bad looking. Refresh it and it'll work like new again. I use 5w-50 in it or whatever is close to available. The K58 is heavier duty and better overall and not known to fail like the K46 design due to a lightweight design.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

My first tractor experience, except my home made version, was an L3800 size Kubota that came with my girlfriend when she moved in.

I was ecstatic to have a loader but it didn't take me long to start really disliking its manual transmission, especially when using the loader to pick up dirt.

These days I'm using the L3800 she bought after moving to here the most often, by far. And that's largely because it's an HST.

 

[Ortimber]

Resale likely would be better with an HST. For a compact size tractor, I wouldn't own anything other than an HST machine.

 

[mmaliga]

I have 2 gear tractors (Case 255, Mitsubishi MTE2000) and 1 HST (New Holland 25S). It truly depends on what you are doing with what attachment. The Hydro tractor is an incredible lawnmower. Loader work is pretty good with it. The Mitsubishi tractors do well with grading and snow clearing. Transmission selection is just one part. Tires are the biggest deal. Weight is a big deal as well. Lifting capacity can be important. Size can be important.

 

[Wobblin-Goblin]

In my experience that only happens with the heavy 24 hp tractors that only exist because they’re trying to beat the epa emissions regulations. If you have enough power the HST works just fine.

I had a MF 1643 with Hydro. Clearly before the new emissions standards applied and almost double the horsepower you quoted...and I hated the Hydro on that tractor. Between the noisy whine and the power loss it was a bridge too far for me and I replaced it with a 4707 with Powershuttle.

Also recently bought a new TYM 2515, but with the reverser, not hydro.

Hydro has its uses, but gears with a reverser (or even better: clutchless powershuttle) are overall superior, IMO.

 

[Wobblin-Goblin]

Because the edit function isn't friendly, here is a new post based on my personal experiences with both Hydro and geared Shuttle tractors:

1. If you are using the loader with forks to lift and move pallets the Hydro is far superior because it's a pain to creep up to the pallet slowly and position the forks perfectly so they slide in the slot without wrecking the pallet.

2. If you are mowing/bush hogging, Hydro is slightly better due to the ability to instantly change direction and speed. It's not as big of a an edge as #1 above, but it's certainly an advantage.

3. Using the loader to do earth work is a push. Hydro is still quicker than a Reverser, but not by a lot. In order to have the grunt, you'll need to use low range in Hydro when digging into a pile, but after that, you'll have to stop completely to shift into mid range to get anywhere. It's "easier" to use than a geared Shuttle, but once you get used to the geared Shuttle, I think the advantages in this use are negligible.

4. Pulling anything. Geared Shuttle wins hands down.

5. Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) is greater on the Hydro than geared Shuttle, so win goes to the Shuttle.

6. There is more maintenance with a Hydro, that is a fact. However, in terms of reliability, a seasoned operator should know what not to do to avoid either cooking the fluid of a Hydro or wearing out a clutch on a geared Shuttle, so this category is a slight advantage to the Shuttle.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

In order to have the grunt, you'll need to use low range in Hydro when digging into a pile, but after that, you'll have to stop completely to shift into mid range to get anywhere.

Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but to fill a loader bucket with dirt from a pile requires very little forward power, just enough to creep forwards a little bit while raising and curling the bucket.

In other words, the tractor may need only 5 hp to move, and the loader does the work.

Also, I can use low or mid range for that operation, and if I parked the trailer that the dirt generally gets dumped into even remotely intelligently it can stay in low range.

 

[4570Man]

Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but to fill a loader bucket with dirt from a pile requires very little forward power, just enough to creep forwards a little bit while raising and curling the bucket.

In other words, the tractor may need only 5 hp to move, and the loader does the work.

Also, I can use low or mid range for that operation, and if I parked the trailer that the dirt generally gets dumped into even remotely intelligently it can stay in low range.

If it’s a fresh pile off a truck it scoops pretty easily but if it’s set for a while and compacted it’s hard to break loose.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

In my case it's generally getting the dirt from piles that have sat there for a decade or more.

If for some reason it's more than the L3800 would like to deal with, without using it as a dozer of sorts, I'd either get a smaller bucket or use the larger tractor. Thankfully that hasn't happened yet, but I'm sure it also depends on the type of dirt.

 

[Wobblin-Goblin]

One advantage to Hydro while digging into a pile is that if you let off the go pedal, the tractor simply stops. On a geared tractor, you can let off the go pedal but those tires are still churning until something breaks or the tractor stalls.