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   / CLOSE TO BUYING #21  
Wow Ryan, you bring new light to tractor shifting. I am trying to assess comparisons on my property hill wise because I haven't confronted the problems you associate to a geared tractor. I do have a long hill at maybe a 50% incline but never have I "rolled back" in between shifting. I always brake when clutching on this type of terrain. I'm wondering if tractor size has something to do with this where more weight on a larger tractor would initiate more inertial forces?. Not sure but it does bring to light what I have been saying all along about "variables" with all the questions people ask here for trying to get comparisons. Whether the question comes to "what size tractor should I get?" or "should i get industrials or ags?" "whada ya think about hydros over geared?". That's why it's important for everyone to bring to light their particular experiences as it begins to divulge "particulars" to help the op making decisions.

"roll back is not the issue" it is the "rolling forward faster" and while clutch is in, the finish mower doesn't have power and going down hill

with a riding lawn mower, what might only roll 2 feet between shifting between gears while the clutch is in. for me, it may mean 5 feet to switch gears and let clutch out that i travel down the hill
note 1 second or less to shift gears on riding lawn mower, 1 second or less to shift gears on this CA tractor) same amount of time to shift but traveling faster. that extra 3 feet can be enough to stop the finishing mower blades from spinning, and stop cutting grass, till the clutch is released.
a independent PTO setup. would not have an issue what so ever. with above. due to power would always be going to the mower deck while i was shifting gears.

1950ish allis chalmers CA tractor with belly mower ran off of PTO, 4 gears plus reverse,
===4th gear (road gear) i think is 15MPH on flat land, (no power, purely road gear, no mowing, nothing being pulled)
===3rd i would gess more like 5 to 7 mph, ((prefered mowing gear))
===2nd 2 to 3 MPH ((not able to keep up with mowing and it gets away from me)) (discing)
===1st (area went straight to weeds on me, 8 inches plus high) (2 bottom plow, discing)
am most likely completely wrong with mph with above....

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i had some other stuff typed up, but hit wrong ctrl A, ctrl C, and CTRL X buttons and highlighted wrong and ended up deleted what i had typed up :/ ctrl Z won't bring it back...

the jeest of it, is manual transmission on a hill, or in ruts, or uneven terrian, and having to clutch, break, give some throttle to barely inch your way a couple inches to get were you want the tractor to be. while a good operator can take there time to get things aligned, there is a higher risk, of rolling into side of a truck, or into a building or into a fence or what not. with a manual transmission,

example ya got something chained up to bottom side of fel, and wanting to load it into back of a truck. and trying to make those final couple inches.
example custom boom made for FEL (front end loader) to lift up metal sheets for to roof a metal shed/ pole barn. and trying to inch the wheels through some ruts and bumps up next to shed, so folks on the roof can grab ahold of the sheets and pull them off the custom boom.
example in a fenced in garden, with a 3pt tiller attached, and already went through garden once, then it rained, and trying to get tires to inch there way through uneven ground, that tires are already sinking some. trying to get right up next to the fence.
example cleaning up the snow, using FEL to get right up next to shed door,
example cleaning up the snow, inching backwards to get rear blade right up next to shed door, (less shoveling ya have to do)
example backing up to a trailer, to hitch it up, let alone trying to backup to a 3pt attachment, without telescopic arms (pat's easy hitch) and implement and tractor are out in the dirt, heck even on concrete.
example backing up or moving forward just an inch to better align a hole while you are PHD, and listening to what the spotter denotes.

it is the uneven terrain, hills, bumps, ruts, snow, ice, mud, and not being able to get perfectly lined up and trying to make those very small moves, from being 1 inch to shy to being 1 inch much = very costly repairs (1000 plus bucks) if ya run into something. that i hate manual transmissions.

SCUTS (sub compact tractors) kubota more so, has funky setups for there clutching, brake, gas/throttle peddals and levers, requiring you to either have 3 feet or 3 arms, to get some things done or living with it and just trying to get around the issue. larger tractors, generally have a much better layout of controls seperating things, so when the times come, you have both feet busy and both hands busy, but never the need to move a leg over to other side to operate say a clutch and brake peddel at the same time. or a fel/3pt lever here, but being able to use shuttle shift with other hand.

yes mowing is easy, as long as you are going in one general direction everything is easy, it is those odd ball jobs, and trying to make use of every last little inch, so you can reduce that manual labor.

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have you ever placed a temp gauge on pulling vehicle that ya use to pull heavy trailers around with? you might be surprised how hot a transmission can get, and some simple easy adjustments of different gears and MPH you are going to keep transmission cool. its the same thing for tractors. but for tractors its not the trailers that are heavily load down, its the box blading, rear blade, plowing, discing, etc..in to high of a gear. while yes the implement might be doing an excellent job of what ever you are doing. but the transmission can be taking a beating.

the simple lets see if i can pull this log / down tree. *ughs* no moving, lets try another gear. *ughs* not moving. ok thats one issue, and might cause damage more so if you get a running start that can cause damage.
but its the longer runs, in to high of a gear, that can cause issues for a transmission if relief valves are kicking in for say a hydrostatic transmission, or you are causing the engine to get near point it wants to stall out in a manual transmission,

===================
test driving a unit....
ya wide open on straight ground, ya what ever....

get those front tires up on a hill of dirt. and come to a dead stop put tractor in neutral, and then see if you can just move an inch up the hill.
if tractor has a fel, dig some dirt first to make it a fresh unpack portion of dirt and then do above.
reverse the tractor and do same thing but backwards, can you get that tractor to move only 1 inch or 2 inches to exact same spot. without the tractor moving 3 inchs further up the hill or back down the hill... those 3 inches could be side of a pickup truck or side of a building (your home or shed) to mower deck getting hung up on some fancy edging for flower beds or like.

run up into the hill of fresh dirt that ya mixed around with the FEL, to make some ruts. drive up into the ruts at a different angle some and see if you can adjust the position of tractor 1" that way or this way. "harder said than done" on some machines.
 
   / CLOSE TO BUYING #22  
I dunno Ryan, I've driven geared tractors for 30 years and haven't confronted the problems you experience hypothetically or actually. What is important here is matching person type to tractor type and you and I demonstrate those particulars.
 
   / CLOSE TO BUYING #23  
I dunno Ryan, I've driven geared tractors for 30 years and haven't confronted the problems you experience hypothetically or actually.
I don't get it either
I'm not quite sure what he is talking about ????
My lower gears are slow enough if I need them, I don't think I would have any problem in any of those scenarios
 
   / CLOSE TO BUYING #24  
I bought a MAX 28 hydro with loader, mmm and backhoe. My tractor has been great so far! I have driven many brand and types of tractors and equipment. My last tractor was gear and worked great for brush hogging, logging and some loader work. We have 3 orange tractors at work and they all work very well. I picked the Mahindra hydro because it was so smooth and the hydrostat was so much quieter than the hydro's at work. You really need to test drive a few tractors to get a feel to what will work for you. I am very happy with my tractor purchase!
 
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  • Thread Starter
#25  
These are some very good points and exactly what I was looking for. Dave, yes, I have had the Yanmar since 2007. It came from LMTC and has been a great tractor. I just am getting older and spending more time mowing grass than anything else. The Max 28 seems like it will do dual purpose for me as a tractor and a mower. I suppose never having HST I would not miss it but weighing all the info I have been getting here with each types of transmission's. I am 50 miles from the dealer but plan on trying each out a bit more. I like the thoughts of the HST but loader work would only be maybe 5% of the time or less. My "belly mower" use is all in the open so HST would not be too much of an advantage but still taking in all the advice here. Many points brought up I have not considered even! Thanks all once again and any other things you think will be very much appreciated by myself and who knows how many others trying to decide.
 
   / CLOSE TO BUYING #26  
some pics, maybe help *shrugs* time to give up on these statements of mine.
 

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   / CLOSE TO BUYING #27  
Buy what you are comfortable with. When I bought mine the dealer suggested not buying the hydro if I was doing anything more than mowing due to the high replacement cost of the hydro parts compared to a clutch repair. I got mine with the backhoe and intended on working it hard, and I was comfortable with the shuttle shift. Bottom line is you will enjoy the tractor, the Max 28 has exceeded my expectations.
 
   / CLOSE TO BUYING #28  
some pics, maybe help *shrugs* time to give up on these statements of mine.

I like the pictures Ryan especially since I do not have the foggiest notion how they're done but appreciate those more tech savy than I. On the very last one where the tractor is inching up the incline to get a bite on the rear blade is something I myself have at my place. It's just never been an issue. As a matter of fact, I don't think I think about it. I don't even know how I do it to have no problems but I'll check it out next time. (man this is like someone telling you "my you take your putter back far when you putt." Then you can't make a putt all day because you're only looking at how far you take the putter back.) Watch me hit my building with the rear blade for the first time as I 'm thinking "how is it you don't hit the building with your rear blade" .
 
   / CLOSE TO BUYING #29  
The pictures don't help.
I simply do not have any of those issues with my gear machine.
 
   / CLOSE TO BUYING #30  
The pictures don't help.
I simply do not have any of those issues with my gear machine.

That's because you have breaks on your tractor Vince. :shocked:

Wedge
 
   / CLOSE TO BUYING #31  
Gear guys won't be convinced that an HST is better....my dad won't have an HST. He delivered tractors for me for years before he re-retired and to the end he dislikes HST. It's clutch only for him, and he would also say he never ever has an issue running a clutch.

Most of of my cars are manual transmission, including my Jeep, my 530xi, we even have a Duramax pickup with a manual transmission. I prefer to shift. And the new automatics are so good, that is really my only excuse for getting a manual trans (plus the thought that a manual has more longevity in some cases).But on a tractor for around the place chores, loader work, mowing small areas, etc., I prefer the HST. If I have 10 acres to disc, give me a clutch anytime.
 
   / CLOSE TO BUYING #32  
Gear guys won't be convinced that an HST is better....my dad won't have an HST. He delivered tractors for me for years before he re-retired and to the end he dislikes HST. It's clutch only for him, and he would also say he never ever has an issue running a clutch.

Most of of my cars are manual transmission, including my Jeep, my 530xi, we even have a Duramax pickup with a manual transmission. I prefer to shift. And the new automatics are so good, that is really my only excuse for getting a manual trans (plus the thought that a manual has more longevity in some cases).But on a tractor for around the place chores, loader work, mowing small areas, etc., I prefer the HST. If I have 10 acres to disc, give me a clutch anytime.

Spot on Dave and if I had to downsize to say a Max 25 that I wanted to use for snow removal with a mounted blower, cutting the grass, using the bucket for that occasional loam overlay I'd probably wish for an HST myself. But for dragging out 3000 lbs worth of logs, pushing snow around with a snow pusher, using a scraper blade or pto tiller, moving heavy logs in the forest with the engine at a quiet idle or just off idle, I'll take the gear every time. It seems to guys such as myself, having only the rpm's needed to do the job or work, are an essential ingredient. An all around machine is probably going to be at high rpm's anyway such as grass cutting or snow blowing. A tractor specific to ground attachments or moving heavy loads, I'll give up convenience for efficiency any day.
What I like about this thread amongst all the hydro vs. gear threads is that specifics have been mentioned. This goes way beyond personal preferences because one does not know what has formulated the preference without the specifics. Each of us use our tractors in a certain way but that is all we have to go by. By having a plethora of specific experiences, the op can now ascertain how parallel he is to those specific experiences rather than someone spouting off how much more they like one over the other.
 
   / CLOSE TO BUYING #33  
I have both and I have to say I prefer gear over hst in everything but blowing snow . I very seldom ever run my M5700 gear tractor over 1800 rpms and never over 2000 . In much of what I do it is around 1400 to 1500 area . I can see if a person did a lot of loader work the hst would be better in that case also . If it wasn't for the whine of the hst I might like it better than I do .
 
   / CLOSE TO BUYING #34  
For years I grew up on my Dad's farm using gear tractors, plowing, discing, dragging, planting, cultipacking, mowing, raking, baling, hauling hay loads, and harvesting crops. The gear tractors were ideal for all of it, but I now have a Mahindra 2810 HST, which I use for gardening, brush hogging, mowing & misc. loader work. I would not trade that HST for a gear, no way no how. Unless you are doing 90% farm work I would be buying the HST. Oh, and by the way I also used the gear tractors for spreading ****.
 
   / CLOSE TO BUYING #35  
Hahahaha, 👍

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   / CLOSE TO BUYING #36  
I worked for a large nursery when in school. We would get on a Farmall 140 tractor at sunrise and plow shrubbery all day. So I have changed my share of gears. In 1970 I purchased a Wheel Horse with a Hydro to mow with. I haven't looked back or wanted to use another gear unit again in mowing. If I was going to use a tractor strictly in agriculture for ground engaged implements or haying I would choose a gear tractor. For yard use, gardening and loader work it is hard to beat a hydro unit.
 
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  • Thread Starter
#37  
Thanks all for your inputs. Between a vacation and a severe windstorm that hit our area I have been so busy cutting trees up and such I have not had time to reply to this thread. I have not bought the tractor yet, I did test drive each and for me I prefer the shuttle shift on the Max 28, it is a quieter tractor and with some practice on the loader it will be fine for me. I however stopped at a Kubota dealership in southern Ohio and priced the B2620 out of curiosity and it came in $2000.00 cheaper than the Max 28 and it had a three range hydrostat transmission that was very quiet and to my liking. Also had a much more comfortable seat and the joystick for the loader was placed more conveniently for use. It is a bit lighter and a bit more narrow which concerns me on my hillside slopes. I have found a company that makes wheel spacers for it though. The belly mower on the Mahindra is 60" vs 54" on the Kubota and the Mahindra appears heavier built. So this is where I stand on tractors at this point. Any other advice or comments will be appreciated. Thank you all again.
 
   / CLOSE TO BUYING #38  
. It is a bit lighter and a bit more narrow which concerns me on my hillside slopes. I have found a company that makes wheel spacers for it though. The belly mower on the Mahindra is 60" vs 54" on the Kubota and the Mahindra appears heavier built. So this is where I stand on tractors at this point. Any other advice or comments will be appreciated.

In my opinion if your primary use is mowing, lighter is better for your turf. You will leave less of an impression in the grass. You also will use up less of your HP moving the machine up hills, leaving more of the HP to power the blade for cutting. Stance, however is very important as you alude to if you have hills. The Kubotas are not flimsy machines by any means, they are well engineered.

If your primary function was loader work, it might be a different decision for some due to weight advantages to balance the FEL load.
 
   / CLOSE TO BUYING #39  
if you're thinking about shuttle vs hst, consider this:

If you're working the loader controls with one hand and the steering wheel with the other hand, which would you rather have: a third hand to work the shuttle lever, and maybe a fourth to work the throttle, or a foot pedal to control the direction and speed of the tractor?

I've worked with both and the hst is so easy, precise, and quick to use.
 
   / CLOSE TO BUYING #40  
I have to agree with Tom. Kubota makes a great machine and in fact is one of the few manufacturers that builds everything on their tractors (something even John Deere, IH Case and New Holland don't do). If the Kubota is cheaper and does all the things you need it to, and the dealer has a good reputation...then it sounds like you've found your machine. I personally chose the Mahindra 3016 HST over the Kubota B3350 because it was $2000 less and the FEL max lift was almost double that of the Kubota. Talk to the Kubota dealer about your concerns with width and see if they can't add those wheel spacers to sweeten the deal for you.

Good luck!

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