Driving a HST

[chuck172]

I've never driven a hydro trans. before. I've had a manual ford 4500TLB, a Ford 8n, a ck35 shuttle. I'm trading the ck35 for a dk40seh. I hope soon. Possibly next week if all goes well.
How much different will driving the hst be? Is there a foot throttle? The brakes will be on the left now I guess. Do you gotta keep the engine revved with the hand throttle? I've heard most people rave about the hydro's.

 

[Jimbrown]

The throttle sets the power level. If you don't need power set it low. If you need power set it high.

The peddle controls speed, up to the power level set by the throttle.

 

[ovrszd]

Congrats on the new tractor purchase!!!

Boy, this subject will get responses!!!!!

This subject is hotly debated here on TBN quite frequently. Sometimes a heated debate will take over a thread that had nothing to do with HST.

I own a 22HP HST tractor, 47HP mechanical shuttle tractor and a 95HP hydraulic shuttle tractor with FEL. The only place I want the HST is mowing and pushing snow, which I do with the 22HP HST tractor. Everywhere else I prefer a shuttle.

My prediction is that you will immediately complain about the 40HP HST tractor not having as much HP as your old 35HP tractor. Possibly to the point that you'll think there's something wrong with it as it'll seem gutless. But you'll get used to it.

Again, congrats on the new tractor!!!

 

[chuck172]

So you do need to rev the engine when say snowplowing, york raking, using the loader.

 

[murphy1244]

I run my dk at least 1800 rpm when doing work.

 

[chuck172]

Thanks ovrszd. The trade is in the works but not final yet. Hopefully next week it will be done. When I bought the shuttle, everybody always raved about the hydro. One thing is for sure, the hst will be easier on the knees.

 

[chuck172]

I run my dk at least 1800 rpm when doing work.

Is there a foot throttle on the dk?

 

[TripleR]

It is going to sound more complicated than it really is, as ovrszd said, you'll get use to it. Your manual will tell you your 540 PTO engine speed, so you'll use that or close to it when running PTO implements, using a scraper, FEL etc, use the RPM and foot treadle to get the desired performance. Remember, less pedal equals lower gearing.

My Grand L, some John Deere and I think some Kioti models have auto throttle setting that ill synchronize your HST pedal and engine RPM. I routinely use both HST and geared tractors and like both types.

 

[ovrszd]

I've never saw an HST with a foot throttle.

Kubota uses a linkage mechanism in their HST+ models. When activated, the farther you push the HST pedal, the faster the engine revs. It was sortta handy on my Brother's 32HP HST Kubota. It was gutless so you had to turn rpms to get anything done anyway. Not sure if Kioti has a feature like that or not??

 

[George2615]

I have owned (or operated) many tractors for over 40 years. Up until 2004 all were gear tractors. In 04 I bought my first HST and never looked back. For the work I do (loader, snow plowing etc.) HST is the way to go. I have a hand throttle, HST pedals control the speed. For most work I set the throttle at 1800 RPM. Not sure if the DK has a foot throttle. If you are trading up, have you not looked or test drove the DK yet to know whether it has a foot throttle? Check it out before you buy. You may not need a foot throttle.