dumb question about HST

[LouNY]

I had another question about HST vs gear, and it hit me to ask Google's AI, since it knows everything:

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(text above was highlighted by Google, with more info on each of the four items offered below the above text)

After I read the above, I was thinking that HST is best for lower power applications, but I remembered that I've rented articulated wheel loaders before. They were larger than a utility tractor, and they are HST?!?

I guess that the word "loader" in articulated wheel loader is key. A wheel loader is more focused on a single task than a utility tractor, and that task is 99% back and forth, stop, start, reverse, etc, and that is the area where HST excels.

I haven't run a front end loaded in close to 20 years, at that time they were mostly and especially in the larger ones, gear drive with torque converters and reversers.

 

[JTKub]

Now that you mention it, I do remember seeing something, somewhere, about a hi/lo within ranges. Sounds pretty nice.

Most of my reading/looking has been on Branson/TYM tractors. Guessing those do not offer this or I would have read more about it...?

The TYM T224 I bought has a high/low range to the HST. Just like you say, the manual says to come to a stop before switching from one to the other. Some of the fancier deluxe models have 3 ranges to the HST.

 

[Gem99ultra]

One concern you may have regarding an HST vs Geared is having to use the pedal contantly for mowing, etc.. I'll point out, my HST has a 'cruise' lever, so that feature is a no-issue.
Regarding the power loss, I don't think I've ever ran into a problem with the power margin being so close to may me decide on HST vs Geared. The convenience of an HST far out paces Geared, of which I've owned two of in the past.