Gear or Hydrostatic Transmissions for Compact Utility Tractors?

[jenkinsph]

Caught in a fit of intellectual silliness without excuse by a commenter on YouTube, I deleted that video, reformatted all the "wine" (as in the kind you drink) to be "whine" (as in the kind that is moaning and annoying), uploaded a new version, and am now asking forgiveness of my alma mater (Northwestern).

Got me.

The tranny is quiet enough, mine probably makes a little more noise than yours. I don't find mine objectionable though.

Got to ask, do you ride around with the bucket in the air all the time? I keep mine lowered unless necessary.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

The tranny is quiet enough, mine probably makes a little more noise than yours. I don't find mine objectionable though.

Got to ask, do you ride around with the bucket in the air all the time? I keep mine lowered unless necessary.

All four wheels of my tractor have Rimguard in them for ballast and so the 1600+ pounds of loader waving around and the 1200 to 1500 pound log in the air up to a point doesn't matter for stability on my tractor. That said those people who leave their loaders up in the air are doing so for visibility reasons. If I'm on a hill, I make all reasonable efforts to lower my machine's center of gravity to increase stability and traction for any given load. On level ground the higher center of gravity for the benefit of increased visibility isn't a problem. Even so, I generally travel with my loader lower to the ground but had my loader up in this video so as to not crush things down on the ground with a 15' long oak log.

 

[paulfun9]

I agree. And with no way to prove it I'll say I am extremely smooth and accurate with a clutch. Enough so that when I get ony HST JD the first thing I notice is that lack of accuracy.

I take this stand with no malice toward those that don't get it.

I also have to note that I notice with the introduction of more electronics that the accuracy of many new tractors with HST is even worse than the mechanical. The delay on my DK is about all I can stand and after test running a new NX I walked away knowing I would never buy one because even with the adjustment knob it was still a worthless set up for any real fine work.

 

[Turbys_1700]

My Workmaster 50 has some noticeable gear whine due to straight cut versus helical cut gears. Not as loud as some hydros but still noticeable. I remember our old Super A with the same whine.

I've run and owned both types of transmissions. My last two tractors were synchronized shuttle and I get along fine. My Workmaster is utility sized and hydro options for that size tractor is more limited. I could have gone with a new MX Kubota but I wanted a non DPF engine.

Just be thankful we have these transmission options available. Most all of our older farm tractors were collar shift until the larger powershift units. Our D17 Allis Chalmers did incorporate a power diverter to shift from low to high.

 

[TripleR]

Larry,,
A day on the tractor is better than a day in an easy chair.

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[coobie]

Owned a Kioti gear tractor. After left knee replacement quickly figured out how much I love my Kioti HST I traded into.

 

[John_Mc]

I found it more difficult to be smooth and accurate with the Kubota hydraulic clutch on my M8540 than any of our other tractors. It can be done by a skilled operator, but lately my "skill" level is pretty hit and miss, so more often than not it's my 5740.

Oh, come one now... we can't have any of that. You are destroying the "I can out-macho you any day" contest by admitting that you are not god's gift to tractor operating.

 

[John_Mc]

Finally a gear vs hst thread that some might see as convincingly disproving the "more accurate" hst lie.

I seen a lot of opinions expressed, and a lot of personal experience related from people expressing what works better for them. I've not seen any thing that I would call "convincing proof" one way or the other. As someone has already expressed on this thread: Use what works for you in your own situation.

 

[mcfarmall]

And here all along I thought that a constant running live PTO was God's gift to tractor operating!!

 

[ovrszd]

I found it more difficult to be smooth and accurate with the Kubota hydraulic clutch on my M8540 than any of our other tractors. It can be done by a skilled operator, but lately my "skill" level is pretty hit and miss, so more often than not it's my 5740.

And that my friend is why they make both.

This discussion has been very civil with minimal degradation. I enjoy these conversations. Broadens my horizons.