Greenhorn

[triplemoutdoors]

I just purchased 20 acres in North TX and i'm now shopping for a tractor. I have looked at the 4025 with a fel but would like to get your thoughts on what would be the best tractor for my needs.

The land is mostly pasture it is black land clay and one of the pastures is compacted so I will need to loosen up the soil (subsoiler?) from time to time. I also have a 500' rock road I will need to maintain. I would also like to plant a 1-2 acre garden. I will me moving round bales too. budget <$20,000

What is the difference between "Shuttle and HST"?

Thanks for your help.
Marty

 

[Baby Grand]

Welcome to TBN, Marty, and here's my suggestion:

1) Surf this site for a while.
2) Figure out what you will want your tractor to do.
3) Figure out what attachments you will need to do these tasks.
4) Figure out what the power requirements are to run those attachments.
5) Ask a lot of questions.
6) If you think the price & availability of fuel is going to stay the same as it is now, or go down and stay down, then buy more power than steps 1-5 tell you you need. Otherwise, you have sized your PTO, Gross & Drawbar HP and should aim to purchase that amount.

Shuttle shift allows you to shift gears and forward-reverse using wet clutches without stopping or using your dry clutch. I have one & am very happy with it - plus it cost a bit less than HST. It is more efficient than HST, so for a given Gross HP you will have more PTO HP available. This also means less waste heat generation, if any of that is important to you.

Many on here prefer HST and have good reasons. HST allows you to apply torque to the wheels at a very low groung speed without having to buy an expensive creeper gear option. If you will do mostly FEL work it would be a good buy. Also, resale should be easier with HST if you need to unload the machine in a hurry.

Good luck and keep us updated as you close the deal.

-Jim

 

[idaho2]

Also, determine how many hydraulic remotes you would need. These are add ons for the lower horse power tractors. I have a 5530 MFWD Turbo diesel and I had two sets installed at time of purchase. My Bison articulating back blade can handle three pumps, so I am one short for hook up on the tractor.

 

[Baby Grand]

Also, determine how many hydraulic remotes you would need. These are add ons for the lower horse power tractors. I have a 5530 MFWD Turbo diesel and I had two sets installed at time of purchase. My Bison articulating back blade can handle three pumps, so I am one short for hook up on the tractor.

Yup! Wish I had included TNT and 2 remotes when I ordered mine.

 

[houston burt]

I haave a 5500 that i bought new after destroying and old ford we(me and my father) used it to finish cleaning with a dozer i bought to help 25 acres now i plant corn wheat maintain pasture with it we have heavy clay rocky soil in north ga (at the foot of a mountain) the big factor to me is how much time you have and how much green backs you want to spend

 

[k0ua]

Shuttle shift allows you to shift gears and forward-reverse using wet clutches without stopping or using your dry clutch. I have one & am very happy with it - plus it cost a bit less than HST. It is more efficient than HST, so for a given Gross HP you will have more PTO HP available. This also means less waste heat generation, if any of that is important to you.

Many on here prefer HST and have good reasons. HST allows you to apply torque to the wheels at a very low groung speed without having to buy an expensive creeper gear option. If you will do mostly FEL work it would be a good buy. Also, resale should be easier with HST if you need to unload the machine in a hurry.

Now why cannot everyone be that factual and reasonable when describing the differences between a type of gear transmission (shuttle) and Hydrostat?

I am in the Hydro camp, pretty much for the reasons stated by the other poster, Loader work is more precise, especially when working around buildings or other expensive things. Also some digging operations with the front bucket are better/easier with hydro to apply breakout forces in addition to small forward and reverse movements. The penalty is higher initial cost. slightly more in hydrostat filter costs. and some heat and "hydro whine" Also anyone can operate hydo immediately, no learning curve. I never though about the trade in, but I guess it is because Hydro is probably the most popular for CUTS under 40 or so horsepower. All transmissions have plus and minus points. Straight gear, Shuttle or Power Reverser, Hydro, or even the new CVT's which seem to have some teething pains.
Try them and find the one you like.
James K0UA

 

[triplemoutdoors]

Good information...thank you all.

It appears you can get the various tranny options in the 4035 4WD models but not the 4025. I was looking at the 4025 because I did not want the 4WD nor do I think I can get it in my budget.

 

[MrEnigma]

I looked around for several months and went back and forth between HST and shuttle trannys, and finally ended up purchasing a 4530 shuttle shift w/245 FEL. I was willing to trade the convenience of HST to get the most HP and lift capacity I could afford.

As Baby Grand suggested, determine your needs and that will help guide your decision. Personally, I think it better to have a little more tractor than you need so you're operating at maximum capacity all the time.