hst experience

cag · Feb 3, 2005

Yesterday my wife and I went out to check out the ck30hst and ck20hst. It was my first time driving hst, I can't say I was disappointed but it was not what I expected, you see, I'm used to driving shuttle shift. Has anybody else experienced this and went on to purchase hst anyway and is it just a matter of getting use to hst? The type of example I would like to use between the two are, loader operation. Is shuttle shift better or hst? What about pto or operating the tractor climbing reasonable slopes or small ditches? Is there a difference for backhoe operation with hst? I know in the past similar posts were made regarding hst and shuttle trans and I do not wish to have a heated debate but knowledge only.

Bob_Skurka · Feb 3, 2005

cag . . . JUST A GENERAL OBSERVATION that does not apply to any brand but does apply to all HST. HST is really easy to use but takes a bit of practice to use properly. If you go from gear to hst, which is what I did, you have to learn to think differently. When depressing the HST pedal, the more you push the less torque you have. That is probably lesson #1. Lesson #2 is finding the right range. Take a look in the Kubota forum now about a guy who is complaining about his L3130 being underpowered. It is very similar in size, weight, capacity to the CK30. The question really should be did he just not know what to expect or is it really underpowered? And if it is, then the CK30 should also be considered underpowered. The reality is that there is a place for these large frame heavy machines, but hill climbing in high range is not the place for them. You ask about "reasonable slopes or small ditches" in your post. Simply put, both will challenge any heavy tractor more than they will challenge any light tractor assuming properly functioning HSTs and similar ranges, but that does not mean the tractor is underpowered. Regarding your question about HST affecting the backhoe operation, no, it should not.

Now if you want to begin to argue if weight is good, or if high range should only be used for transportation purposes, then we can get a good heated arguement rolling /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

shoppintractors · Feb 3, 2005

Take a look in the Kubota forum now about a guy who is complaining about his L3130 being underpowered. It is very similar in size, weight, capacity to the CK30.

I have never felt the CK30 and L3130 was an apples to apples comparison.

3130 tractor weighs 250 pounds more. The FEL weighs much more (according to a post in the Kubota thread you referred to.) ...and the L3130 has larger tires to power.

Don

Bob_Skurka · Feb 3, 2005

Don, the L3130 also has more hp than the CK30. The ratios of power to weight & size are very close. My point with reference is that there may have been an unreal expectation in the case of the owner of L3130. And in this example, 'cag' said it was his first time on a HST and he didn't really know what to expect. So I think the parallel is resonable.

The reality is when making an apples-to-apples comparison, or attempting to do it, it is nearly impossible. I was not trying to make that comparison, I was trying to illustrate a similar example that is pretty reasonable.

bigtractor · Feb 3, 2005

I have customers come in jump on a HST and without Coaching think it is a DOG.

They jump on it and stab the peddle and stall it or crawl away.
I tell them ... Rev her up and apply the peddle, the faster you go the more peddle you can apply. Otherwise it is like trying to drive a car from a stop in 4th gear.

It is an acquired technique.

Most work done in mid or low range.

cag · Feb 4, 2005

If a guy knows what to expect from hst then you wont be disappointed with the performance of hst. I read some posts were some guy's think there's something wrong with their hst tractor and as it turns out most of the time it's simply a lack of experience driving with hst. I'm no expert but I have a general idea how different trany's work. I posted here in hope to have Kioti owners share their experience...positive or negative, shuttle or hst, to be straight forward and tell it like it is. Bob, I know you don't own a kioti tractor, but like you mentioned, hst in general is the same thing. I appreciate the reply I received from you and others... cag

db2 · Feb 4, 2005

cag

I have had and HST tractor for about a month now (TC40). I had to learn to use it properly. I was initially reluctant but I am glad I went with HST. We have a couple of steep driveways to clear snow from and I work in low range almost all of the time.....no problem. As well my wife is very comfortable using the tractor when I am not around. Like it lots.

Regards Dave

shoppintractors · Feb 4, 2005

My experience is with HST. If your experience is with shuttle shift you would probably be happy with another shuttle shift. Many of my uses involved the FEL so I always appreciated the ease of forward and reverse motion controlled with my right foot, left hand on the steering wheel and right hand on the FEL joy stick.

What bigtractor posted pretty much nails it on the head.

A common error seems to be, trying to operate the HST tractor-pedal like a gas-pedal in a car. A car's gas-pedal is the throttle. On a HST tractor the throttle is on the dash.

Don

cag · Feb 4, 2005

DB2 good to hear you haven't been having problems clearing the snow on your steep driveways. I read not to long ago some CK HST owner's were having problems clearing snow and moving up small enclines with their tractor. Much advice was given on what the problem could be but I haven't read the owners reply if it was broken or bad opperating techniques. When for example, these issues are not clearly resolved or left unsolved, you leave doubts on reliability towards kioti, this especialy towards the newbie. cag

KiotiJohn · Feb 4, 2005

( ) DB2 good to hear you haven't been having problems clearing the snow on your steep driveways. I read not to long ago some CK HST owner's were having problems clearing snow and moving up small enclines with their tractor. Much advice was given on what the problem could be but I haven't read the owners reply if it was broken or bad opperating techniques. When for example, these issues are not clearly resolved or left unsolved, you leave doubts on reliability towards kioti, this especialy towards the newbie. cag

Charlie, this is a little unfair of you to post such a statement when this was resolved very well by Kioti, and surely you saw all the posts about it. There was a problem with a very few of the CK20s relief valves, but they were taken care of.
There is no doubt about the reliability of Kioti, nor about Kioti's willingness to make things right. John