HST or man

wichiwichi · Feb 15, 2002

MANUAL...... First of all I am a firm believer in the K.I.S.S. rule (keep it simple stupid). Sure if you are mowing HST is fine but why not just buy a ZTR mower. Reliability is the key. As far as the cluthc issue, I grew up on a farm with tractors in excess of 5000 hours on the original clutch. I have a B7500DT and have put it in paces tht would have stuck an HST. Get the standard and use the 2 or 3k extra for equipment. (believe me you will always want new toys)

JATO_RaT · Feb 15, 2002

Why would it have stuck an HST, tells us with HST who are interested in knowing why an HST would be stuck with infinte ability to control the speed and power to the wheels. HST's while perhaps slighlty more complex in design then a manual transmission with many gears, are much simpler to operate. K.I.E.S.S. (Keep it even simplier stupid). To keep it really simple perhaps a horse and plow would make the K.I.S.S. a truely meaningful statement. Rat...

frank_f15 · Feb 16, 2002

why would an hst get stuck where a gear tranny would not? don't beleive the type of transmission would have anything to do with it!

Anonymous Poster · Feb 16, 2002

I would be curious to know how much it is to fix or replace a HST unit?

Cornflake · Feb 17, 2002

Drive one! the only real way to find out, more than 10 minute test drive too..

I personally like HST. has cruise so long straights aren't a problem.

K-2910

JATO_RaT · Feb 17, 2002

I would imagine that if it needed to be rebuilt or replaced, it would be relatively expensive. You must split the case to do it. The same would apply to any other transmission. Talking with the local Kubota/JD dealer, he says he just doesn't have to do it to any greater extent then any other transmission on the Kubotas he sells. The HST has been out and used long enough on Kubota to the extent that if there were problems, they would have piled up by now.

SHIFTY · Feb 17, 2002

The proublem with getting the tractor stuck is proubally caused by something between the steering wheel and the seat

Anonymous Poster · Feb 17, 2002

Not sure what you are looking at, HST is great on lawn tractor, never ran an HST tractor doing real work. BIG drawback to gears is replacing clutch! A loader and inexperienced users will really chew them up. Don't know if any of the sub-compacts offer a wet clutch in their gear transmisions or not, but if they did thats what I would look at. We have an AC 175 with a front end loader, bought new in 74, has wet hand clutch (high low netural) always used the hand clutch for "loader" work. Tractor has broken in 4 boys to loader work and still has BOTH original clutches. Seems to be the best of both worlds.. can slip the hand clutch (wet) when using loader without damaging it. foot clutch to change gears.
NOTE: foot clutch only required to prevent cracked shifting forks when shifting gears and starting tractor. Dad would sure get irratated at us for not clutching!

JATO_RaT · Feb 18, 2002

Duane, the tractor I have more hours on then any other is a Kubota L4850, a 5 cylinder wet clutch with shuttle shift. Shuttle shift is the name given to the shifting from forward to reverse without the use of the clutch and with the flick of a lever typically on the steering column. Your probably already aware of that. JD calls theirs a power reverser as I recall. As wonderful and great as that is, it does not come close to the much quicker manuevering speed of a HST. Large tractors have used HST in the past, some succesfully others not as succesful. It must be built tough. In 1977, International had a HST on its Model 86 hydrostatic. Its strange to see the reaction people have about HST. Those who don't have it almost appear threatened by it and can only offer negative unsubstantiated opinions for the most part. Those who have it love it while not condemming a gear driven tractor. As an owner of both, there are times I prefer to use my manual International, when it comes to moving dirt quickly with a loader, the HST works exceptionally well. Rat..

internationlman · Feb 24, 2002

I still prefer gears. Maybe part of my problem with HST is like an atuomatic truck and a standard. Standard still holds back better on hills in 4wheel drive no roll away. Maybe wrong let me know.