hst shift or manuel?

[rogerL1961]

So i am hoping to hear from all of you thoughts about the transmissions. Auto or manuel? Which is better overall.

Does the HST stall out at a very slow speed? or Does the Manuel seem to lack power unless your using the clutch?

I know nothing about this tractor type so please educate me..Thanks.

Im hoping to buy a Kubota B2320

 

[Sumpter]

If my choice was HST or manual. I would definetly got with the HST. Much easier to work with.

 

[LD1]

If you are new to tractors, I would go with the HST as well.

HST is better if you do a lot of direction changing. Like mowing and FEL work. But it does take more power to run a HST. Therefore you will have a little less power avaliable at the PTO.

Gear tractors are nicer for field work. Long straight runs at a constant speed. Typically it is easier to maintain a constant speed with a gear. But they arent quite as efficent for tasks like FEL work.

And the gear tractors do NOT seem to lack power. Tractors are geared VERY LOW. I rarley even use 1st and 2nd gear. And the newer tractors are not like the older ones. The shuttle shift does make going from forward to reverse MUCH easier than older tractors. But still not quite as nice as a HST.

Personally, I would go to the dealer and request to test drive both types around the lot a bit. Go with whatever one you feel most comfortable with.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I think much of the preference for HST or manual has to do with your experience and what you plan to do with the tractor. Personally I like the Manual shift with power shuttle if you can get it since that is what I have always used. That is where you select the gear range you want for the correct speed and then you have the option of shifting forward / reverse without clutching. Next best (IMO) is mechanical gear with shuttle shift which has same feature but you have to clutch to shift from F to R. You dont loose any power in the transmission like you do with HST (about 5 hp difference). I did drive my BIL's NH 2030 HST moving some dirt for about 30 minutes and my right leg was exhausted with all the shifting and twisting motion required to shift forward to reverse and then the low range needed to scoop up the dirt was not fast enough to travel to the dump pile so had to shift ranges. I liked the power shift on my old Yanmar but only found one new tractor that offered it (MF 1600 series with Cab) and didnt like the layout when I looked at them. I dont like the Hst as you are constantly holding your right foot on the HST pedal,unless it is on cruise which is only used for like mowing, and all the tractors I looked at when I bought my LS Tractor, the ones that had 2 brakes, they were on the same side as the HST pedal which was pretty strange in that you would have to bring your left leg over to use them I guess it all depends on whether you want to do all the work with your feet or split it up and work some of it with your hands.
Also if you are used to brakes being on the right and the HST model has them on the left, you have to relearn the brakes. The mechanical shift f to r with hand while HST uses the right foot in most cases. The one issue with HST that turned me off completely was that some HST tractors dont have steering brakes. While some folks say that is not an issue and never use them, if you ever get into a slippery situation, you will be proud to have the steering brakes to help push the front end in the direction you want to go. Personally a tractor without steering brakes is not a real tractor. The last issue is that IMO, gear drive are simplier and cheaper to maintain than HST which has to have more frequent oil changes and the filters are usually high dollar items. They have to warm up for quite a while prior to use on really cold days also which is not an issue with gear drive, a couple of minutes and they are ready to go to work.

 

[First one]

Most things I like about the hst. I like it when you want to get up close to things you can control it better ,no clutch to play with. You can go as slow as you want or as fast all in the pedal. Change direction quick all on one pedal freeing up your hand from shifting .I like the Idea that it's fluid that changes you from forward to reverse no gears to grind ( new ones are better than the old ones) . Some have things like no stall guard so it makes it easier. Just some of the things I like.
Things I don't really care for is the loss of power to your pto. The servicing is high when you have to change the hyd fluid and filters . But all and all I'm happy with it .:thumbsup:

 

[bp fick]

99% of riding lawn mowers are also hydrostatic!!!

Please go test drive the difference. If you can even find a gear.

Seriously. An hydrostatic transmission is standard on sub compact tractors and dominate on compacts. There is a reason. Welcome to the 21st century tractor.

 

[TripleR]

Use the "search" feature and set in for a couple of days of reading. Some discussion is on here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/193363-i-am-looking-into-buying-7.html

We have several tractors with all types of transmissions; each has its place. We love our L5030 HSTC as well as our M8540 HSDC; each type excels in certain areas.

Overall I prefer HST, but for power to the ground, day in day out ground engagement, you can't beat gears.

There was also a recent discussion on the CVT.

Good luck.

 

[bp fick]

A Kubota B2320.

OK, I have a B2320. I believe if you are looking at that model is it because it is the only small Kubota that offers a gear model. You may be thinking that if you buy a gear, the price is lower, by a grand, and that prices it at or below a large BX and you'd get a bigger tractor. It is a tempting offering by Kubota. I'm guessing this question is largely about money.

But, you are either getting a mowing deck or Front End Loader or both? Right? If you live in the north, are you going to plow snow? You're going to be backing up to buildings, maneuvering around trees and cars, backing up to mount 3 pt attachments and generally using it as a small, utility tractor, because that is what you'd be buying. OK, so let's imagine doing all this with a gear. You'd be riding the clutch a lot and those are expensive to replace.

If you can imagine how you are going to have enough hands to operate the FEL lever, another hand to hold the steering wheel, another to change the gear shift from F to R, and push the clutch with one foot and brakes with the other.

Your potential re-sale of a gear B2320 would be bleak. That's just honesty.

Here's a picture of what delivery day looks like!!!

 

[Ductape]

HST, HST, HST.

 

[dave1949]

If you can imagine how you are going to have enough hands to operate the FEL lever, another hand to hold the steering wheel, another to change the gear shift from F to R, and push the clutch with one foot and brakes with the other.

Your potential re-sale of a gear B2320 would be bleak. That's just honesty.

I can do that :laughing: I steer with left hand and the shuttle lever is close enough to the steering wheel I work it with two fingers, that leaves two fingers for the wheel and a thumb left over :laughing:

I think it is about impossible to find a factory cab smaller CUT with gear drive. So, if a factory cab is something you are considering, the transmission choice will be made for you.

HST and automatic transmissions are taking over from lawn mowers to dump trucks, I would guess bp_fick is giving you good advice on resale values - especially for the size tractor you are looking at.
Dave.

 

[RalphVa]

I'd only go with a manual shift if you're going to spend long hours pulling a plow or other ground engaging equipment where the tad better efficiency of the manual would be to advantage. Doubt you're doing this with such a small tractor.

HST is MUCH easier to manage. I drove manual shift tractors in my youth and a 1970s one of my neighbors for a while before getting my own (HST) tractor.

HST does not stall out in low range. It will in high range if you push it beyond what the relief valve is designed for. Low range will pretty much hold it from rolling when the engine is off, but you also need to apply the parking brake.

HST is NOT an automatic transmission. It's a very heavy duty hydraulic system used in ships, tanks and other very heavy equipment. It's just a pump that sends approximately 3,000 psi fluid around to various systems: power steering, valves/slaves to make it go and FEL and 3ph lifts. Even with a manual transmission, you'll have all this but the valves/slaves bit to make it go. You'll never wear out a clutch.

Ralph

 

[k0ua]

"Does the HST stall out at a very slow speed?"
No, the HST excell's at delivering lots of torque at very slow speeds, and and instant later delivering lots of torque at high speed. That is one of its many benefits.



" Does the Manuel seem to lack power unless your using the clutch?"
I guess I dont understand this part of your question. The manual delivers nearly all of the engines power thru the geartrain, and if the clutch is new or in good shape there is no loss thru it either. Hydostats lose some power thru the system, gear tractors have very low losses thru the system. this is one of the positive points of a gear transission tractor. As there is very low losses, there is very little heat generated by the transmission.

As to which is easier to use, gives the most control, wears you out less, it is Hydrostat all the way. I guess I would say if you do not have the experience to know which one you like, then my answer would be go Hydro, you will be happier. I have had 4 tractors over a period of 19 years now, 2 gear, 2 hydro. My current tractor is hydro. My left leg wrote me a thank you note, after purchasing the hydro tractor last June.

James K0UA

 

[MBDiagMan]

This is one of those personal preference questions, so personal preference and opinion are the only responses that you will get.

In today's America, very few people drive cars or pickups with manual transmission. In fact we have a whole generation or two with MOST people being unfamiliar and incapable of using a clutch pedal. In Europe it's quite the opposite. With $8 a gallon gas, they need all the fuel economy they can get, so automatic transmissions are quite uncommon.

I taught both of my kids in manual transmission cars and they are stick shift afficionados. They enjoy the comments from their friends about their ability to drive cars with three pedals.

For me, the simplicity, ruggedness and economy of a manual transmission makes it an easy choice. I recently bought a new John Deere 5045D. It was way cheaper than other tractors of its size and works great for me.

If you are comfortable using a clutch pedal, don't let others lack of that capability sway your own personal preference. YOU will be the one operating it. Get what YOU are comfortable with.

 

[bp fick]

The guys here are all putting forth good perspective.

However, the OP was focusing on a particular tractor, so I have my doubts as just how applicable making comparisons to other, and much larger, equipment operates with CV, HST,Shuttle or other kinds of machines.

The OP admits to being green about tractors. He also pointed us to a specific model, not just tractors in general. That he is looking at the B2320 tells me a awful lot. It tells me he is looking at the first tractor above a BX sub-cut, Kubota's smallest CUT and what one actually does with a small, small CUT.

This tells me a lot about what the expected purpose of the tractor is. Until told otherwise by the OP, I'll hold my tongue until he posts back.

Otherwise, frankly? This is merely another boring, HST vs Gear debate, in which I have no interest, no offense intended to anyone.

 

[jpm1]

I have happily owned a Mahindra 2810 with a hydro for 4 years now and the choice to move from manual to hydro was a no brainer for me. 45 years on gear tractors and the chance to change to a hydro, well i jumped at it.
In my application now we do a lot of finish mowing and i don't like a weed wacker either so, a hydro is just it! on my tractor the loader is on all the time, ready for use with 2 different bucket sizes, a set of pallet forks of a blade. Work at our place changes so quickly responce is what is needed. I do see a bit of power loss in the hydro but, after a bit of using you learn to work around it enjoying every minute of the comfort.
On my tractor the hydro pedals are on the right and there are 2 brake pedals on the left. I don't believe i have used them to date. 3 ranges in the tranny give you just the right speed and puch the cruise button and enjoy the ride The picture on the left we are heading to the woods a couple of miles away. The forks are on and big bucket on a pallet to go too. ready to hook to the dump trailor and go. The next pictures , i didn't have the loader yet. one is a field at home i mow and the others are of digging a cellar out to pour a new wall under the house. Sorry i don't have more pictures up but . . .i can't find them. . .John :thumbsup:.

 

[wvpolekat]

HST does not stall out in low range.
Ralph

I can stall mine in low range. As long as you have traction, you can stall it. I have done it digging into a snow pile as well as into the wood pile.

 

[Milton Burro]

I bought a manual. Mostly I'm happy with it, but there have been times using the FEL changing directions often, I've wished for the HST. If I had it to do over, I'd get the HST.

 

[jinman]

The HST transmission allows you to focus 100% of your attention on the job you are doing. Especially with loader work, you can keep one hand on the steering wheel, one on the joystick, and one foot on the HST pedal(s). I also have a large industrial backhoe with shuttle shift and an electrical clutch operated with a button on the side of the FEL joystick or the gear shift lever. It is very easy to operate, but cannot hold a candle to my HST tractor for ease of operation and the ability to do fine positioning. I say that if you want to mostly pull a plow or mow big open fields, buy the gear tractor. If you want to do jobs with a loader bucket, snow plow, or pallet forks and also a boxblade or tiller on the 3PH, then your choice should be HST. If you mow with a rotary cutter or belly mower and do lots of maneuvering around obstacles or forward/back work, then the HST is still the choice in my opinion.

 

[bigbull338]

both HST an gear have their good points an bad points.if your doing loader work with a clutch your gonna kill your leg.HST doing loader work is a breeze.an its not hard on your leg.i have yet to really use the cruise control much.because im not doing work where i can.main thing is people can feel safe an comfy about driving them.yes HSTs will stall out if you have them in to high of a range.but that is something tobe learned.

 

[abeal]

When I bought mine last spring I was thinking the exact same thing. I wanted a gear B2320. I was looking around at dealers but I just could not find one close by. I don't know what it is but I just like the manual transmissions...my 2 year old pickup is a manual...and to think of it I've never had an auto. Every other tractor I had ever used was manual, I guess except for a couple riding mowers.

I eventually ended up letting the dealers talk me into a hydro model which has been great. I still kind of wish I got the manual but when working with the loader I'm glad I have the HST. It all comes down to personnal preference.