HST vs. Gear

Trail_Time · Jan 19, 2006

I think its been said several times.

HST will likely cost a LITTLE more for regular maintenance, but not worth factoring into your decision.

If you are considering which to buy from a reliabilty standpoint, you can't go wrong with either.

Buy based on what you want to do with the tractor not how much it might cost if it breaks. There are some things that one is often better than the other. Ask you dealer to demo both. Get what YOU like and need based on YOUR intended use. An experienced operator will get the job done on either one. Its a personal preference, much like the color of the ride.

Soundguy · Jan 19, 2006

( Buy based on what you want to do with the tractor not how much it might cost if it breaks )

Hmm.. for those of us that are not rich.. we DO have to figure in repair/replacement cost if it brakes.. when we purchase.

Realistically.. if machine A and machine B will both do the same work.. and machine A will cost.. 2500 for a shelled tranny.. and machine B will cost 5000 for a shelled tranny.. then yes... that is a factor when buying. It is not the only factor.. nor is it the most important... but it is a concern.

Kind of like printers and ink cartridges. do you get the printer that takes the 20$ cartridges.. or the one that takes the 34$ cartridges? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Soundguy

Trail_Time · Jan 19, 2006

Yes, but the key word is IF it breaks. I personally would not make a decesion based on something that might never happen, when the choice would affect your everyday use. My point was that most of the modern trannies are very reliable and a selection based on use makes more sense than how much it would cost to replace after catastrophic failure if one ever occurs.

Printers. I get the one that is faster... forget the price. But I do hate to change cartridges... so maybe the one that lasts longer. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Lets start a new thread ink vs laser. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Soundguy · Jan 19, 2006

I'd be more interested in hearing the make/model/condition of that 25hp gas tractor you have thrown around in your comparisons. So far.. this will be my 3rd time asking.

If you won't reveal the details of the source of the data.. how do you expect to cite it as evidence? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Soundguy

Trail_Time · Jan 20, 2006

I think you have me confused with someone else on that one. BTW - I never stated my choice on gear vs HST.

Dmace · Jan 20, 2006

Soundguy, why don't you mention the clutches on your gear tractors. If the clutch goes once a year (which is not far-fetched), than the HST becomes more reasonable. If your going to throw around variables and if's than don't be biased towards HST.

Without any solid evidence or track record of maintence cost, how can make such accusations ?

Why buy a printer with a $20 cartridge, when you can buy one that doesn't need replacement at all ? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

JerryG · Jan 20, 2006

If the clutch goes once a year (which is not far-fetched) 
Once a year. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
How funny.

riptides · Jan 20, 2006

( Kind of like printers and ink cartridges. do you get the printer that takes the 20$ cartridges.. or the one that takes the 34$ cartridges? )

Hah! That is about as loaded a question as I have ever heard. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

You buy the cartridge based on color and volume of ink, thus factoring price.

Then you must carefully hope the vendor has not slipped some EOL chip into the cartridge, which will make your purchase irrelevant if you can only use it based on time to live.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy · Jan 20, 2006

( I think you have me confused with someone else on that one. BTW - I never stated my choice on gear vs HST. )

/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Sorry.. my bad.. that reply wasn't even meant for this thread /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif guess I shouldn't try to read email while working!!!

Sorry about that.

Soundguy

Soundguy · Jan 20, 2006

( Soundguy, why don't you mention the clutches on your gear tractors. If the clutch goes once a year (which is not far-fetched), )

First.. I've gotta ask.. is this meant as a joke? I've got tractors from the 50's with original clutches. I helped my stepfather change the pto clutch on his 1979 jd 2240 after a worker of his damaged the pto shaft.. the drivetrain clutch looked almost new... didn't touch it...

How about this.. "I once knew a guy that had to change a clutch..." /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Soundguy

cowboydoc · Jan 20, 2006

Soundguy, why don't you mention the clutches on your gear tractors. If the clutch goes once a year (which is not far-fetched), 

NOT far fetched!!! That has got to be the joke of decade. Seriously. Most tractors have thousands of hours before they ever have the clutch touched. These new clutches will probably outlive the motor even if you do abuse them. You will probably need to replace the clutch about as often as you replace the hydro transmission which for 99% of the people on this forum who never do alot of ag work will be never. ONCE A YEAR. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BillyP · Jan 20, 2006

All I can say is, this is another long thread...,

Dmace · Jan 20, 2006

Apparently, no one caught the sarcasm. Did I not put enough winking smilies in there or should I put "SARCASM" at the top of the reply. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

tposts · Jan 21, 2006

You will probably need to replace the clutch about as often as you replace the hydro transmission which for 99% of the people on this forum who never do alot of ag work will be never. 

I agree and even if you do a lot of ag work you will probably not have to replace the clutch or the hydro, either one will get the job done and last and last and hold up well. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

daTeacha · Jan 22, 2006

Ah, but there are folks out there who don't use a clutch properly, riding the pedal, sliding the clutch plates against each other instead of picking the right gear/throttle positions. Someone who uses a tractor clutch as a speed control device could wear one out fairly soon, say 10 years or less! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Big_Cajun · Jan 22, 2006

Wow...intense thread! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

All good points....Until I can evaluate an HST, I'll always side with a clutch.

BC

daTeacha · Jan 23, 2006

Aside from the brake issue, one of the things that kind of sways me from a hydro is the amount of pressure you need to constantly apply to the pedal to keep the tractor moving. JD has the Ehydro and Kubota has something of their to reduce fatigue. I know about cruise control, but the way I use a tractor makes cruise basically useless -- I don't mow, I don't do much field work, nothing with long stretches of constant speed moving.

How about some comments/opinions regarding the pressure to go forwards and/or backwards at varying speeds with loads front or rear on hilly ground? My right calf is already noticably bigger than the left one from many years of car driving. Would an HST exacerbate the problem?

Trail_Time · Jan 23, 2006

My opinion is yes, it does take significant pedal pressure to move the tractor. It is not as much of an issue to keep it down say in field mowing, as it is to go back and forth from fwd to rev as in snow removal. I always had the pedal pump after a long day in the snow. I will say that years ago when I tried several HST tractors I found quite a bit of pedal pressure difference in the brands.

Try several out. If you are serious about buying, get your dealer to demo them at your place. That way you'll know what you like. Both gear and HST have their own advantages. Just match one with your liking and intended use.

HST Pros:
1) ease of use
2)precision (very easy to control fwd & rev movement in the smallest increments)
3) PTO implement speed remains constant, even when you vary tractor movement.
4) increased resale value

HST CONs:
1) cost more to purchace
2) cost slightly more to maintain
3) pedal pressure
4) loss of power to ground and PTO

One big advantage to HST in my opinion is the ability to reverse and use the HST as a brake on steep hills. I have put fence post in with precision on hills with HST that I would not have been comfortable or able in a gear tractor.

Gear Pros:
1) more power to ground and PTO
2) costs less
3) less fatiguing for anything that requires long continuous movement (field mowing)
4) usually a lower "granny" ratio for increased pulling

Gear Cons:
1) more complicated to operate
2) lower resale value
3) PTO speed matches fwd/gear speed (can also be a plus)

I'm sure there are other pros and cons...but these just came to mind first.

tposts · Jan 23, 2006

Trail Time,
Thats a good unbiased post. Well said and documented.

755inNY · Jan 23, 2006

Good post Trail Time. I only have 2 rebuttals.

Resale value. You pay more for an HST so the resale value should be higher. You pay less for a gear so the resale value should be lower. I don't think that is an advantage or disadvantage for either. However, depending entirely on the preferences in your area, the gear or HST might sell faster.

As far as pedal pressure, I have not found it to be excessive but I have only used 2 HST tractors so my experience is limited.

Jeff