HST vs Manual trans

[tcreeley]

I have a TC30 gear and I like it I have spread a lot of gravel, cleared a lot of snow, tilled, bushed hogged, harrowed, etc. I have live PTO {two stage clutch)- makes using the PTO pleasant,
I scoop up gravel in low and switch to medium to transport it without needing to shift gears. I like the hydrostatic on my ztr. I rented a hydro backhoe tractor. I didn't care for it- had the wrong feel to it. - I like just sitting there going around the field, just steering! I'll stick with gear.

 

[Rmart30]

Love my L4600 with HST for loader and mowing work.... The only time id like to have a gear tractor is on fall planting days at the hunt club where I may disk for 8+ hrs straight. The HST gets a little warm then.

 

[paulfun9]

I have both and prefer the shuttle.

 

[RoyJackson]

Boy, I thought the HST vs. gear debate was over about a decade ago!

IMHO, the reverser transmissions are the best of both worlds. Very easy to change direction (with the Power-Reverser on John Deeres, no clutching is required) and less horse power loss then an HST.

 

[ericm979]

I like just sitting there going around the field, just steering! I'll stick with gear.

Many HSTs have "cruise control" that holds the HST in position so you can take your foot off the pedal.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

AND how about the difference to OWN a hystat vs a gear drive tractor???

It must be "at least" 3 times more costly just to change ALL the oils in a hystat! AND that's every time you do it!

SR

 

[ericm979]

I don't know about other tractors but on Branson 20 and 25 series the HST and manual hold about the same amount of transmission fluid. The manual uses 9 gallons, the HST 9.8. This fluid is also the hydraulic fluid so perhaps the hydraulic systems' reserviour requirements superceed the transmission's. Or they want the fluid at a certain level (even the HST has a bunch of gears inside that need lubrication) and the transmission cases are about the same size.

 

[k0ua]

AND how about the difference to OWN a hystat vs a gear drive tractor???

It must be "at least" 3 times more costly just to change ALL the oils in a hystat! AND that's every time you do it!

SR

Hi Rob, My manual calls for the same oil and the same schedule HST vs the gear models. There is one more filter though.

 

[k0ua]

You know, I compare this debate to the ones I had with my dad when he was alive. He thought that the automatic transmission in a truck was an invention of the devil. He would never own one and he went to his grave not owning one. Of course try to find a light truck now with a standard transmission. They exist, but they are few and far between. He also hated power steering, power brakes, and air conditioning. He "knew" that those things broke down every 10,000 miles or so, and wanted nothing to do with them. I on the other hand, thought they all were good inventions and had their place.

I also think hydrostatic transmission are the most popular transmission choice in scuts and CUTS, and I also think if you have to ask which is best, there is only one answer for you.

If you are experienced, and know which transmission choice you want, then that is the answer for you.

 

[k0ua]

I don't know about other tractors but on Branson 20 and 25 series the HST and manual hold about the same amount of transmission fluid. The manual uses 9 gallons, the HST 9.8. This fluid is also the hydraulic fluid so perhaps the hydraulic systems' reserviour requirements superceed the transmission's. Or they want the fluid at a certain level (even the HST has a bunch of gears inside that need lubrication) and the transmission cases are about the same size.

Yep, all tractors are about like that... Same hydraulic fluid hydro or gear, about the same quantities and the same schedule. But all hydro machines will have an extra filter of some type. But some people "know" they cost 3 times as much to service and operate!

 

[Steppenwolfe]

About 25 hours on my b2320 with the hst... and I'm not feeling the love here. I have called my dealer twice about trading it in, and each time he talks me out of it, and give it another few hours. This weekend, going up a hill, I stopped to go from med to low, thought I had it, pushed the forward pedal and started rolling backwards... of course the break isn't on the right... it's on the left, by the time I got it stopped I had rolled 20ft. Lucky me I kept it under control. Yes, I know... operator error. But it never would have happened on one my other tractors. Just say'n...

 

[k0ua]

About 25 hours on my b2320 with the hst... and I'm not feeling the love here. I have called my dealer twice about trading it in, and each time he talks me out of it, and give it another few hours. This weekend, going up a hill, I stopped to go from med to low, thought I had it, pushed the forward pedal and started rolling backwards... of course the break isn't on the right... it's on the left, by the time I got it stopped I had rolled 20ft. Lucky me I kept it under control. Yes, I know... operator error. But it never would have happened on one my other tractors. Just say'n...

Just a little friendly reminder. swapping ranges on a tractor on a hill is not something you really want to do if you don't have to. You know all of this already, but just for someone new reading this, you always want to evaluate any big hill you are going to climb and get the tractor in the proper range before you attack the hill. If you don't do that, and you bog down and have to stop. The very first thing you need to do before you take it out of a range is stomp the brake hard, then swap the range. If you have to slip the brakes a bit to get the gears lined up, then do so, but hold the tractor with the brakes before you try to take off. The brakes on the left side is a VERY good thing. An ideal setup, So you can hold the brakes with left foot and get on the hydro pedal with the right foot. But again, don't do this unless you have to.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Just a little friendly reminder. swapping ranges on a tractor on a hill is not something you really want to do if you don't have to. You know all of this already, but just for someone new reading this, you always want to evaluate any big hill you are going to climb and get the tractor in the proper range before you attack the hill. If you don't do that, and you bog down and have to stop. The very first thing you need to do before you take it out of a range is stomp the brake hard, then swap the range. If you have to slip the brakes a bit to get the gears lined up, then do so, but hold the tractor with the brakes before you try to take off. The brakes on the left side is a VERY good thing. An ideal setup, So you can hold the brakes with left foot and get on the hydro pedal with the right foot. But again, don't do this unless you have to.

Geez... NOW YOU TELL ME...

 

[k0ua]

Geez... NOW YOU TELL ME...

Hey, better late than never..

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Yep, all tractors are about like that... Same hydraulic fluid hydro or gear, about the same quantities and the same schedule. But all hydro machines will have an extra filter of some type. But some people "know" they cost 3 times as much to service and operate!

My hydro's use a lot more expensive fluids and then there's the filter cost... They also use more fluid...

AND no matter what kind of fluid I buy, I still have to listen to that d** whine!

SR

 

[TomSeller]

I have most kinds. If I had only loader work or any close tolerance work I prefer the HST. If I have most anything else I prefer a power shuttle. The engine is not maxed out and it feels much more responsive to what I am wanting it to do. If I had to only have one it would be the power shuttle. But what ever you get you don't want to rely on a foot clutch gear style unless you are mowing, raking, tending, etc. then it is fine.

 

[ericm979]

by the time I got it stopped I had rolled 20ft.

When I change ranges on a hill or shift from neutral to a range after running the chipper, I operate the HST a little with the brakes on to see if I really got it in gear.

When I had my Kubota B7100 with right side brakes and was in a situation like that I would hold the brake down with the ball of my foot and operate the HST forward pedal with my heel. Takes a bit of practice but I got to where I could start off up a steep hill with no rollback, and could do the is it in gear check without rolling. Not all right side brake machines have the pedals close enough to allow operating both at once.

 

[newbury]

I've both -
HST on my B7610 (23HP)
Gear on my M4700 (50HP)

I REALLY like the gear on the M4700, because I'm pretty sure I never could have bought a tractor of that size and power with HST for the $11.5K I paid. I would have preferred an HST, but all those cost many thousand more or lacked critical to me features like a FEL or 4WD.

Most of my use is creeping around the forest building trails, hauling stuff around, running a chipper, running a bush hog, tilling so I can put up with the "left leg syndrome". It was a tradeoff I put up with.

 

[Mace Canute]

You guys that complain about the whine of a HST should operate a Cockshutt 30 for a bit! :d

 

[paulfun9]

You know, I compare this debate to the ones I had with my dad when he was alive. He thought that the automatic transmission in a truck was an invention of the devil. He would never own one and he went to his grave not owning one. Of course try to find a light truck now with a standard transmission. They exist, but they are few and far between. He also hated power steering, power brakes, and air conditioning. He "knew" that those things broke down every 10,000 miles or so, and wanted nothing to do with them. I on the other hand, thought they all were good inventions and had their place.

I also think hydrostatic transmission are the most popular transmission choice in scuts and CUTS, and I also think if you have to ask which is best, there is only one answer for you.

If you are experienced, and know which transmission choice you want, then that is the answer for you.

I have to agree with your dad on the transmission I always have hated the automatic trans in a truck and every year no matter how hard they try to build one I like they still cant build one I want to own. Power brakes, power steering, 4 wheel disks compared to the old days I will take. Just get rid of the drive by wire and the auto tranny and I would be happy.
I still own some very old cars that don't have power brakes, over the years for safety I have added updated dual reservoir master cylinders but honestly cant say that I ever had a problem getting them cars to a stop no matter the situation. A truck and the weights we are pulling is however a different story. Power steering is nice and anyone who has ever driven a old car and honestly remembers how much turning in tight spaces could be required, would appreciate the ease of it compared. I must however point out that we did get along just fine without it and for the most part it kept the bad drivers off the road but today we build cars that they can barely drive and they just go get in our way. Maybe we should regress just a little and get the rubbish out from behind the wheel!