Hydrostatic vs shuttle shift

[BlueKnife]

The big difference is something I didn't expect, it's that the hydrostat makes me look forward to using the tractor because it is just that much easier on my old body.

Seems that, in general, all of this is largely a matter of personal preference. I'm curious about the mechanics of this one though? What about a shuttle shift is harder on the body that an HST? You're just flipping a lever back and forth with your hand rather than moving your foot forward or back.......

 

[bdhsfz6]

Seems that, in general, all of this is largely a matter of personal preference. I'm curious about the mechanics of this one though? What about a shuttle shift is harder on the body that an HST? You're just flipping a lever back and forth with your hand rather than moving your foot forward or back.......

I don't see any real difference in effort, but I do find it convenient to use my foot to shift direction. This leaves my hands free to steer while using the FEL jotstick.

 

[BlueKnife]

I don't see any real difference in effort, but I do find it convenient to use my foot to shift direction. This leaves my hands free to steer while using the FEL jotstick.

Probably mostly just getting used to it I suppose. I don't find myself needing to move the loader joystick at the same instant that I'm shifting from going forward to reverse very often. I'm used to running wheel loaders though. Shuttle shift is standard on those.

 

[rScotty]

Seems that, in general, all of this is largely a matter of personal preference. I'm curious about the mechanics of this one though? What about a shuttle shift is harder on the body that an HST? You're just flipping a lever back and forth with your hand.

Yes, the HST makiing chore work easier surprised me too. But thinking about it, when you flip that lever back and forth to shuttle all you do is change the direction. But after shuttleing we still often end using clutch and brake - which means legs and knees - especially for chores where we ease into or away from the work. And if I have to stand up to get a better view, I've still got to sit down to work the clutch and brake...sometimes getting up and down several times.

The HST can make more accurate small movements than a shuttle and clutch, and I can do them while standing up once.

For all that HST eases the chore and loader work, if I was doing real farm work plowing, working, cutting, mowing, haying, or whatever on fields all day every day, I'd still prefer power shift and shuttle.
But that is work for a younger man. I wish I was, but am not. So......it's HST. I'm just glad that the HST turned out to be so much better than I expected.
rScotty

 

[bearthebruce]

We have both an HST and a shuttle shift. At 70 with bad knees, I thought HST would be the cat's meow.

As this property is in the mountains and on hills... I find I am constantly having issues with the HST... flat is great.. hills, well, let's just say I am still learning. And yep, I make the mistake of pressing the pedal more to climb the hill... cause on the shuttle shift, if I need more giddy up, you mash the throttle. On the HST you need to take your foot off to change the power... Undoing years of shuttle shift.. is not coming easy to this old bear.

Seems to me both work.. and it is preference. Buy the one you like. Both gitter dun.

 

[Jaygyver]

What you can do is also rent for the weekend the size that you are looking at and seeing if it meets your expectations as far as your usage, hills, mowing, etc.

I have noticed every once in a while I'll see some of the brand models upgrading to a tranny cooler so I think they finally figured out they should have done it in the first place.
It only takes around an hour or two to mow my small field and even when cleaning up all the trees, limbs, rounds, etc, I had felled the last year or two earlier in 90 plus heat I never once had any idea how hot the tranny got. No lights so must be ok.

I'm of the "less young" age now and drove truck for way too long so I had a choice of the HYDro on the LS and chose that. I've had my little manual JD-770 for 28 years now so it took a bit to get used to the hydrostatic tranny. I kept reaching for the gear shift. The wife would rather use the LS but feels better driving the smaller 770. I still kinda go back and forth on if I were to do it again which way I would go and still can't make up my mind. They each have their pros and cons.
I'm not impressed with the high range on the LS when going thru the rolling hills to the lake on our shared road but then I only do it a couple times a year so it's a moot point for me.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I bought a HST FOR mowing!

Cruise control also was a requirement!

52 HP, 3 ranges I hardly ever use the pedals!

Never had gotten hot mowing the 14 acres pulling the 90" mower ...

 

[big bubba]

Seems that, in general, all of this is largely a matter of personal preference. I'm curious about the mechanics of this one though? What about a shuttle shift is harder on the body that an HST? You're just flipping a lever back and forth with your hand rather than moving your foot forward or back.......

not all "shuttle shifts" are created equal, at least on Kubota. on K, a shuttle shift involves clutch depression as you move the lever back & forward, no gear shift.
hydraulic shuttle requires no clutch depression, just back & forth on the lever. it makes a big difference.
it varies per make of tractor

OP: a quick spin around the dealers lot is a poor simulation of field conditions. somehow a shiny new tractor will quickly reduce in size once delivered on site.
"wish i had gone..." is an afterthought i see often. and it has happened to me till i finally got the beast i needed for the place. regards

 

[dieselscout80]

Seems that, in general, all of this is largely a matter of personal preference. I'm curious about the mechanics of this one though? What about a shuttle shift is harder on the body that an HST? You're just flipping a lever back and forth with your hand rather than moving your foot forward or back.......

On a hydraulic shuttle no difference, but on a synchronized shuttle you have to depress the clutch pedal.

My hay guy got rid of his Kubota M7040 with a synchronized shuttle due it making his left knee sore when he was stacking 30 acres of hay. He traded on a larger Kubota with the hydraulic shuttle.

 

[kenmac]

My large tractor is shuttle. my smaller tractor is hydro. I'll take the hydro over shuttle any day. My shuttle has cruse which is a must bush hogging to keep from having to push the hydro pedal all the time

 

[jyoutz]

I use my MX6000 HST to mow for hours at a time and never had any transmission overheating issues.

 

[Wobblin-Goblin]

I strongly recommend a test drive and seat time to make your decision. Not all hydrostats are made equal and some are weak and gutless and undesirable as a work machine and on hills.

This is true. Not sure why, but hydro is different from one manufacturer to another. MF is lousy, TYM is decent. Mahindra is lousy, JD is good.

I had a MF 1540 Powershuttle and it was an excellent tractor and transmission. Had to sell it in '09 after the economy crashed. Bought another MF in '13 (1643) with Hydro and it sucked ass. Got rid of it in '21 and bought a MF 4707 with Powershuttle.

Much happier with a shuttle shift.

 

[Canuckz]

If you have a Yanmar dealer in your area or close to I would recommend you trying out the YT series with the I-HMT transmission before you make any purchasing decisions. It is just a pure joy to use.

 

[Jrasband]

Mowing is so much easier with the HST now, I can slow down for thick sections without compromising cutter speeds. I'll never go back to shuttle shift for mowing.

If you have the power there is no need to slow down.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

If you have the power there is no need to slow down.

Maybe so, but why run a 100 HP tractor around a field, when 60 will work for 95% of it?

Also handy to slow down for corners or rough spots ...

 

[jccndakota]

For hydrostats with an oil cooler, it's important to clean the filter screen regularly. Many owners clean the radiator filter but don't know about the oil cooler.

I bought and enjoyed a shuttle shift 38hp tractor 19 yrs ago, but I'm 78 and thinking I'd like to end my days with a new tractor. Most now seem to be hydrostatic. I just talked with my brother-in-law who has both transmissions and he recommended staying with shuttle shift. I do some mowing and he says his hydrostatic gets way too hot when mowing. He likes it when doing dirt work and moving hay, etc. but not for something where you'll be driving it steady for a long time. It seems the dealers around here are mostly pushing hydrostatic. What's your experience?

I bought a new JD 5075E without cab for my 65th birthday. With bad knees and shoulders, I decided to try the hydro static. Now I don't want to use the other two tractors. No problems with overheating any part of the tractor, even mowing a big pasture with 7 foot mower in 95 degree temperatures. Great for driveway work and everything else I have tried to do with it.

 

[flyingace43]

I bought and enjoyed a shuttle shift 38hp tractor 19 yrs ago, but I'm 78 and thinking I'd like to end my days with a new tractor. Most now seem to be hydrostatic. I just talked with my brother-in-law who has both transmissions and he recommended staying with shuttle shift. I do some mowing and he says his hydrostatic gets way too hot when mowing. He likes it when doing dirt work and moving hay, etc. but not for something where you'll be driving it steady for a long time. It seems the dealers around here are mostly pushing hydrostatic. What's your experience?

If you have a Yanmar dealer nearby look at the YT347/YT359 with the IHMT transmission is the best of both worlds very easy to use and with auto throttle and cruise control it is great for mowing and brush hogging. Also just one of the nicest tractors available with the cab or open station. Good luck on your search.

 

[scootr]

Seems that, in general, all of this is largely a matter of personal preference. I'm curious about the mechanics of this one though? What about a shuttle shift is harder on the body that an HST? You're just flipping a lever back and forth with your hand rather than moving your foot forward or back.......

Until you want to change speed, then you are selecting another gear which may or may not be right for the mower speed in 30 ft. I've used both a lot. HST is to shuttle shift what an automatic is to a manual transmission in your truck...it's just easier to operate.
Shuttle shift just pertains to the forward reverse movement of the tractor. A shuttle shift tractor has gears, 4 speeds is common/ you select a gear and drive with the forward and reverse pedals. The problem mowing is that topping out in 1st gear will give the 540 rpm needed at the 3 pt but if you need to go faster 2nd gear will net far fewer PTO rpms until you get to the max speed for that gear and so on. A HST will maintain a constant PTO rpm at infinite ground speed.

 

[big bubba]

if you're up there in years with questionable knees, before choosing a "shuttle shift" on any model, be sure you can handle clutch depression if required for directional change.

hyd shuttle with gears (on larger Kubota utility models) has been a perfect match for me through the years. I'll be selling my place soon and will miss that machine, tho glad my knees are still good
OP: let us know which way you go

 

[scootr]

if you're up there in years with questionable knees, before choosing a "shuttle shift" on any model, be sure you can handle clutch depression if required for directional change.

hyd shuttle with gears (on larger Kubota utility models) has been a perfect match for me through the years. I'll be selling my place soon and will miss that machine, tho glad my knees are still good
OP: let us know which way you go

I will NEVER go back to shuttle shift. I learned on shuttle shift. Operated for pay and owned shuttle shifts for 20 yrs.... People that say they prefer shuttle shift load trucks all day or never mowed with a HST.