l4600 hst vs gear

[Buckgnarly]

It's all preference IMHO......Gear is just fine for all my loader work and snowblowing, which makes up most of my tractor use. I choose gear and stand by gear with the minority simply because I like gear. If you like gear, get gear...it does just fine. Two stage clutch and lots of forward and reverse gears is a must though, especially for snow blowing!

I also bought this tractor knowing it was the only tractor I will ever buy and I would rather do a clutch job IF it ever wears out. No way Fixing hydro is cheaper:2cents:

 

[vulcancowboy]

I just purchased my first CUT with HST (L3400) after years of using gear drive tractors. Some observations: as others have said, the HST is great for FEL work, I was concerned that it would not be as good as a gear drive for mowing fields where there was little need for maneuvering and forward/reverse changes. This has proved to be a non-issue, so far, I have not even used the cruise control. My only "complaint" is that the HST is noisier than my gear drive tractors have been. I have heard that using newer, synthetic hydro fluid may help this.

Overall, no regrets.

 

[TripleR]

For all of you HST users, when doing loader work do you always have to keep your rpms up, even if just travelling?

No, I have HST+ with auto-throttle which is being offered on more makes and models every year.

 

[Citydude]

Your Maserati vs Toyota is great for a business example. If the job required speed as a primary factor then a smart business man would buy the Maserati. Well, not a Maserati but a more reliable fast car.:laughing: Over the years I've bought some things to save money and ended up regretting it because often times the additional cost has been a time saver, which to me has always been worth something as well as more maintenance free, more durable for longer life and sometimes safer for me to have a longer life. I have to fight myself to pay the extra dollars on most purchases but in the long run quality counts and convenience is becoming more valuable to me.

I agree and you make perfect sense however initial startup monies dictated my decision. After the mowing season, I will asses the time verses money and convenience items you talked about. Even though I'm retired and don't have to make a living with my adventure, time is money and trading up to a Maserati might be called for. :thumbsup:

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I have a Kubota mx 5100 gear driven with a shuttle shift. This is a real tractor like you are used to. I absolutely love this tractor. No big deal on the loader work, and the tractor works like a rented mule. I hate an hst. I just don't get the hype.

 

[k0ua]

I have a Kubota mx 5100 gear driven with a shuttle shift. This is a real tractor like you are used to. I absolutely love this tractor. No big deal on the loader work, and the tractor works like a rented mule. I hate an hst. I just don't get the hype.

It is not hype. It is fact. Hydro has some major advantages for many types of work. Notice I did not say all.

 

[Fallon]

Often when traveling I will start off at lower RPMs & just mash the go pedal all the way while in mid range. Bump the throttle lever until i'm at the right speed. Makes for decent ghetto almost cruise control when not doing PTO work.

Quite often you can just leave the RPMs under 2k pretty easy. Even at low RPMs you can get full torque with just a smidge of go pedal, thanks to the infinitely variable transmission aspect of a HST. You just don't go that fast & will stall it if you give it too much go pedal.

 

[ENC]

Ultimately it is up to you, but for my uses in the woods and yard. Loader work (all kinds) some hay feeding not making and brush hogging. I would not be happy with a geared tractor. I love my HST. If I were in a more agricultural setting growing crops or making hay I would probably prefer a geared tractor. But I would want it bigger than my L4600 also.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
I also bought this tractor knowing it was the only tractor I will ever buy and I would rather do a clutch job IF it ever wears out. No way Fixing hydro is cheaper:2cents:

Does anyone have some numbers of what it would cost to "fix" an HST? The only number I saw for "fixing" my M4700 was about $800 or $900 if I need a clutch replaced by a dealer. Looking at "splitting tractors" here and elsewhere it seems that with the proper cranes and jacks (which I have) it's a doable DIY project. Bigger than my 78 Olds Cutlass was, but still doable.

 

[Ted Summey]

I've used both and prefer the geared tractor over HST. This is mainly because we use our tractors for farm operations including hay making, row crops, barn cleaning, feeding, manure spreading, and general chores etc.

Based on my mechanical skills and abilities, HST is not user repairable whereas a geared transmission and clutch are at least for me. Your mileage may vary.

 

[bjon79]

Hi
I have a kioti CK20 and need a used 4 ft brush hog from some place close to Scranton, PA. The kicker is, though it may be ugly looking it needs to be fully functional and with drive shaft, etc.
John (bjon79@Live.com)

 

[HEC]

I have the m5700 with the hydraulic shuttle shift and just love it , no whine ,you can use whatever rpm that fits the job your doing , wet clutch system which will probably out last me and hydro's too. All that being said , I now have a b2650 which only comes in hst and now getting use to it also , I don't like the idea of wearing ear protection inside the cab due to noise but I sure will love a heated cab this winter blowing snow . The dealer rep was at the dealership when I bought the M5700 and when I told him I would be useing a 3 bottom plow he said " only go with a gear ", which I did with creeper gears for snow blowing . No regrets with either

 

[walker450]

I vote HST with no hesitation. My experience includes running equipment big and small on a 3000+ acre farm.

 

[TexasBoy]

I've used both and prefer the geared tractor over HST. This is mainly because we use our tractors for farm operations including hay making, row crops, barn cleaning, feeding, manure spreading, and general chores etc.

Based on my mechanical skills and abilities, HST is not user repairable whereas a geared transmission and clutch are at least for me. Your mileage may vary.

Same here, I prefer gear machines. Would not want a HST even if it was cheaper. But some folks love 'em, viva la difference.

 

[MHarryE]

Rethink your statement on better reliability from gear tractors, especially when you say loader work. Lots of heavier duty transmissions going to partial hydro today for better performance and improved reliability under high load speed changes. Lots of people will tell you they like gear transmissions because they are used to working on them. If they are so much more reliable why are they working on them? Me too - in the old days at my father's International dealership I was very adept at ripping the transmission apart because so many of them shelled out.

 

[Fallon]

In a gear, you have a wet or dry clutch requiring splitting the tractor to replace. In a HST you have hydraulic fluid performing the same basic function. Hydraulic fluid is a fair bit easier to change.

 

[skyhook]

If I were to buy new, ( upwards of 40 horsepower ) I would by a sync shuttle shift with clutch.
I personally think the trannys are stronger. Keep in mind, you don't need to use the clutch
for shifting.
Definitely try them both out, remember, on a hst, you need the revs up to pump that fluid,
under a heavy load,,
not so on a clutch type system, well, at least not on mine.

 

[Buckgnarly]

In a gear, you have a wet or dry clutch requiring splitting the tractor to replace. In a HST you have hydraulic fluid performing the same basic function. Hydraulic fluid is a fair bit easier to change.

That's not even a fair comparison, the fluid is not a hard part, and a hydro has plenty of hard parts to fail.

When I mention easier to work on, it is. Splitting a tractor is hardly removing a transaxle from a modern FWD car, it's WAY easier to work on than that. You still have to tear apart a tractor to RR a hydro, which is what you would be doing. I could do all labor on a clutch job, a hydro would consist of installing a rebuilt unit at the very least. I am assuming rebuilding a hydro isn't going to happen in a home shop!

I am not saying either is more reliable, just gear is much more DIY friendly to do a FULL repair.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I would never buy a tractor and the deciding factor be which one can I do the "major" repair work on myself in my garage but that's just me. I do believe I'm in the majority though and I believe that's in the 98 to 99 percentile.
I bought a new Chevy truck a few years ago and the "cheapest" thing on the lot was a gear drive. I sold it a year or so later and it was a horrible experience. I eventually almost gave it to my niece because no one wanted a gear drive pick up, I was totally shocked and surprised. I've owned over 160 cars and trucks in my life which means I've done a lot of selling and trading so not totally inexperienced in this field.
Most people prefer the HST, no doubt or denial to that statement. Some say they prefer gear drive but a small minority. Most say an HST performs "better" for them and I'm one of those folks. Some say a gear drive performs "better" and I can't see how a gear drive could ever perform "better" than an HST unless it's that "whine" some mention.
You "few" that prefer gear keep buying them because they are cheaper to make so the company will always make them for the few sales but the majority of buyers/sales are and will always be HST and it's for a reason not just a fluke.
PS I'm referring to the BX, B and L model tractor series' because that is from where the original post originates. I'm not talking about the hugh farm tractors that a few own that feed America and most of the rest of the World "God Bless the Farmers of America" and I'm not one of them but do appreciate them.

 

[Ted Summey]

I have a 50+ year old Farmall with a gear transmission. My father in law used it for its first 25 or so years. In 30 years that I've had it, it required one clutch. I'd say that's pretty reliable for a tractor was used to plant and cultivate 10 acres of corn and as many acres of tobacco, it pulled hay wagons manure spreaders and cultivated gardens. We have a 1972 Massey Ferguson that has needed one clutch in the same 30 years. Again, pretty reliable for a tractor that turned land for the tobacco and corn, pulled the tobacco setter and the corn picker, pulled a hay tedder and rake, pulled manure spreaders and pulled many wagons of corn and hay. Both are still used often on this farm.

I am in no way saying HST is inferior to geared tractors. For my purposes, geared tractors have served us well with what I consider to be a high level of reliability. Transmissions and clutches are not abused but are worked.

All four of our geared tractors are being used to make hay by my brother in law right now. Somewhere in the range of 1500 square bales will be in the barn in the next couple days.

It is simply a matter of preference. What y'all prefer is just that, I'm glad you HST guys like them. That's a good thing! I selected the geared MX5100 and my BIL selected his M5700 based on the years of reliable geared tractor use on our farm. I like them! That's a good thing too!