Comparison Shuttle shift or hydrostat?? Is the extra costs worth it in a 50hp-ish cab tractor for pto power (brush hogging)

[bc1]

All I know is I spent an extra 10 grand on my JD 4052R to get a cab. A/C, heat, radio, etc. I'm not spending my older years out in the blowing dirt, grass, or snow whether mowing for hours or pushing snow. I get on clean enough to go to meeting and get off clean enough to go to meeting or wherever.

I wanted around 50 hp. I don't mow at wide open throttle. Usually mowing around 470 to 500 rpm. It has a variable speed pedal for forward and one for reverse. Also has a lever for 3 ranges, A, B, and C with A being low and C being road gear. Usually mow in B and pushing with the loader in A. Have a 6 foot rototiller for the garden in low range. I use the tiller just deep enough to cut weeds and mow/till the corral in B range. Have a place or two in the pasture with heavy weeds where I till them instead of mowing.

10 grand is worth it when thinking about mowing in the blowing dirt into my 70s and hopefully 80s. The younger generations won't do it without a cab. Not one I know drives a convertible car down country roads either which is no different.

All the large operation farmers I know won't spend all day in the field without a cab and neither will their young hired help.

Wife mows the buffalo and fescue grass farmyard with a 54" cub cadet ZTR. Mows it with the hst in half the time of a tractor style mower. But she has to wear goggles and ear plugs and looks like a brown bear when done so into the shower she goes. I bush hog the rest and I'm ready to head to the restaurant when done.

This doesn't answer the question but my 2 cents worth.

 

[jccndakota]

Wondering what people’s thoughts are on this. A friend of mine has been trying to figure this question out due to the additional expense ($8k).

Wondering what people’s thoughts are on this. A friend of mine has been trying to figure this question out due to the additional expense ($8k).

I chose the "PowrReverser" option we bought a new 5075E with 7 foot mower. Our pasture is hilly with trees. I can't imagine going back to mowing it or working the 3/4 mile gravel driveway now with one of our other tractors. With all the stopping and reversing, moving the lever to change direction is a dream. I haven't mowed with one of the older tractors in 7 years.

 

[ericm979]

I also wouldn't want to have to have the engine running wide open all the time when trying to do close quarter loader work that HST requires.

I don't need to run the engine at full rpm to operate my HST Branson.

I find that it's the loader response that determines what rpm I run the engine at when doing loader work, and not the transmission. If I'm not using the loader and working in tight quaters I can let the tractor idle. The linked pedal and throttle will raise the rpms gradually if I push the pedal very far.

I sometimes mow in E-pto gear where 540 rpm on the PTO is 1700 rpm on the engine instead of the usual 2400 rpm. Other than being slower the HST works fine.

 

[ning]

I don't need to run the engine at full rpm to operate my HST Branson.

I find that it's the loader response that determines what rpm I run the engine at when doing loader work, and not the transmission. If I'm not using the loader and working in tight quaters I can let the tractor idle. The linked pedal and throttle will raise the rpms gradually if I push the pedal very far.

I sometimes mow in E-pto gear where 540 rpm on the PTO is 1700 rpm on the engine instead of the usual 2400 rpm. Other than being slower the HST works fine.

Same; I only run wide-open if I'm hogging tough stuff or using the tiller. Lightweight mowing is usually in E, usually do loader & backhoe around 1800 else everything's too slow.

I don't think this has anything to do with HST actually, idk what he's talking about, unless he's thinking that moving the tractor requires full throttle? I only go full throttle going up a steep hill fast.

 

[Walter L]

I’ve had both and shuttle is my favorite I now have an auto shuttle and don’t like it as much as a regular shuttle in time maybe I will get used to it?
I bush hog plow fields haul dirt just work around the farm.

 

[sandman2234]

52hp HST here. I mow odd shaped parcels where I sometimes use reverse to back into a corner or reverse direction... A gear shift would be a PIA

Scootr, M7040 with shuttle shift means I can be going full bore one direction, flip the lever and be going full bore in reverse without touching a gear shifter or the clutch. Works at any speed, any gear, just flip it and you are going the opposite direction at the same speed, instantaneously!
David from jax

 

[Anakist]

I have one of each and prefer the HST. But I have a bush block with logs and stones everywhere that we haven't cleaned up yet. With the HST the speed is immediately adjustable based on what has just happened at the front wheels. If I hit a tree or rock I can stop, lift the slasher, crawl over, drop the slasher, reverse back to the obstacle, and continue very easily. Or if I hit a thicker patch of grass I can just slow the travel speed until I'm through it.

 

[marinohh5]

I have 48.3Hp on my TYM and I do just fine with what I do which is logging, brush cutting and snow removal etc.

Nox Vidmate VLC​