Dirt Moving What's the hype with HST?

[Ducati07]

The four wheel and three wheel drives would lift up as well. Especially, the three wheel drive triplex machines!

 

[Fallon]

I love the HST on my L3200. With HST, brakes are almost useless. I use turning & parking brakes, but letting off the HST handles all my operational braking. It will creep in mid-range on a slope, but not on low range.

Braking action off the HST is aggressive, but not violent or unpleasant at all. I'm looking forward to the adjustability of HST+ on a Grand some day, but satisfied with what I have now.

I've heard HST is about 15% less efficient than gear. For me on a utility machine it is so worth it.

 

[TripleR]

To answer your question..yes, I believe that I can stop safer and faster with a break than with HST. I may stall, but I won't flip, roll or crash. However, like I said...that's with golf course equipment and not a tractor. The problem with GC equipment is, the drive motors are on the front so when you slow down fast...the back end comes off the ground and you steer with the back end!

I think they are just too different to compare them both.

Agreed

 

[Looking4new]

My first tractor was a crash box. My second one is HST and I won't go back to the CB. NOPE, not me.

 

[murphy1244]

I have a Gear tractor for Bush hogging. and a HST for BH and loader

 

[CalG]

The HST does make going down hill a LOT more sensitive.

For "flat Landers", that may be a non-issue, but for those in hill country, engine braking with a shuttle shift is a very useful and comfortable set up. Even for loader work

The crash box is OK in a straight line going forward, but takes some planning for any other condition. And that clutch leg....compain...complain ;-)

 

[s219]

I'd only want a gear tractor if mowing or row farming was the priority. For almost everything else, HST is so much better. As mentioned, front loader work is one example, or doing forklift work, or lots of landscape grading. Basically, any operation that requires a lot of forward/reverse or a fine touch will be a lot easier with HST.

I occasionally run our family's geared Deere for loader work, and it's a real chore. I am so much more productive when using my Kubota with HST.

 

[avc8130]

I have owned both machines in question, and I even had both of them at my house for 3 months.

I can say initially I didn't like the HST of the L45 as much as I liked the GST on the L39. By the time I sold the L39 its operation was second nature. I NEVER used the clutch unless I was operating in really tight areas. Otherwise, the shuttle lever was all you needed. The GST had a definite advantage traveling. It had more gears and you could tell less drivetrain loss so it powered up the hills better than the L45 does.

Beyond that...I'll take the HST ANY DAY OF THE WEEK after owning the L45 for a full year now.

The HST + on the Kubota has some really nice features. Worried about that jarring stop when you return to neutral pedal? There's a dial for that. The dial adjusts the sharpness of response. I actually find myself using the dial often. Instead of a shuttle lever, there is a lever that "splits" the range. Excellent when the going gets tough. You touch down and there is significantly more power without having to stop and change range. The auto throttle is excellent. It turns the HST pedal into a real accelerator pedal. This is great for transport. Did we mention the "Crawl" feature from the backhoe seat? Digging a trench with the GST is a gymnastic exercise.

I find the HST invaluable when using pallet forks. The precision is excellent. Working in the snow or slippery conditions the HST is king. Dial down the response and you can really manage available traction well.

I thoroughly enjoyed operating my L39. There was something to the orchestra conducting you had to do to operate that machine well that I really enjoyed. On lookers were always impressed with the motions.

The L45 is enjoyable, and less stressful. It's also much simpler if the wife needs to use it or you need a buddy to run over and get the machine. Everyone understands "push and go".

The best advice is to go play with them firsthand. About the only advantage of the L39 is the price. Personally, I'm glad I made the swap to the L45. It is WORTH the extra cash.

ac

PS Be careful whose advice you read and heed. The Kubota GST is a very unique monster. Not a lot of guys have true firsthand experience with it. The GST has significant differences compared to most "gear" machines. These differences really aid in productivity. The step from traditional gear to GST is probably as significant as the step from GST to HST.

 

[Tollster]

There has been occasions where I have done many hours of loader work with my gear/shuttle shift.
My leg never tired. The clutch is very easy/light to push.
If I were doing 8 to 10 hours loader work on a constant, regular basis a tractor is the wrong machine for the job anyway., I would want a skid steer or small loader.

Most people don't have the luxury of having a broad selection of loaders or bobcats, so they tend to foresee what would benefit them if they had to do this or that. So with that said, they almost always go with HST, because its quicker in many if not all cases. There will always be those who prefer a clutch, but I have personally never met one after they tried a HST.. Perhaps a clutch is best for you?

 

[kuboman]

I have 2 kubota tractors now, I have had 6 altogether, I have 2 kubota front mount mowers, I had 3 JD front mount mowers and not one of them would act like the OP has described. They all came to a controlled stop with no problems and they were all hst. The OP's must have had adjustment issues.