Plowing/size/HST??

[louky]

New to the forum!

Iam considering making the plunge on a package deal before the end of the year. I have 2 plots about 2 miles apart I will be maintaining, with a total of 12 acres, about half cleared. I am also doing some gardening on one of the plots requiring some amount of plowing and disking each year.

I am currently doing this plowing and disking with a very tired Ford 8n, a ferguson 2-14 plow and a medium weight 5 foot disc.

I am looking at the L3301 and L3901 packages. My question is whether these tractors will do this plowing, which I think will never be over 1 acre (mostly plowing once in the fall and disking in the spring).

My other question is whether I could successfully do this with an HST of these models. I understand that mostly geared tractors are used for this type work, but the HST might be more conducive to FEL work and mowing.

The other consideration is the 2 miles of road time I would be spending 2-4 times per month.

If the HST won't pull plow and the geared model will, my decision will be easier!

Any input on other sizes or models would be appreciated.

 

[The_Al]

FWIW I have an L3540 HST and bottom plow without issue.

New to the forum!

Iam considering making the plunge on a package deal before the end of the year. I have 2 plots about 2 miles apart I will be maintaining, with a total of 12 acres, about half cleared. I am also doing some gardening on one of the plots requiring some amount of plowing and disking each year.

I am currently doing this plowing and disking with a very tired Ford 8n, a ferguson 2-14 plow and a medium weight 5 foot disc.

I am looking at the L3301 and L3901 packages. My question is whether these tractors will do this plowing, which I think will never be over 1 acre (mostly plowing once in the fall and disking in the spring).

My other question is whether I could successfully do this with an HST of these models. I understand that mostly geared tractors are used for this type work, but the HST might be more conducive to FEL work and mowing.

The other consideration is the 2 miles of road time I would be spending 2-4 times per month.

If the HST won't pull plow and the geared model will, my decision will be easier!

Any input on other sizes or models would be appreciated.

 

[85Hokie]

New to the forum!

Iam considering making the plunge on a package deal before the end of the year. I have 2 plots about 2 miles apart I will be maintaining, with a total of 12 acres, about half cleared. I am also doing some gardening on one of the plots requiring some amount of plowing and disking each year.

I am currently doing this plowing and disking with a very tired Ford 8n, a ferguson 2-14 plow and a medium weight 5 foot disc.

I am looking at the L3301 and L3901 packages. My question is whether these tractors will do this plowing, which I think will never be over 1 acre (mostly plowing once in the fall and disking in the spring).

My other question is whether I could successfully do this with an HST of these models. I understand that mostly geared tractors are used for this type work, but the HST might be more conducive to FEL work and mowing.

The other consideration is the 2 miles of road time I would be spending 2-4 times per month.

If the HST won't pull plow and the geared model will, my decision will be easier!

Any input on other sizes or models would be appreciated.

Think of it this way, HST is fluid driven - there is a small loss power via the fluid spinning via the pump and then pushing the tractor. Straight has a little more power to the wheels. However if you are needing to slow down and speed up over and over , the HST is the way to go. HST will cost more over the long run in fluid changes.......the gear will need a clutch every now and again. You are right with mowing and front end work. If I had to choose .....HST all the way, having changed gears for a while - I like that pedal!

 

[CaveCreekRay]

Louky,

In the late 80's I worked for Southwest Airlines.

Kubota made them a super deal on Kubota tractors with HSTs to use as baggage tugs. What a torture test! These poor tractors would be hitched to a couple full baggage carts and then floored (HST pedal that is, at full throttle) until the rear tires spun. Instead of using the decent braking capability of the engine and tranny, the rampers would mash on full reverse at the very last second from full speed, again spinning the tires backward to stop a microsecond faster. They just abused these poor little tractors to death.

And I NEVER heard of an HST failure. Ever. That is why I went HST and I don't regret it one bit. As others has said, its all the "other stuff" you do with a tractor that makes the HST pedal so handy. And having my wife eager to jump on the tractor when I need her to handle the FEL for me when it comes time to move something big, that to me is priceless. Nothing against the manual drive. My best friend has one and loves it. I have had both and would never go back.

Forget the two mile drive! It will do it and smile but your kidneys will be killing you! Full speed is rough with no suspension. My advice, get a used tandem trailer to haul it. I borrow my friend's "tipper" trailer and its easy and quick to get the tractor on and off. The high camber on the front wheels of the tractor will wear down tires quickly on hard surfaces when cornering. You can try it for a few trips but I am betting you'll end up with a trailer. You'll be glad you have one to haul it around anyway come service time!

I am running a L3800 with wet rear wheels.

Have fun choosing and let us know what you get and how it works. Welcome to Orange Country!!!

 

[louky]

Thanks to all for the prompt replies. It looks like this forum is populated with positive, helpful folks and I'm sure to be asking more newbie questions.

The_Al: I looked your tractor up and it seems like it may be beefier than the 3901 according to weight and lift? What size plow are you using?

85Hokie: I see the tradeoff you are talking about, and one way I'm looking at this is that I can probably do the fluid changes myself but not a clutch change.

CaveCreekRay: Good news about the robustness of the HST. Since I am a beginner at a lot of this, my big concern is that there was some physical reason that the HST wouldn't be capable of pulling a double plow. The point about your wife being comfortable driving this is what started all this, as my SO is lobbying hard for the HST!

 

[Burt]

New to the forum!

Iam considering making the plunge on a package deal before the end of the year. I have 2 plots about 2 miles apart I will be maintaining, with a total of 12 acres, about half cleared. I am also doing some gardening on one of the plots requiring some amount of plowing and disking each year.

I am currently doing this plowing and disking with a very tired Ford 8n, a ferguson 2-14 plow and a medium weight 5 foot disc.

I am looking at the L3301 and L3901 packages. My question is whether these tractors will do this plowing, which I think will never be over 1 acre (mostly plowing once in the fall and disking in the spring).

My other question is whether I could successfully do this with an HST of these models. I understand that mostly geared tractors are used for this type work, but the HST might be more conducive to FEL work and mowing.

The other consideration is the 2 miles of road time I would be spending 2-4 times per month.

If the HST won't pull plow and the geared model will, my decision will be easier!

Any input on other sizes or models would be appreciated.

Louky,

Tripple ditto what Cave Creek said. HST is much safer and easier to use. I didn't know the tug story and that was enlightening, thank you.

Besides, when you think about transmissions, look at automobiles and trucks switching mostly from shifts to automatics. Reason: It's easier and less costly to produce the same thing. Gearshifts are now special order. HST is now a constant in mowers, tugs, tractors and construction equipment. Yes, you can still get a new gear driven special order.

Read some of the snow removal comparisons with HST vs. Gear on this site.

I know this debate will always go on and I was an old gear guy who grew up with them. However, I do believe that with new information and performance, any reasonable person will make a new decision. After all, I had a Cushman scooter when younger. It was fun to watch the stuff fall off of it, quit, force me to adjust. Just like my old Ford 2N tractor, all hands, feet and brain constantly involved plus the tipover danger. Now I have a ROP, HST and can operate the FEL while moving forgetting about clutch and other stuff. My wife can easily operate our HST tractor safely and I have full confidence in her driving it. If she drove the 2N, I was always concerned. Once you let that clutch out on that 2N, it would keep going if you panicked and forgot about it. The HST will stop when you let off the pedal.

Ditto the rough ride on the highway too! I've gone to some nearby neighbors on the road and I just go slow and wave at folks.


Burt

 

[D2Cat]

The other consideration is the 2 miles of road time I would be spending 2-4 times per month.

Two miles one way at 15 MPH equals 8 minutes! I don't think most could back up their truck, hook up the trailer, load the tractor (and secure) in 8 minutes. Seems like a non-issue to me. Go slower, take 10 minutes each way.