Considering a L5030 HSTC

[Youbet]

I have had a HST tractor about 50 hp and didn’t like the HST at all. With the HST you set a constant high RPM and use the HST to control speed. Burns lots of diesel and constantly loud, and hated the HST foot petal.

I have had other tractors along with my current one with gears, clutch, gas petal and lever, and shuttle shift that I much prefer. Don’t have to always carry the high RPMs, but can set at an exact RPM for PTO speed and use gear choice to control tractor speed.


I hate HST even for constant front and back movement, I prefer the shuttle shift.

I will never own a HST tractor again.

I have owned geared tractors with just a clutch, without the shuttle shift that I liked better than a HST tractor.

 

[chim]

I don't know when Kubota began using the HST trans that my L4240 HSTC has. It is by far my favorite after having one small gear tractor and three other HST's. It has three ranges with HI and LO in each. A lever allows HI/LO change on the fly. Nice, for example, if your mowing pattern has an uphill section.

There are different selections with regard to the HST operation. One varies engine speed with throttle pressure (kind of drives like a car with an automatic transmission). Another lets you set RPM (regulates PTO speed for optimum RFM or whatever) and uses the HST pedal to adjust tractor speed. Or, you can go caveman and max the throttle and use the HST pedal like the old days.

The HST is also nice for close quarters work because you can go as slow as you want without riding the clutch. I have a 2" tow ball on the back of the RFM that is handy for moving a small trailer and a tow-behind generator when mowing. If I'm dumping material into a trailer or working mulch close to the house I don't want to fiddle with a clutch.

While it makes more noise than the gear tractor I had, it isn't loud enough to want ear protection. The L3200 I had would win the prize for the loudest (HST whine) tractor. It was OK while wearing a baseball cap, but with a brimmed hat, I used foam ear plugs.

 

[D2Cat]

I don't know when Kubota began using the HST trans that my L4240 HSTC has. It is by far my favorite after having one small gear tractor and three other HST's. It has three ranges with HI and LO in each. A lever allows HI/LO change on the fly. Nice, for example, if your mowing pattern has an uphill section.

There are different selections with regard to the HST operation. One varies engine speed with throttle pressure (kind of drives like a car with an automatic transmission). Another lets you set RPM (regulates PTO speed for optimum RFM or whatever) and uses the HST pedal to adjust tractor speed. Or, you can go caveman and max the throttle and use the HST pedal like the old days.

The HST is also nice for close quarters work because you can go as slow as you want without riding the clutch. I have a 2" tow ball on the back of the RFM that is handy for moving a small trailer and a tow-behind generator when mowing. If I'm dumping material into a trailer or working mulch close to the house I don't want to fiddle with a clutch.

While it makes more noise than the gear tractor I had, it isn't loud enough to want ear protection. The L3200 I had would win the prize for the loudest (HST whine) tractor. It was OK while wearing a baseball cap, but with a brimmed hat, I used foam ear plugs.

I have the same model and the HST is required when using a tool that amplifies what happens at the control valve!

 

[Youbet]

I have the same model and the HST is required when using a tool that amplifies what happens at the control valve!

View attachment 157938

What do you mean that HST is required to regulate what happens at control valve.

I run many implements off my front remotes without issue.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

OP, if you buy it, take a thumb drive to the dealer and ask for Operator Manual and WorkShop Manual downloads.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

I have the same model and the HST is required when using a tool that amplifies what happens at the control valve!

View attachment 157938

@D2Cat, i need that pole saw!

 

[PoTreeBoy]

@D2Cat, i need that pole saw!

 

[chim]

D2Cat - Those tires look nice

 

[D2Cat]

D2Cat - Those tires look nice

Many folk wonder about the effect of grooving tires. I can tell the difference in snow and mud, even on asphalt they have a slight howl How long have you had yours grooved?

 

[D2Cat]

What do you mean that HST is required to regulate what happens at control valve.

I run many implements off my front remotes without issue.

The saw is connected to the remotes on the front, same as used for the grapple. My comment about HST is in relation to the ability to move the tractor in slow, incremental movements to get the saw placed properly.

Clutching, shifting gears to get back and forth in alignment is not something I would mess with.

 

[chim]

I made a bunch of black worms back in January 2019 when the L4240 came home. It really came "home" next door to my BIL's nice barn and he let me park it next to his L4740HSTC till I finished my shed. While it was in there I brought the plow home from the fab shop at work and mounted / plumbed it. Recut the grooves a year or so ago. The outside edges of the fronts were worn down quite a bit. It mostly runs on my yard, but travels paved roads to our church anywhere between 3 and a dozen times per year. I think it's about 3 miles round trip.

Maybe 5 or 6 years before getting the L4240 I did the R4's on the L3200 in my driveway. I've posted about the success of the grooving - ice hill, etc. It really does work! I've done a couple Winters with just the filled rear tires and no counterweight.

 

[Youbet]

The saw is connected to the remotes on the front, same as used for the grapple. My comment about HST is in relation to the ability to move the tractor in slow, incremental movements to get the saw placed properly.

Clutching, shifting gears to get back and forth in alignment is not something I would mess with.

I run a limb / brush cutter, drill, grapple, digger with claw, tree puller and others from my front remotes with my gear shuttle shift trans and it is a non event for slow front and back stuff.
The HST is prob better for that situation, but certainly not required. Gear with no shuttle shift is not good obviously for front and back stuff but shuttle shift is awesome.


HST is not even usually an option for larger working tractors … but it is nice for smaller mowing tractors changing speeds, direction etc and not mowing all day.

Im not trying to diss HST tractors because I’ve had one and worked it hard.

Just giving my opinion on transmissions for the OP because sounds like it might be his first tractor.

 

[Shawn T. W]

Not my first tractor, would be my 2nd ... mines the red one.

I'm not opposed to a gear transmission at all, as a truck driver I'm kinda use to it, but got this new 2026 Kenworth a couple of months ago with a rotten automatic in it!

For my intended use for this tractor, I see no disadvantages of a HST, as long as it has cruise control ... I currently mow with my HST SCUT 90%+ with the cruise control ... Just set the engine RPM to keep the PTO happy, and adjust ground speed with the pedal, then set cruise, sit back and steer!

 

[Youbet]

Not my first tractor, would be my 2nd ... mines the red one.
View attachment 157987

I'm not opposed to a gear transmission at all, as a truck driver I'm kinda use to it, but got this new 2026 Kenworth a couple of months ago with a rotten automatic in it!

For my intended use for this tractor, I see no disadvantages of a HST, as long as it has cruise control ... I currently mow with my HST SCUT 90%+ with the cruise control ... Just set the engine RPM to keep the PTO happy, and adjust ground speed with the pedal, then set cruise, sit back and steer!

I really didn’t know I didn’t like the HST till I got a larger tractor with gear shuttle shift. I would run HST tractor all day and it would run out of diesel before the end of the day, high RPMs to do any work. I usually couldn’t set and keep on cruise control, and didn’t like the foot petal.

I had just gear before HST but missed it soon after the upgrade.

I know some people love their HST and works well for them.

I like the AK idea. I personally carry a 270 with me for yotes …

 

[Shawn T. W]

I would run HST tractor all day and it would run out of diesel before the end of the day, high RPMs to do any work.

I don't understand this ... For PTO work, (which the Kubota will be doing) at least on my little tractor I gotta have the RPM up almost to 2900 RPM to spin the 540 PTO for the brush hog and rototiller I use ... Now when I use my sprayer, it generates too much pressure for my use, so I idle it down to 2100 RPM and the pressure control knob out all the way to get it down to about 40 psi on my nozzles ... I get 7-8 hours on my 6 gallons of diesel ... Tank holds 6.5 gallons or so ...

I usually run it about 2400 - 2500 RPM for loader work, and 3000 for backhoe work ...

The sprayer only needs a little over 1 HP to turn it, so it will pump at an idle, but then I loose ground speed, but my brush hog won't cut at an idle ...

For maximum hydraulic power I gotta crank up the RPM's to 3100, while it's not a lot of gain, on a little ity bitty tractor, I need all it's got at times!

Deadheaded it at 2000 RPM, it dropped to this:

Deadheaded it at 2500 RPM, dropped to this:

Deadheaded it at 3000 RPM, dropped a tiny bit:

So I only gain about 50 psi, but it does make a difference.

 

[Youbet]

I don't understand this ... For PTO work, (which the Kubota will be doing) at least on my little tractor I gotta have the RPM up almost to 2900 RPM to spin the 540 PTO for the brush hog and rototiller I use ... Now when I use my sprayer, it generates too much pressure for my use, so I idle it down to 2100 RPM and the pressure control knob out all the way to get it down to about 40 psi on my nozzles ... I get 7-8 hours on my 6 gallons of diesel ... Tank holds 6.5 gallons or so ...

I usually run it about 2400 - 2500 RPM for loader work, and 3000 for backhoe work ...

View attachment 158003

View attachment 158004

View attachment 158005

The sprayer only needs a little over 1 HP to turn it, so it will pump at an idle, but then I loose ground speed, but my brush hog won't cut at an idle ...

For maximum hydraulic power I gotta crank up the RPM's to 3100, while it's not a lot of gain, on a little ity bitty tractor, I need all it's got at times!

Deadheaded it at 2000 RPM, it dropped to this:
View attachment 158006

Deadheaded it at 2500 RPM, dropped to this:
View attachment 158007

Deadheaded it at 3000 RPM, dropped a tiny bit:
View attachment 158008

So I only gain about 50 psi, but it does make a difference.

I don't understand this ... For PTO work, (which the Kubota will be doing) at least on my little tractor I gotta have the RPM up almost to 2900 RPM to spin the 540 PTO for the brush hog and rototiller I use ... Now when I use my sprayer, it generates too much pressure for my use, so I idle it down to 2100 RPM and the pressure control knob out all the way to get it down to about 40 psi on my nozzles ... I get 7-8 hours on my 6 gallons of diesel ... Tank holds 6.5 gallons or so ...

I usually run it about 2400 - 2500 RPM for loader work, and 3000 for backhoe work ...

View attachment 158003

View attachment 158004

View attachment 158005

The sprayer only needs a little over 1 HP to turn it, so it will pump at an idle, but then I loose ground speed, but my brush hog won't cut at an idle ...

For maximum hydraulic power I gotta crank up the RPM's to 3100, while it's not a lot of gain, on a little ity bitty tractor, I need all it's got at times!

Deadheaded it at 2000 RPM, it dropped to this:
View attachment 158006

Deadheaded it at 2500 RPM, dropped to this:
View attachment 158007

Deadheaded it at 3000 RPM, dropped a tiny bit:
View attachment 158008

So I only gain about 50 psi, but it does make a difference.

My previous Mx5100 would hold about 13 gallons of diesel and I could fill it up in the morning and work till it would be empty and have to add diesel ( I had to take diesel with me to save time). Those RPMs you are running are what I consider “high” but are correct and needed. I’m talking about mowing, raking, plowing, disking, tilling, etc where I needed those high RPMs on HST.

I worked it long and hard but it would not work all day on 1 full tank.

On my gear shuttle shift transmission I can keep engine RPMs about 1550 and run a very large bush hog or tiller at 540 PTO RPMs with the E PTO lever. Along with mowings at much lower PRMs I can do all the other work things where the PTO is not needed like raking, plowing, and disking. I even had to run much higher engine RPMs on the HST to just drive around.

I am running a bigger more HP tractor now with much larger fuel tank so the comparison is not exactly apples to apples, however I do know the geared tractor that I had before the HST with same HP and size would work much longer and stronger on 1 tank because I could keep the engine RPMs much lower. It would go all day.

 

[McMXi]

As an owner/operator of an MX6000 with HST and M6060 with gear drive and hydraulic shuttle, I think the best set up is one that I don't have, i.e. CVT, which is available in the M7 and up as far as I know. For me the ONLY real downside to gear drive is that PTO speed and ground speed are directly related when the transmission is in gear. Most people will find an HST easier to operate requiring less coordination and thought, but that doesn't automatically mean that HST is superior.

As for fuel consumption, there's no question that the M6060 with its bigger 3.3L engine uses less fuel doing the same job as the MX with its smaller 2.4L engine, no question at all. That is almost certainly due to the significant difference in efficiency transmitting engine output through the transmission and out to the wheels or PTO.

 

[Shawn T. W]

Big engines not maxed out saves fuel, gear transmission have less HP loss through them, so engine doesn't work as hard, and "E-PTO's" Are definitely much more efficient ...

The only way to get this model tractor in the "Glide-Shift" 12 speed shuttle transmission is as an open station ...

 

[Youbet]

As an owner/operator of an MX6000 with HST and M6060 with gear drive and hydraulic shuttle, I think the best set up is one that I don't have, i.e. CVT, which is available in the M7 and up as far as I know. For me the ONLY real downside to gear drive is that PTO speed and ground speed are directly related when the transmission is in gear. Most people will find an HST easier to operate requiring less coordination and thought, but that doesn't automatically mean that HST is superior.

As for fuel consumption, there's no question that the M6060 with its bigger 3.3L engine uses less fuel doing the same job as the MX with its smaller 2.4L engine, no question at all. That is almost certainly due to the significant difference in efficiency transmitting engine output through the transmission and out to the wheels or PTO.

Im confused on the downside of geared.
PTO - engine RPM
ground speed - gear

 

[McMXi]

Im confused on the downside of geared.
PTO - engine RPM
ground speed - gear

With an HST your ground speed is independent of PTO rotation speed which is set by engine rpm. But that's not the case for geared drive. With a geared drive, there's a specific engine rpm in each gear that produces 540 rpm at the PTO.