Gear Drive Transmission VS HST

[Eric McCarthy]

Hodge ole buddy ole pal there is a considerable height difference between us. And me being 6ft4 and having a size 13 hoof its hard for me to work the HST pedal on alot of equipment. Working sideways in the seat my legs are plenty long enough to reach the clutch and break with no problem. Actually when I do it on my little B6100 I end up wearing a hole in my knee because it hits the steering wheel when I'm twisted in the seat.

Other more reasons why I'm trying to sell it and find something bigger. COMFORT!

 

[hodge]

Eric, if I had a zillion dollars, I'd buy you a shiney, sparkling new HST Kubota. I'd deliver it to you (with My dodge, to rub things in), park it in your yard, and you could either grow to love an HST, or just look at it admiringly.
Knowing you, you'd trade it in on a gear drive.

 

[WFM]

Eric 'despises' HST...wow that's almost like 'hates' it.....

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Mark you'd be wasting alot of money, fuel and time trying to give me a free HST. And your right I'd sell it or trade it in on a gear tranny in the blink of an eye. Nothing personal just business. I'd really rather have a shuttle shift but thats a pipe dream too.

For me a HST tranny wore me out and would give me a nasty cramp in thigh with my leg hiked up ontop of the pedal. I guess if I raised the seat I could solve that problem, but then a new one arrises that with a taller seat my head it just level with a roll bar.

I'm not claiming to be a giant cause there are dudes taller then me but I just cant get comfortable on an HST and I despise them.

 

[Bluegill]

Eric, I completely agree with you and I'm only 5'-10"...

 

[helomech]

I'm my opinion and what works best for me is gear. I've operated a ton of equipment over the years that's HST and I don't like it. Case in point for me when I was truck driving for a living I've used truck mounted forklifts, Piggybacks or Moffits. Both brands are HST drive and when that are racked up with ours are too wobbly for my liking and when you let off the pedal it would creep and bump into the side of the truck, causing me to rip off steps and such.

Sounds like something is wore out, not the fault of hst.

Using a friends John Deere skid steer helping him out with his tree business his skid steer would creep forward unless you set the parking break. For me using a tractor in a landscape business I can't take a "chance" of an HST creeping when I don't want it too if I'm fine grading up close to a house or a structure and I hit something I can't afford to replace.

Than his stuff is broke. Mine will stop and stay there as long as I want. Even on a hill it will sit there if the hill is not too steep.

So for me I despise HST simply for the fact that everything I've ever operated that had an HST transmission was just to wobbly and would not sit still. Yeah I'm gear tranny all the way.

Run a decent one and you will change your mind.

Clutches are bound to be a helluva lot cheaper to replace then a hydraulic pump for a transmission. And with the purchase of a new tractor you get a gear for a few thousand less then a HST.

There are plenty of hst's out there that have no pump issues. Now geared is cheaper,but imo not capable of doing the job of a hst.

 

[helomech]

Gear will put more power to the ground. HST will be easier to use and is more like an automatic trans.

Mine will spin all 4 tires even when loaded down with equipment. Not sure how any more power would help.

 

[helomech]

I'm not sure if I've said this in any of these debates. I don't feel there is anything wrong with HST trans, it's just that I Don't like them and I do not want one.

On a side note. My mom hurt her back using a small Massey Ferguson with HST. The constant strain of pushing the peddle down really messed up her lower back. She is no longer allowed on a tractor. I will say the HST peddle on this Massey is hard to press and puts the right leg/hip/lower back in a very uncomfortable position. Cruse control never worked well either and she didn't like using it.

Maybe if she had of bought a Kubota instead all would be good?

The lever on the side labeled cruise control can be used exactly like a geared tractor. Pushing a clutch in would be much worse than using a hst.

 

[helomech]

Another key point for me, like I was describing to a new member the other day who was saying their back was killing them from twisting in the seat to look at the grading box behind them. I've learend to sit cock-eyed in the seat with my butt cheeks twisted at the bottom so it put less stain on my back when looking behind me. In doing so when I'm involved with a lot of grading and backflling my legs don't end up in a normal position and I doubt I could work the HST pedal being seated that way.

Cruise control, is no different than driving a geared tractor. Except you don't have to mess with a clutch and you can pick any speed you want. That argument holds no water. I bet I can do grading and back filling with a hst faster than anyone can with a geared tractor.

 

[TripleR]

In the end, we like what we like and if we have what we like then that is all that counts. I try not to "convert" experienced operators one way or the other, but for the new owner, they really need to have all the up to date objective information on pros and cons.

 

[helomech]

In the end, we like what we like and if we have what we like then that is all that counts. I try not to "convert" experienced operators one way or the other, but for the new owner, they really need to have all the up to date objective information on pros and cons.

True, and that is fine. I just don't like seeing the myths posted. A hst puts down just as much power, it also has cruise control and can be used like a regular geared tractor, and so on. The only benefit that I can see to a geared tractor is the initial cost. A properly operating HST will not creep forward, or have any weird tendencies. Cruise control can be set for long runs, there is no reason to have to hold down the hst lever unless backing up. Lets just keep facts away from personal opinion. Everyone is entitled to like what they like, lets just not make stuff up.

 

[Bluegill]

Mine will spin all 4 tires even when loaded down with equipment. Not sure how any more power would help.

Needed or not, more power is put to the ground with a geared tractor. Does it matter? Probably not.

The lever on the side labeled cruise control can be used exactly like a geared tractor. Pushing a clutch in would be much worse than using a hst.

The cruise was not user friendly on the Massey my mom was using. The constant leg pressure on the HST lever really messed up her back and that is a 'fact'.. Does it matter? Probably not.

 

[helomech]

Needed or not, more power is put to the ground with a geared tractor. Does it matter? Probably not.



The cruise was not user friendly on the Massey my mom was using. The constant leg pressure on the HST lever really messed up her back and that is a 'fact'.. Does it matter? Probably not.

It isn't putting more power to the ground. Maybe to the tires, but it is such a small number it is irrelevant. My 2wd tractor could put 50hp to the rear tires, but it did not matter, they just spun. My 50hp 4wd hst put the power to the ground in a better and more controllable way. It does not matter how much power you got if you can't use it. The hst has enough power while dragging a road grader to spin all the tires on packed ground. I don't see how any more power would do any good.

My cruise control works great. Just push the lever forward as far as you want, when you hit the breaks it de activates. For all my mowing work, I run with the cruise control, and use it to control my speed. Something you can do with a gear tractor without pushing a clutch, changing gears, or changing the speed of the pto. I can leave my pto at rated speed and pick any speed I want with the push of a lever or a foot pedal.

 

[Bluegill]

It isn't putting more power to the ground. Maybe to the tires, but it is such a small number it is irrelevant. My 2wd tractor could put 50hp to the rear tires, but it did not matter, they just spun. My 50hp 4wd hst put the power to the ground in a better and more controllable way. It does not matter how much power you got if you can't use it. The hst has enough power while dragging a road grader to spin all the tires on packed ground. I don't see how any more power would do any good.

My cruise control works great. Just push the lever forward as far as you want, when you hit the breaks it de activates. For all my mowing work, I run with the cruise control, and use it to control my speed. Something you can do with a gear tractor without pushing a clutch, changing gears, or changing the speed of the pto. I can leave my pto at rated speed and pick any speed I want with the push of a lever or a foot pedal.

I ain't buying a Tractor with HST!

But like I said, it probably doesn't matter...

 

[dmanlyr]

This again?!?

It has already been proven with FACTS that a HST is better, faster and more durable at any task than a geared transmission.

On any size tractor to boot. Those giant loaders at the quarries are NOT manuals, and there is a durability as well as user aspect to why manuals have been banished from even that super heavy service.

But the one thing that might sway one to a manual is personal choice, at least until the bodily wear and tear from shifting and clutching wears one joints out, and it will, then the long term manual transmission user can lay awake at night in pain.

I know, I used to be a manual lover... and I paid for that mistaken belief in bodily harm and damage.

Brothers I am reformed!

David

 

[dmanlyr]

True, and that is fine. I just don't like seeing the myths posted. A hst puts down just as much power, it also has cruise control and can be used like a regular geared tractor, and so on. The only benefit that I can see to a geared tractor is the initial cost. A properly operating HST will not creep forward, or have any weird tendencies. Cruise control can be set for long runs, there is no reason to have to hold down the hst lever unless backing up. Lets just keep facts away from personal opinion. Everyone is entitled to like what they like, lets just not make stuff up.

Absolutely correct! I have been agitating to have this understood for some time on here. You have it right, only personal opinion has any reason to buy a manual, HST's do it ALL better.

David

 

[helomech]

I ain't buying a Tractor with HST!

But like I said, it probably doesn't matter...

LMAO, that is your choice. But for those trying to make a choice based on what is best for them lets actually give real reasons for one over the other. You seem to hate them, even though you can't site a real reason for it. And that is fine, it is your choice. I have pointed out that a hst can do everything a gear tractor can, and adds lots of convenience over a geared tractor. Way more control. I remember fighting with my geared tractor one day while trying to use it to stand up a deer stand. The tires left a small indention in the ground, and when I tried to inch forward it would climb out the indention, but would roll right back into it before I could stand on the brakes. With the hst I can just crawl exactly to the spot I want and let off and the tractor just stays right there. Also when trying to pull falling trees out of my pond with the geared tractor it was always a terrifying experience. Trying to get on the breaks, change gears, and hoping the damn crappy brakes would hold. With the hst I can go right to the waters edge hook on and back right out with no drama. I have owned both geared and hst and I will never buy another geared tractor.

 

[helomech]

This again?!?

It has already been proven with FACTS that a HST is better, faster and more durable at any task than a geared transmission.

On any size tractor to boot. Those giant loaders at the quarries are NOT manuals, and there is a durability as well as user aspect to why manuals have been banished from even that super heavy service.

But the one thing that might sway one to a manual is personal choice, at least until the bodily wear and tear from shifting and clutching wears one joints out, and it will, then the long term manual transmission user can lay awake at night in pain.

I know, I used to be a manual lover... and I paid for that mistaken belief in bodily harm and damage.

Brothers I am reformed!

David

If all I used my tractor for was mowing a large (100 or more acre) field and nothing else, then I would save money and buy a geared tractor, because it will do that job just fine. But for the stuff I do with my tractor hst is the only real choice.

 

[TripleR]

True, and that is fine. I just don't like seeing the myths posted. A hst puts down just as much power, it also has cruise control and can be used like a regular geared tractor, and so on. The only benefit that I can see to a geared tractor is the initial cost. A properly operating HST will not creep forward, or have any weird tendencies. Cruise control can be set for long runs, there is no reason to have to hold down the hst lever unless backing up. Lets just keep facts away from personal opinion. Everyone is entitled to like what they like, lets just not make stuff up.

I don't see anything on which we disagree.

I just spent several hours on my L5740 HSTC which replaced an L5030 HSTC. If I wasn't sold on them, I wouldn't keep buying them.

 

[helomech]

I don't see anything on which we disagree.

I just spent several hours on my L5740 HSTC which replaced an L5030 HSTC. If I wasn't sold on them, I wouldn't keep buying them.

This is my first hst, and hopefully I never have to buy another, but if I do it will be another hst.