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Which is better for tractor transmissions, hydrostatic or gear drive

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KURT (mi)

03-06-2003 03:30:41




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Give me some opinions, I had about 12" of snow yesterday and had to have my neighbor come over with his Case skid steer loader to clear my driveway.




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KURT (mi)

03-07-2003 02:49:05




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 Re: which is better for tractor transmissions, hydrostatic or gear drive in reply to KURT (mi), 03-06-2003 03:30:41  
I have a Bolens with a 12hp engine, tire chains and weights with a 42" rugged blade. It works good for snow under 6-7" deep but after my neighbor scooped me out with his skid steer loader I have 3 foot high banks of snow all the way down my 900' driveway. I almost need a small dozer, or a very large snowblower to widen the driveway. Oh well, I dont have 12K bucks to spend on a big JD tractor. Thanks for the input guys.

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Robert in W. Mi

03-07-2003 11:52:51




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 Re: Re: which is better for tractor transmissions, hydrostatic or gear drive in reply to KURT (mi), 03-07-2003 02:49:05  
Why not buy a snow blower for your Bolens?? I just blew out tons and tons of deep snow with a Bolens a couple days ago. I just kept chipping away at it untill i got it all out. I thought it worked pretty good, Robert



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Bill

03-07-2003 04:08:04




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 Re: Re: which is better for tractor transmissions, hydrostatic or gear drive in reply to KURT (mi), 03-07-2003 02:49:05  
If you don't want to spend a lot of money go buy yourself an old Gravely walk behind tractor, 10 hp or more with a blower to use when you can't push it with your little tractor.



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Jonathan

03-06-2003 18:09:33




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 Re: which is better for tractor transmissions, hydrostatic or gear drive in reply to KURT (mi), 03-06-2003 03:30:41  
I favor gear drives for durability, but there are advantages to hydro too. I'd say in your case your problably looking at getting a small tractor, possibly a compact to push alitte snow and possibly mow the lawn with, right?, if thats what your looking for then a hydro would be fine for that. Like others have already said, hydro tractors are a bad choice for heavy pulling.
good luck!



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Ray

03-06-2003 11:17:47




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 Re: which is better for tractor transmissions, hydrostatic or gear drive in reply to KURT (mi), 03-06-2003 03:30:41  
Everything will be hydro in a few years,like the
gas engines that dissapeared about 20 or so years
ago,or the stick trannys in cars or pickups.



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Ben in KY

03-06-2003 18:07:46




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 Re: Re: which is better for tractor transmissions, hydrostatic or gear drive in reply to Ray, 03-06-2003 11:17:47  
Yes I fear you are right. I can fix manual transmissions, I have to pay someone quite a bit of money to fix my Automobile automatic transmission and hydrostatic drive.

On a hydro, a cheap O-ring can cause the tranny to come to a halt. diagnosis...O-ring = $5.25, Labor and re-assembly gaskets = $800.00. The o-ring replacement required disassembly of most of the hydro drive unit.

Keep in mind this was on a lawn tractor. Add dollars for real tractors.

I agree, Hydro's are more fun and easier to drive. You pay for the comforts later when the )-ring goes bad.

Just my opinion, but I think tractors should be kept simple and solid, for reliability and durability and less costly repairs.

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Larry

03-06-2003 09:37:26




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 Re: which is better for tractor transmissions, hydrostatic or gear drive in reply to KURT (mi), 03-06-2003 03:30:41  
All the tractor companies and some car companies are coming out with CVT's (continuously variable trans) now too. They are a hydrostat in parallel with a standard trans. You can stop one and put all the torque through the other side or use a combination of both. Gives infinite speed over much greater range than hydro alone, plus they can provide a gear ratio to let the tractor run near peak torque engine speed (better economy) no matter what load ... field speed changes to fit. Ahhh, the benefits and complexity of computer control. Personally, I always liked the way the 560's diesel would groan as you try restart at aorund 1000 rpm with a sunk plow! Hydrostat whine just doesn't give you the same rush.

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S. Bartlett

03-06-2003 09:04:22




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 Re: which is better for tractor transmissions, hydrostatic or gear drive in reply to KURT (mi), 03-06-2003 03:30:41  
Of the hydrostatic drive tractors I have tried I didn't any of them. But I think they have their place.



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Red Dave

03-06-2003 07:16:22




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 Re: which is better for tractor transmissions, hydrostatic or gear drive in reply to KURT (mi), 03-06-2003 03:30:41  
Hydrostatic drive tractors give an infinitly variable speed, no shifting, forward/reverse with a lever. Great for anything that needs a very slow creeper speed too.
Bigger tractors with hydro were available too, but they didn't hold up in heavy tillage use, like plowing. They tended to overheat and self destruct. Very expensive to fix when they broke. In lighter duty they hold up though, I have a 36 year old Cub Cadet Hydrostatic that still works great. Skid-steer loaders are a perfect application of hydrostatics.

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Big Jim

03-06-2003 11:31:40




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 Re: Re: which is better for tractor transmissions, hydrostatic or gear drive in reply to Red Dave, 03-06-2003 07:16:22  
I found the same to be true. Hydro tractors are real handy, especially for PTO and loader work because you have infinite speeds. They are less than favorable for tillage work, they lose a lot of power on the drawbar. Sometimes they will overheat when worked hard in the summer. They can cost $$$$ to repair when they break down. Myself, I think the older tractors with plain old gearshift transmissions are more reliable than all that fancy bell and whistles stuff.

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Mike

07-10-2003 09:27:33




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 Re: Re: Re: which is better for tractor transmissi in reply to Big Jim, 03-06-2003 11:31:40  
Hi. I have an old cub cadet lawn tractor that a creeper and a manual transmission.Need a clutch job on it now.My question is just what is a creeper unit?The control lever has 2 position Hi and low.



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Tom

03-06-2003 05:36:46




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 Re: which is better for tractor transmissions, hydrostatic or gear drive in reply to KURT (mi), 03-06-2003 03:30:41  
Agree with what F-14 says. For a small utility tractor, such as the boomer tractors, a hydrostatic transmission is a must. You can manuver much better and control direction, speed, power, with just your foot. And, it is "infinitely variable". For larger tractors for plowing and such, it is better to have a standard transmission, and for occasional loader work, such as hay handling, it helps to have a shuttle shift lever on the standard transmission.

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Salmoneye

03-06-2003 05:14:33




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 Re: which is better for tractor transmissions, hydrostatic or gear drive in reply to KURT (mi), 03-06-2003 03:30:41  
Hydrostat also shine when you need an 'exact' speed, like for rototilling etc...

Never 'needed' one yet though...



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F14 - Depends

03-06-2003 04:01:18




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 Re: which is better for tractor transmissions, hydrostatic or gear drive in reply to KURT (mi), 03-06-2003 03:30:41  
On your primary use. Hydro's are FANTASTIC for loader work or anything that requires frequent changes of direction, or work where ground speed changes frequently like baling hay.

Gears are more rugged, more efficient (less power loss) and (usually) cheaper to buy and repair.



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PAQ

03-06-2003 13:23:02




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 Re: Re: which is better for tractor transmissions, hydrostatic or gear drive in reply to F14 - Depends, 03-06-2003 04:01:18  
I have a small backhoe with a hydrostatic drive. The manufacturer put in a 35hp drive and the tractor has a 25hp motor. A little overbuilt is a good thing I think. So far I like it but the only thing that I have moved with it is snow. Lots and Lots of Snow, like the stuff that is falling outside now.



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