Master The Basics Of Tractor Transmissions: Ignore Neighbor's Bad Advice

[@billnolin9423]

I have had many different 40 to 60 hp tractors all have been gear and shuttle. Six months ago I got my first hydro and can't believe how much I like it, I'll never go back. People need to listen to your advice and they will be happy. Take care

[@_AndromedaGalaxy_]

Im totally on the other side of the fence. My neighbor had a 30hp NH hydro she and I both thought was pretty wimpy. I moved away and bought a 33hp challenger PS and now I'd never go back to hydro. This PS seems like it has better torque or I have better control over it. Either way, I'm in love with it aside from needing more lift capacity.

[@hightail5313]

As one 70 yr/old to George, "It's the number of steps to get on the damn thing that you should consider".

[@stephenperich7116]

Steps on each side is a must.

[@bccdavid1]

Before purchasing my tractor, I found Tractor Mike's KZbin channel, bought his book ("An Insider's Guide to Purchasing a Tractor" - it was worth every penny!) and even communicated by email. He helped me decide on the tractor that fit me best (and yes, it has a hydro transmission). It has now been 4 years. There are a few days I wish I had a bigger tractor (Mike said "get the biggest tractor you can afford"), but 99% of the time, my tractor is perfect for my needs. When I started supporting Mike through Patreon, he emailed me and asked if we could have a personal, Zoom conference meeting. Mike spent even more of his valuable time helping me take next steps in my first time tractor ownership. I'm forever grateful!

[@frederickburns1739]

I'm a retired CAT&CUMMINGS KNUCKLE BUSTER good advice for overall use; the main thing with hydrostatic is preventive maintenance. Repairs can be very EXPENSIVE!!! Oil & filter changes are far CHEAPER!!!

[@williamkirby-wt7su]

It has been my experience that shuttle and hydro transmissions are great for rolling equipment like bucket or wheeled implement work like moving bales, cleaning barns, raking hay, spraying but geared is the best option for implement work that involves breaking/moving dirt like plowing, planting, disking, etc.

[@artillerybuff2000]

Very solid advice. I grew up using an old Ford 8N with a loader and other stuff we pulled to cut and bail hay, etc. Then 40 some odd years go by living in the city with no tractor work, but lots of fork lift experience. So when I got ready to buy a tractor earlier this year for our 15 acre retirement property, I was dead set on getting a gear drive 40hp compact. I ended up with a 50hp hrdro and am so glad that I did. I do tons of FEL work, and a lot of road grading. I added cruise control which is indispensable for the road grading. Overall, I am super happy with what I ended up getting!

[@stevemeister65]

Your advice on buying "as big as you can" is also true for pickup trucks. I've never wished I bought a smaller truck with less HP!

[@redrustyhill2]

Yep! Which is why I think 2500 or 3/4 ton pickups are pointless. If a half ton isnt big enough, get a 1 ton.

[@michaellea6435]

I'm a shuttle guy and I love it my buddy has a hydro that whines that would drive my crazy!!

[@chrispope5147]

I love mine, the whine is real though. As a new tractor owner and an ex car mechanic, I asked the dealer if something was wrong because it sounds like a large power steering pump low on fluid. They said it was normal. When I transport it across town at full speed, hearing protection is necessary.

[@oldbuzzard76]

My mx 6000 does not , unless i'm running at to low of rpm .

[@kdegraa]

The Kubota MX5200 I have does not have a whiny transmission.

[@reload280]

George buy the hydro. 😂 Retired farmer here. Have owned big tractors and small tractors. Now that I’m retired and just have 20 acres to mow, snowplow, pull logs for firewood and do loader work I bought a JD 4066r and couldn’t be happier. Small enough to get around, enough horsepower for everything I need and a hydro transmission for ease of use. Probably my last tractor, it will outlast me.

[@johnhenry8325]

I was a shuttle shift for 20 years , my new tractor is hydro and I love it . Never go back . I agree Mike

[@BarryHull]

Mike, I've got two tractors. I have a New Holland 35 HP manual trans tractor for mowing the pasture, about 15 acres. I could not imagine doing that with a hydro. I also have a Bobcat 40 HP Hydro with a front-end loader. I could not imagine moving dirt going back and forth with a manual. Yeah, I'm spoiled. I have both, and they both fit certain jobs very well.

[@jamesyates5191]

Great advise. I dumped my very used 54hp gear drive New Holland for a 2038R hydro. Most of the what I do is loader work. It’s a dream maneuvering around trees and such.

[@scottlight3688]

I recently purchased a new tractor because we purchased some acreage and I needed a bigger one. I went with another orange one because my 20 year old 27hp orange one has been super reliable and I have a great relationship with the dealer. I debated getting a hydro unit but stuck with a shuttle shift mainly because my older tractor has given me zero problems. One thing the salesman told me about the hydro units is that you have to be careful if you're a landscaper or similar and moving a lot of dirt and gravel. He said that you can burn up the transmission if you move a lot of material with the loader at high speeds for extended periods. Just thought I would pass this along. So far I have really enjoyed my MX5400. The improvements in tractors in the last 20 years are remarkable.

[@dj-nr8nm]

that's a nice machine

[@rpercifieldjr]

I went from a Hydro Drive to a Power Shuttle Shift. From an operational standpoint both worked for me. I drive a manual transmission car, and have always had a manual since I was 16. Thus, shifting is not an issue. I had in my Hydro a lock feature for long passes, etc. My power shuttle shift was of the same brand but 30HP higher. That tractor was very difficult to control the clutch. It was never smooth in engagement, and always lurched and grabbed not matter how I used it. It was a new near zero hour tractor. After an incident it was totaled, and I then went to a 108HP Power Shuttle and is night and day different from the 70HP. The clutch works smoothly, and the valves are a dream to operate. It is not Korean made, but has a much better performance. It is truly a good utility tractor. So after all of that, if you are looking at some of the lower end tractors made in Korea, etc. The hydrostat tractor would probably serve you better than a Power Shuttle. I use my tractor for hay production, and other things around the farm, but its clutch, loader, and hydraulic valve performance make using it very easy, something I could not say for the Korean tractor I had before.

[@lcee6592]

I would imagine most hydrostatic tractors have enough room in the front to add an additional oil cooler or electric fan to help cool the hydraulic oil. An oil cooler needs to be able to flow enough gpm to fully supply the hydraulic needs of the tractor. This would help ensure longer hydro transmission life.

[@lucasdog1]

If there are long hours expected in the seat get a geared tractor. Nothing worse than having to hold the pedal steady all day while mowing. Geared, you can turn in the seat, move your legs around to keep comfortable, even stand up for better vision.

[@johnhelbig7110]

During my 40+ year career in Ford/New Holland and Kubota dealerships, I believe the number of internal hydro problems I’ve seen could be counted on 1 hand. However, I stocked probably 20+ clutch assemblies and it seemed there was always at least one replacement clutch job in our 4 tech service department at all times. Just sayin’!

[@1ltlbrnc]

Hydro all the way! My 77 year old dad borrows my tractor and loves it compared to the standard tractors he used to run. Once again the experts pushing for the standard are speaking on hearsay and not their actual experience with the proper sized tractor for the work needed!

[@oldbuzzard76]

Very well put !

[@BC-yv8ew]

I don’t know if prices have evened out between hydro and manual but when I was buying my tractor a few years ago the hydro version was a lot more expensive than manual. Unless you are doing lots of loading work or have bad knees that prohibit frequent clutch engagement I can’t see a good reason to justify that extra expense. Assuming hydros are still more expensive I think a person should use the money that would be spent on hydro to instead buy a bigger tractor or get useful options (MFWD, possibly a cab) in a manual transmission.

[@woodchuck4562]

Mike, that is good advice. For me, the only hydro tractors I have are lawn mowers! The reason is probably because the most I have ever paid for a tractor is $1750. For the difference in price on 5 acres I think I can live with no cab, no hydro, no AC or heater, not even a radio! But my old Massey Ferguson 35 still does the job! Don't forget the OLD tractors! A 1945 John Deere A will still do the job it was made to do, and is still very practical to own and use. You can't say that about very many machines that was produced 80 years ago!

[@jodyparkercraven]

I feel like anything ground engaging plows disc etc grader a gear drive is the way to go. Most people that have grew up with gear drive prefer it.

[@JonLevine-gz6mh]

Mike (and George)- excellent advice. I have a 39hp hydro (Kubota L3901), 500+ hrs on it over about 5 years. My only regret is that I didn't buy the 47hp, but as I'm 75, maintaining a half dozen acres, mowing, moving firewood and trimmings and brush, loading trucks- lumber, hay, feed, etc...well, so I spend an extra hour or two...Definitely don't buy the shuttle: a lot harder and less convenient to run, and with proper maintainance, the hydro will long outlive us both.

[@jilescochran3912]

I agree. I love my hydro got almost 1000 hrs on it and still going strong.

[@joeydebity5823]

Totally agree with you. Wouldn't trade hydro to shuttle for nothing.

[@jimpalmer1944]

I could not agree more. Never have a clutch if you have an alternative.

[@pitbull113]

Always great info from Mike.

[@dwal2165]

Thanks for making. About a used '89 John Deere 855 25 horse. It is hydrostatic and works wonderfully. I do brush hog a tank of fuel once a month or so still no problems works wonderfully

[@amschind]

I think that this video would benefit from a lengthier "what is YOUR intended use?" segment. As others have pointed out, the proverbial neighbor who works cutting brush in interstate medians all day isn't wrong about the tractor/transmission so much as wrong in assuming that someone with a hobby farm will spend hours at a stretch pulling a heavy implement. I worry that in countering that (false) assumption, Mike went a bit too far in the other direction by assuming that none of his viewers will fall into the "big beefy parts over convenience" camp. I think that dilutes an otherwise excellent point by falling into a similar trap as the original bad advice giver. A slightly longer intro on "figure out which camp you fall into before you make a choice; MOST of you would benefit more from the convenience of hydrostatic, but a few should consider gears." would clarify that point quite a bit. There is also the point that a shuttle shift may not be all that inconvenient for some folks, whereas it may be infuriating for others depending upon experience and use case. Anyhow, I really appreciate all of your videos and have learned a ton from watching your stuff. Thanks!

[@thehawkc]

Watching your videos for 10 years. I still don't have a tractor (maybe some day) . Still great advice. Thanks

[@hoyks1]

I grew up with Massey Fergeson and Ford gear driven tractors, 3 Fwd and Reverse with a hi/lo, its what everyone had where I lived, so when I could afford a tractor, I bought a hydro. No clutch that you have to stand on (although I was a lot lighter back then) and no battling with the gear stick if you don't perfectly time the 2nd to reverse shuffle. I'm only mowing 2 acres and pushing some dirt around on the weekends, not running it 50hrs/week in all weather. A set of filters and 5gal of hyd fluid every couple of years is still probably over servicing it, but I reckon it will out last me.

[@gilesfitzherbert7725]

The UK is years behind the US with regard to automatic transmission in cars as the standard is still manual and yet my '69 Vette came standard with auto. Now that I'm 70 I have finally bought an automatic car and realise I should have done this years ago. No way am I going to buy a manual tractor. When I'm going to have to be looking/concentrating on what I'm doing with the attachment I don't need to be worrying about which gear I should be in.

[@boltactionshooter]

Mike is right. I own 1 old school gear tractor and 2 larger shuttle ship tractors along with a L2501 HST. The HST is always my go to machine for chore work is it with its loader capably. The gear/shuttle tractors win for any field work or heavy lifting.

[@jimpickett3344]

Thanks for your thoughts. Things I didn't realize.

[@cbr600rx7]

This is the difference between residential and commercial users. We run into it all the time in the diesel industry. Excellent advice and for a casual user I agree with the hydro.

[@tominsc9909]

Hydro is great for loader work, and that's about it. If it's a hydro/shuttle shift withthe shifter under the steering wheel, I'd probably rather have that for loader work than a hydro. My gear tractor with a F-N-R lever left of the seat really isn't that bad for loader work. Also, I can buy a new clutch for less than $1,000 and replace it myself. I don't know what all is involved in rebuilding an HST, but looking at the parts diagrams for the hydro version of my tractor it looks like a lot of expensive parts to potentially replace and a lot of hours involved, or $11K for the entire transmission.

[@txhookey5608]

Dusty Texas pastures give a Hydro some issues. Even with a Shuttle, you have to clean the radiator a couple of times a day. That's what I grew up with and it is perfect for most of what we need. I do see the value for smaller lots and loader operations of a Hydro, if you can get used to that whine versus the chug.

[@philipingram1667]

Another reason to have a demo on the customer's land - hydro is easy once it is used about an hour. Good insights - keep up the good work.

[@W1ldt1m]

I’ve owned a 8n for 20 years I recently replaced it with a similarly sized modern hydro and won’t look back. Not only is loader work infinitely easier but snow plowing and even brush hogging. I love just being able to back up at my choice of speed no matter what and when. It’s also great having the exact speed I want to be going from moment to moment going forwards makes everything safer and easier.

[@BarryKramer-vn4wt]

With much research for my 50 acres (14 pasture rest wooded, 1500 foot gravel drive) where we are building a new home, I decided on a hydro MT347 cab LS tractor (47 HP). Box blade, 84 inch hydro plow, post hole digger, brush hog, loader , grapple and pallet forks. Your channel ( and others) have been a great help in my decision. Never had a tractor (other than riding lawn mower) hoping I made the right choices!

[@mikeobenland4395]

I’m implement envious 😀

[@billmorgan6676]

As an MT343 shuttle shift owner, I have to say, you have a sweet rig. LS has a lot of common sense user features that others don't and I really appreciate the thought that went into them. Don't talk to me about the zerk fittings though! Replace those ASAP.

[@TheSnakeman3]

This is great advice. I’ve got a 40 hp Kabota with Hydro and I just love it. My only regret is listening to other people about the size of the brush hog and getting one that is too small and it takes me 5 million passes to cut the fields. That whole 5 hp per foot is a bunch of BS. It depends on what you’re cutting and how often you have to cut it. Yes I have cruise control and I use it all the time.

[@lukehanson5320]

Bought our first tractor a year ago, got about 10 acres to flail-mow even though everyone around here uses a rotary cutter. SO GLAD I went with a hydro as our land is rolling hills and there's no way I'd want to peg the speedo to a fixed value. I'm pretty comfortable with the speeds I take the various slopes but a single ant mound on the uphill side can make you decide to slow down real fast! Thanks for being one of my guiding lights in the 3 years of research before we pulled the trigger on a purchase, keep up the good work.

[@kdegraa]

Hydrostatic transmissions give a much better driving experience on hilly terrain.

[@jimjohnson3244]

Wish I’d of had this video to watch several years ago when buying my new tractor. I bought the shuttle shift instead of the hydro and every time I get on my tractor I wish it was hydro! My life would be so much simpler. Someone said that you lose so much horsepower with the hydro, so I bought into that. Wish I’d of not listened to them. People need to listen to you Mike!

[@larrywelch4979]

Yes hydro is smooth, and if your soccer mom or cleaning turkey houses its great. But 30% loss of hp and not suitable for heavy farm work. Niegbor loaned me his 5800 til mine arrived. Would not pull its self up hill in H 3.

[@wildbill23c]

Like cars, the problem comes down to people love to skip a lot of routine maintenance because it costs them money...sure it costs a little bit, compared to a couple paychecks worth of repairs from a major failure due to not wanting to spend a couple hundred bucks every few years on maintenance. Doesn't matter what brand you buy, they all have their quirks, what matters is the salesman you have and the dealership, and parts availability....in 10-20-30 years can you still get parts? Some brands you are lucky to get parts in the first few years, good luck in a decade or more. My tractor is a hydro but I don't use it all day long every day either. Its nice with a loader to not have to shift gears, yeah, if that was the only option, fine, but there are much easier and quicker ways now LOL.

[@dj-nr8nm]

Hard to beat a hydro for loader work, stump grinding, snowblowing etc.. hard to beat a gear drive for plowing, cultivating, brush hogging etc.. For my budget and needs, I'll probably always have gear drives. I feel like I'm getting more power to the ground and most of the jobs I do involve setting it in gear and going for hours at a time. That said, I'm usually running smaller machines (around 45hp) where my neighbours have big machines (big time farmers), they use the biggest tractors you can imagine and they said they're all hydro nowadays. I think the ones they like are often case, fendt, john deere, new holland, agco etc., but the truth is... They all have orange tractors kicking around (hidden in garages) that they own and don't lease haha.

[@justindavis1546]

I love my hydro transmission. Especially when doing loader work. Mine has curse control so I don't need to worry about keeping my foot on it if I need to mow a field.

[@fondy44]

Your "curse" control autocorrect error made me smile on this otherwise crappy morning. Thanks 🤣

[@justindavis1546]

@@fondy44 I'm going to leave it because it does cut down on my cursing.

[@stephenperich7116]

Yep, its a curse.

[@markriebe6090]

Those tractors are for “ sundown farming .” A dairy or beef operation definitely not . I would take a 50 year old John Deere 4020 over any sized brand new tractor of today s time ,,! They were around 8500 $ brand new and today bring 10-20 thousand. Best tractor ever made !!!

[@scootertasmania6619]

Apprececiate your advice thanks..i live in Australia and will take that on board.

[@davidpennington9125]

You are right one thing I might add to that is you have a lot of people that are 90% sure at least they think that is what they need and then maybe they put 300 hours on a tractor and then we realized I needed to get a much bigger tractor I can't believe I made such a mistake

[@johnhelbig7110]

Mike, you are exactly right. I grew up on gear tractors because that is all there was. In my Ford dealership world, we started selling hydro Ford lawnmowers with the treadle pedal; then the compact tractors added that option and we started selling those. What a nice smooth machine and, like you said, very easy to get used to. Now in my 7th decade, I inherited the family farm and decided my New Holland 1720 wasn’t large enough and bumped up to a used Kubota MX4800. Very easy to drive, love the treadle pedal, love the extra control I feel I have over the tractor when I’m using the grapple. Thanks for another great video! (And I have shared the same frustration within my limited sales consulting career!)

[@billmorgan6676]

I don't really disagree. I have had hydros and now have a 43 horse shuttle shift from LS. I would say the design of the LS addresses a lot of the objections of shuttle shift and I find it super easy to use, particularly since I mow large fields for myself and for others. I do a little tractor service LLC in our County on the side, and find that the combination of shuttle shift, a cab with air conditioning, and 43 horse is a very sweet spot. I did find the downside of a cab when I was hauling across the county and managed to pick up a random rock. When I arrived, I had no windshield! Cardboard now goes a long way, LOL.

[@williamorton7600]

I grew up with 8Ns. My first tractor was a 65 Ford 3000. I now have two red tractors that are gears and shuttle and they work fine. Three things to add: 1-if you have gears, don't have to worry about neighbors trying to borrow it.😂 2-If he really needs to lift a ton, then he needs 3000 lb capacity. I did have a 35Hp hydro for a few years, and it would not lift the 1600 lbs advertised, 3- know how the diesel regenerative fuel filter system works on his target tractor. My red tractors don't have it, but my neighbors orange tractor does. When he gets the light, has to stop work and go through a 20 minute procedure..or go through button pushing exercise for 10 minutes to delay the regeneration. 😡 But I agree with all your advice. 👍

[@mikeobenland4395]

Love my 2638 red! It’s hydro though.

[@MW-bz1qe]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but Orange tractor can continue to work as normal during Regen mode ! I own a 2021 40hp, so I understand how they work.

[@williamorton7600]

@MW-bz1qe his is a 3301 about 2018 model...and it does go into limp mode.

[@joeyw4442]

Excellent advice, Mike. I totally agree with everything you said. One more little piece of advice.........go to the dealership and drive every kind of transmission before you decide. Nothing like personal experience to make up your mind.

[@txtpqb]

I'll stick with my stick and clutch. IMO it is more powerful with the gearing than a hydro.

[@geremychubbuck3730]

Great video, Mike. I decided on a standard over a hydro for my needs which is road grading. Long distances pulling a heavy load. I was worried about burning up a hydro. I have no regrest going with the standard. Also, a standard transmission is the ultimate theft deterrant. Nobody these day can drive stick. 😂 keep up the great work. 👍

[@Kevin-ne3tl]

Right there with you. I have a gear drive L2501, and it does everything I need it to do. Easier to maintain than a hydro as well.

[@kdegraa]

@@Kevin-ne3tlin what way is a manual gearbox easier to maintain? For both manual and hydrostatic are maintained the same way. Drain oil, change filters, fill oil.

[@PGSchroe]

I got my first nh hydro about 5 years ago. Really didn't think I'd like it, but the price was right. I was sure wrong. For what I use it for it's a perfect fit. Now I can't imagine cleaning the corrals with anything else.

[@greghefner3482]

The biggest reason I didn’t buy Hydro was because I don’t like the noise and when I bush my field, I don’t have to do a lot of backing up after I make the first couple rounds. I take go across the middle and split the field in the two sections and then just drive the ends.

[@bradw3313]

Good points and advice….for me, budget didn’t allow for both pieces of advice though. I either could go with getting the bigger more powerful tractor with gear/shuttle OR smaller less powerful with hydro. I opted for bigger frame with 52hp. My thoughts - I don’t use it frequently but when I do the added power and stability in lifting double stacked hay rounds off the trailer was more important than luxury of hydro. Yes, you will be busy using the FEL on the gear drive (clutching, gear changes and shuttle lever). I will say…that while I don’t use frequently, when I do I’m on it all day usually and legs get a workout with gear drive. Wish I had hydro when hooking up to 3pt attachments for sure.

[@critical-thought]

My 50hp is a shuttle. Every time I have to do loader work - which is a LOT more than I thought I would be doing - I wish I had gone hydrostatic. Clutching all day wears me out.

[@deerrudy]

It's the right tool for the right job for the typical homeowner. For most homeowners Hydro is the way to go. Is Mike points out going under trees and backing up when you're Mowing and having that control is just night and day. I've have owned both gear and hydro. When your bush hogging and trying to get around obstacles and clutching all day on a Gear Drive he would wish you had a hydro . If you're mowing 50 flat Acres or tilling then maybe a Gear Drive is your best option.

[@m16ty]

I agree, hydro is hands down better for stuff like loader work and blading a driveway. I also agree that they work ok for bushhogging, if you aren't doing a whole bunch of it. If you plan on pulling any ground engagement tools other than a roto-tiller, you can burn up a hydro in short order. It also should be noted that most gear drive tractors don't go slow enough in 1st gear to pull a roto-tiller effectively. My pricing is probably a little dated (pre-covid), but a hydro rebuild was about 3 times the cost of a clutch replacement. You also loose pulling power with a hydro compared to a gear drive. There is more power loss though the fluid drive of a hydro than there is though direct gear engagement. I just depends on how you are going to use a tractor, hydro is the best for ease of use but it does have its drawbacks if you have even moderate drawbar loads over extended periods. The "cruise control" on a hydro works ok, but it tends to boog down going up hills with it set. I'm told some of the newer models automatically compensate for that and adjust the hydro to maintain current speed, but all the ones I've been on it was just a lock that locked your hydro lever or pedal in a predetermined position. The power shuttle is a good compromise between a hydro and gear drive, if you do a lot of loader work and heavy drawbar loads.

[@mikalrahman7102]

This guy is precise and accurate in his comments- me 25 years hobby farming . Messick video show comparable gear out pulling hydro .

[@m16ty]

@@mikalrahman7102 I'm just a guy that has been using and buying and selling tractors of all major brands and models for 35 years. Never personally owned a hydro, but I have operated several. They have their place but you have to know your limitations. I'm apt to be doing loader work in the morning and pulling a disc or plow that afternoon. Discing and plowing are hydro killers.

[@mikearthur8669]

I’ve owned several tractors over my 65 years starting with an 8n ford. All were geared until I bought a Yanmar 24hp subcompact with hydrostatic with belly mower and FEL. It’s great for the mowing and light loader work. However, you have to keep the transmission cooling coil clean or you’ll burn up the transmission. Even if clean it will get extremely hot if using implements. After a short time mine began to chatter under load with less than 50 hours. I also own a shuffle shift kioti that I’ve put over a thousand hours on and love. I’ve never had any issues. I’ve also never had to replace the clutch in any of my geared tractors. You also lose power for hydrostatic. Search KZbin for video by Messic (not sure of spelling) tractor for a great side by side comparison.

[@mttrapper]

I live rurally. One neighbor had an old ~16 hp Kubota with no loader. Another neighbor bought it even after I told him a tractor without a loader is simply a glorified lawn mover. He figured he'd buy a used loader later even after I told him he was going to go into shock when he saw the price tag which ended up being more than the tractor. Your point about not making tractor buying decisions based on what your friends, etc say is very sound but if your neighbor is someone like yourself, I'd make that exception. I also agree that finding a reliable dealership is key. Whenever I get approached by tractor newbies asking me what they should buy I tell them to not only visit a dealership but to find the right salesperson in that dealership. Then make a prioritized list of what work they expect to use the tractor. I've ended up demoing attachments for my dealership and making demo videos. And yeah, I like my hydro (Kubota L3560) for the same reasons you mentioned but also maneuvering in tight places with attachments in my 20 acre forest.

[@twc9000]

I'm in the same boat as your neighbor. I bought a used tractor with no loader and a loader is going to cost more than paid for the tractor. I'm in no hurry for the loader, so I'm shopping for used ones and at auctions. (Anyone have a Kubota LA1002 loader they want to sell?)

[@helomech1973]

hydro is better in every way, except cost. I can back my hydro tractor to my pond to bushhog and not worry about it rolling in. Also if you ever use a front cutter like a lane shark, the hydro is so much better for going back and forth up and down. Get a hydro with the cruise feature and you won't regret it.

[@amazoniaamazonia7225]

I have a shuttle shift on my 50 hp Lovol and it can be a pain when it’s warmed up when using the loader, a hydro would probably be a better option for George considering his age.

[@jimconnor8274]

Hello Folks. A 76yr old stroke sevior it's a hydro for Me. Most gear drives have their control levers o the left side. Where My left arm can't reach and move them Left foot is slow the react to the clutch. Right side rocker pedal works good. When mowing I use mid range to keep heat down. My son tries to mow in Hirange and regulate speed with pedal.Plowing snow in Hi range He pushed so had it blew out center gasket in tranmission with just just under 4000 hours.

[@BillMinor-km8zo]

My Yanmar YT347 (47hp) shuttle trans can't be beat. In cruise, I can control both engine and forward speed by spinning a dial (which is awesome while bush-hogging), and it has a a/b mode when I'm doing loader work that can be preset and switched by button. I've never touched the clutch.... had it three years. Drove a gear drive JD for 25 years (replaced one clutch after I let a neighbor use it #$%@) - so I really can't speak to a hyrdro. I suspect the only thing it might help me do more easily is grind stumps- the Yanmar has creep mode, but it would def be easier with the hydro control. I wouldn't pretend to be an expert- nor would I try to talk anybody out of anything- that's just my experience. You are def. an expert, Mike- so keep the advice coming!

[@Gordonfan6]

I have a JD 4066 hydro and love it 80-90% of the time. The only time I dont' like it is when I use it for traditional field work type activities like pulling a no-till drill where it pulls hard at a steady speed for an hour or more at a time. In those situations A range is to slow and B range is a little to fast which makes it difficult to maintain proper speed. Overall I do agree that the hydro is better in most situations but context is important.

[@ProductiveRecreation]

This is 100% spot on. Hydro is great for loader work, especially lifting pallets - a lot of clutch feathering as you line up and get the forks under them. Mowing all day or doing ground engaging work, get gear drive. I’ve got a 12x4 unsynchronized gear transmission in my Ford 1700 tractor (which my grandfather bought new in 1982). I like it, but if I bought a new tractor it would be bigger (45hp or so) and there’s a good chance it would be a hydro with cruise control.

[@RobertBrothersJr-dc7nr]

Mike , I agree that for most people hydro is the best choice. I personally prefer a gear drive. At 65 years old I guess I’m set in my ways. I worked at a school system for 40 years and when I replaced our old equipment I always bought hydros. They are definitely people proof. We have never had any issues with them.

[@pyroman6000]

I like how you steered your buddy to a larger frame tractor, when he mentioned lifting pallets weighing up to 2000 lbs. You don't hear that enough! You're not going to get that advice crunching numbers from spec sheets, that's for sure! Lifting heavy, possibly bulky and awkward items weight and mass is your friend. The LAST thing anyone needs is for the tractor- with them in it- to get pushed around by the load... Or to have the rear come up off the ground. At that hp range, around 50, you can get anything from a compact to a compact utility, to an ag utility. That makes questions like that really important. These can be VERY different animals. Even if, at first glance, they're appx the same size. This can also dovetail nicely with your advice to get the "most" tractor you can afford.

[@court2379]

I went gear for doing baling and mowing. I find that hitting the lever becomes automatic and hardly noticeable. I even clutch it, but don't technically need to. Manual cars program it into you. Loader work, and grading, not an issue. Getting the quick change buckets on, and pallet work is a bit harder with it. The really fine movement work. My father always had hydros growing up. Today I feel like it was so hard to push into a pile, but then they were 30HP and mine is a 43 on a 50 sized frame. So maybe more of the reason. Lifting 2000lbs is no problem, but getting enough ballast is. I don't have filled tires or weights, and need at least 600lbs on the back to lift 2000. With the 1200lb backhoe on its no problem. I could go wither way, and really just depends on the majority of the work. Since the small ones cannot pull much anyway, hydro makes more sense. As they get larger gear has more applications.

[@terryknesek6922]

I’ve had 2 hydros ! Only way to go after growing up on a farm with gear drive! So it’s quite as powerful on ground engaging implements , but that’s now how 95% use that size of tractor! Just my view from the deer stand

[@sameoldmphymel]

Plus If you are running a three point tiller, you can adjust ground speed infinitly

[@frankmoreau8847]

I love my NH Boomer 50 HST for just about everything. The only thing I don't like about it is that unlike a gear transmission, it won't hold speed going down hill, forcing me to use the brakes instead of depending on engine braking. I have an older Ford 1715 also and it holds speed pretty well, only speeding up a little due to gravity, while the new Boomer will run away without me riding the brake.

[@Drgersus]

Isnt maintenance on a hydro more expensive due to more fluid and filter changes?

[@SouthernGround]

love my little Massie Ferguson 1723e, it's basically a cheap skidsteer, a mini stump bucket digs ditchs, 48" hog cuts 3ac of prairie, box blade built a UTV road, brush forks get all the fallen limbs, harow for ground work, and a 15gl weed tank get's me all the spot spraying i want. all benefit from that Hydro, It's small, but not short on performance. being 4x4 is mandatory on these northern Missouri hills, it's way to dangerous to be in 2x4 as I found out one day (I aged 10 years on that hell ride to the bottom) yes a 40hp rig will do more work faster but I am retired so time ain't a problem but my poor back is so my Massie is my exoskeleton so to speak 😉👍🏻

[@maddigger0074]

Excellent advice.. I think George would better off getting a hydro because of all the fel work he would be doing. It's easier to learn on how to use a tractor.. I have a gear drive Kubota L48 that i bought 8 years ago. I love it, cause i can plow, disc, brush hog and use a roto tiller with it. The heat down here in the deep south would kill a hst tractor if tried it doing that kind of work. Besides i can't stand the whine that a hst makes.

[@na-et2gp]

I have a hydro kubota and shuttle case. Both work but ill take the hydro all day long before another shuttle trans

[@stevemartinez6757]

Just my opinion, but I think hydro is the way to go for a new or novice operator. The learning curve is so much smaller. I've never run a shuttle shift, but I do have an old Ford 3600 that is manual. The Ford is good for when I am bush/brush hogging my open fields, but I don't really like it in the woods where I might have to do a lot of stopping or backing up (especially since the PTO is connected to the transmission). One other thing that I will point out that is a MUST for me if I was getting a new tractor. It has to have power steering. I'm not sure if they even make tractors without it anymore, but my old Ford can be a bit of a workout without power steering.

[@kdegraa]

There is a reason why construction equipment has hydrostatic transmission. Smaller tractors can be used in construction too. If you are buying a tractor to plough 100 acres a hydrostatic tractor is not the one to use. However most smaller tractors are not doing this sort of work. A lot of their work is back and forth where a hydro transmission is much better.

[@coypatton3160]

Mike, I disagree with you on the hydro. Since George has no experience, he will learn the shuttle shift and do just fine. His son and grandson I assume have no more tractor experience than George and will learn along with George and do just fine. Also I believe he will save a bit on purchase of a shuttle shift over a hydro and when repair is required save then also.

[@ralphadams6548]

My problem is the hydro usually is not available with the individual brakes. Farming on hilly ground and feeding during muddy weather makes the individual brakes necessary. Thoughts?

[@m16ty]

Only experience I've had with a hydro tractor is my uncle has a TC40 NH hydro. It has individual brakes, but they are all but useless. They don't work as well as a gear drive tractor.

[@frankmoreau8847]

My New Holland 50 HST (made by LS) has separate brakes, it's a 2022 model.

[@iansinclair521]

All very fine -- but you will only get my Ferguson TO-20 which my family bought new in 1950 out of my dead cold hands. We have bigger ones... and modern ones with hydrostatic drive (which I love). But Fergie always starts. Always runs. I can fix her with a simple set of tools and a decent ear.

[@williammunny7133]

I don’t disagree with you, I’m an owner of both type drives and I listen to your advice to be safe and knowledgeable about both machines.

[@Timberland-Farms]

Would you say a hydro can handle making small square bales of hay?

[@jamieebersole6755]

I've barely run a hydro tractor in my life but if he wants a tractor for primarily loader work, absolutely get a hydro. I wonder if some of the push back from the old timers against hydros was because of International putting hydros in high horsepower tractors that really should not have had them

[@bobpurs]

I was with ya Mike until the hydro thing. Don't work for me. Don't feel liking listening to a whine all day and heat build up when doing work and loose of power to the ground. Power shuttle is easy for doing loader work also your just flipping lever back and forth with left finger. Hydro is fine for mowing lawn. Good advise on the other things to consider.

[@johnwesley8327]

Great advice, love my HST. Only way to go especially if you're doing a lot of front loader work. Just my opinion. Thanks Mike.

[@danielb1877]

Oh wow. I have a similar size of property, but got a 3025e. Was debating between 1025r and 3025e. Thankfully the salesman at the local dealership, whose been there forever, talked me into the larger frame size. Could I have used even more power? Yes… but it’s fine. And no regen

[@michaelthorp365]

When bought my tractor your book was very helpful thankyou

[@douglashelsel]

1st -- Love your videos and all your advice 2nd -- I have a 4550 Mahindra (OG gear shift) and LOVE the thing Lastly -- You are ABSOLUTELY right, the hydro is definitely the way to go for other drivers like my wife (who hates driving the standard gearbox) as well as myself when using the loader or a front or back blade leveling out soil. Another thing that is easier with a hydro is compacting the now leveled soil, going back and forth. Thanks Again for all the great videos and keep up the GREAT Work.

[@magarj]

I've been happy with my GST, but I also occasionally run a backhoe with hydro and for loader work it is sweet.

[@mekosmowski]

I just ordered your book, the Insider's Guide, as i expect to purchase my first tractor within 3 months. Would you please talk about PTO generators vs a towed surplus unit? I'm looking at around 15 - 16 kW to power woodshop tools in my garage. This isn't necessarily our forever house and I'd rather invest in a generator than properly electrifying the garage for my tools. For peak load I think I'd be at about 5 - 10 kW if I remember my calculations correctly, depending what combination of tools I'm using. I do not currently own any 3 phase tools, but have several at 240V.

[@lawsonlandry3877]

So all i ever had was a clutched tractor, because i bushhogged alot and cut hay, so i got my new lovol because it was clutched , but now i do way more loader work than i ever did before, and hardly any other work and now I am so sorry i never got a hydro machine!!!!! you are so right mike for most people hydro is the way to go

[@rocksandoil2241]

I prefer gears, hydrostatic is fine, but I avoid the CVTs...

[@joesalas7761]

Perhaps they have been improved. I remember when a hydro transmission in a small tractor did 3 things, 1) pulled ok until 2) they stalled & squalled, or 3) would spin uncontrollably! Burned me once so manual transmission is the only way I go. Now I do have a M6060 Kubota with the power shuttle and I do like that. And I don’t haa ad be any problems using it doing anything on my property. Since I have a lot of slope on the property I rarely use the high side of the transmission for much of the time. Just got burned by early hydros and can’t go back.

[@joesalas7761]

You are singing my song 🎶! Been there, done that! And I also have a Kubota M 6060, one with low wide flotation turf tires I use on steep slopes! Works great for me!!!!!

[@bradbruggeman6745]

I purchased a 40 hp compact with a 3 range hydro back in 2020. I feel like I might have made a mistake by getting a hydro. I got 200 hours on it now, but 70% of my hrs comes from the bush hog. I do use cruise control and run max rpm in low range (approximately 4 mph) but afraid of the harm to the hydro. I have no problem operating a shuttle because I was raised on a 150 acre farm. I just bought the hydro due to the benifit using the loader.

[@patrickcorbett8361]

Good advice Mike...hydro is the way to go... pc

[@JS-my4vk]

Which: manual or hydro requiers more RPM of a motor to do the same job?