hydro vs gear transmission

[briankd 817]

been looking at different horses to buy and am partial to a gear drive trans. found some horses for sale early 70's hydros. probably sustrand hydro transaxles. talk to different people and the hydros do good pulling (moleboard plow etc.) but they don't do as well as gear trans. get hot and  sluggish cold weather. just wanted to see what everyone here has any opinions. I never owned a tractor with a hydro trans but my inlaws have a new deere  and my dad had a areins  and them hydros were scrap!! they not made to pull a lot.

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,357]

I have a 1974 C 120 with the Sunstrand hydro everything works great but I just don't like the hydro trans. I have a 1987 310-8 , 1988 416-8 and the first horse was a 1972 Commando 800 gear trans.  I'll take a gear trans over a hydro any time. Just my 

[scotty 252]

Ive had a few hydro wheel horses. I use a c 125 hydro to plow my garden works pretty good. Its gear drive most of the time for me unless its for mowing. Hydros are alot nicer for mowing in my opinion.

[briankd 817]

the tractor I was looking at is a charger 12 . was wanting a tractor for snowblower duty and pulling a 10 inch garden plow. wheel horse dealer told me that he had a customer pulling two 10 inch garden plowes hooked together with a charger 12 it happened to be his neighbor. and it did good but he says they not as strong as a gear trans

[953 nut 55,909]

My only Hydro is on a GT-14 with front end loader, it is strong and in spite of loaded tires, 130 pound wheel weights and a 200 pound weight box it will still spin the tires when it encounters an immovable object. Most of my herd was built prior to hydros so I am accustom to using the stick shifts and find they are my personal favorite. 

[Achto 27,827]

If you want to pull a 10" plow I would go with a gear jammer, they work best for ground engagement tools. For mowing or snow blowing I'd rather have a hydro any day.

[Ed Kennell 38,745]

For blowing and plowing snow and mowing grass, a hydro with hydraulic lift and foot motion control is my choice.    A lot of my work is in smaller spaces where constantly changing direction with a gear drive would   require a lot of time.   

[daveoman1966 3,762]

I have a c-160 Auto and a Bronco 14 (auto) used for mowing and snow (hated word) moving.  Much preferred over manual for lots of reasons.  Manual is better for tiller, ground-breaking, or as a competitive puller. 

[bmsgaffer 2,045]

I agree with much of the above. The hydros you will find in wheel horses (sudtrand, or eaton 1100 with hydro lift) are plenty strong enough for anything you can get that little tractor to pull, however, having the gear drive with low range is just really nice for certain tasks as mentioned above. I've had a few and the have never had problems in winter with sluggishness or in summer with overheating. 

 

For me it is hydro for snow plowing, snow bowing (while i had it), and mowing without a doubt. I use gear drive for grading, tilling, and I would use it for ground plowing if i had a plow. There is just something nice about having a consistent low gear speed for completing those tasks. 

[pfrederi 17,910]

Snow plow or blower hydro hands down (especially a Charger Electro with limited slip differential)  Hydro  is much faster changing direction and backing up while plowing snow and for snow blowing the variable speed is a big help.

[stevasaurus 22,883]

Everyone is basically saying the same thing...and I agree.     My left leg would actually ache after clearing snow in my driveway...from all the shifting with my 857.  My 876 hydro makes clearing snow a dream.  Also, if your wife has a ton of pink flamingos in the front yard, the hydro is the only way to cut the grass and still be able to walk afterwards.    If you have a good sized yard, with nothing to mow around, I would go with the manual transmission...just because that is easier to fix if something breaks.

[wallfish 17,084]

Think it's just a matter of opinion/preference and whatever someone is used to using. I use both types but since my first one was a manual, that's my preference.

I'm not as old as Steve so no problem with the leg for us young guys!

[TDF5G 2,069]

I have used a hydro a few times to push snow and I didn't like it.  Stick shift is better IMO. I like the use of lifting on the clutch with my foot to move forward instead of removing one hand from the blade lift arm or steering wheel to operate hydro control.   I could get more snow moved more quickly with the manual gear box.  The foot control for the hydro would probably work well though.  

 

The hydro is good for mowing too, but I kinda like shifting gears.  

 

I've not done very much plowing but the manual trans with hi-lo range works great!

[bmsgaffer 2,045]

7 minutes ago, TDF5G said:

I have used a hydro a few times to push snow and I didn't like it.  Stick shift is better IMO. I like the use of lifting on the clutch with my foot to move forward instead of removing one hand from the blade lift arm or steering wheel to operate hydro control.   I could get more snow moved more quickly with the manual gear box.  The foot control for the hydro would probably work well though.  

 

The hydro is good for mowing too, but I kinda like shifting gears.  

 

I've not done very much plowing but the manual trans with hi-lo range works great!

 

You make a very good point. I know MY comments (and I will guess at least some of the others') are based on having converted my 520H with Matt's foot pedal kit. I really disliked the hydro when it was hand controlled. I have too much stuff to do with my hands to control speed with them too. 

[TDF5G 2,069]

11 minutes ago, bmsgaffer said:

 

You make a very good point. I know MY comments (and I will guess at least some of the others') are based on having converted my 520H with Matt's foot pedal kit. I really disliked the hydro when it was hand controlled. I have too much stuff to do with my hands to control speed with them too. 

Yes, when pushing (not plowing) snow I felt like I needed a third hand when using the auto trans (no foot control).  The biggest problem is slowing down or stopping and having to reach for the hydo control to move forward again.  With the manual trans.I can just let out the clutch with my foot to move forward again after slowing or stopping, and still be able to steer and manipulate the blade controls.  

 

It may be what your used to also.  I've never used a hydro with a foot control. 

Edited September 9, 2016 by TDF5G

[pfrederi 17,910]

I guess a lot depends on how much you have to plow and the layout.  I have a lot to plow and a bunch is sort of dead end which means backing up and making pass after pass the gear drive is just to slow in reverse.  When it comes to the blower having the hydro pick it up is nice and being able to adjust your ground speed while keeping the engine rpm up is nice also.  i have been here 15 years and have used everything from a L107, C81, c120, C141 and 418a but I have settled on my Charger for plow and electro 16 for blowing.  What ever works for you.

[Ed Kennell 38,745]

When I buy any hydro, my first test is to chain it to a tree and make sure it will spin the wheels through the full range of forward/reverse motion. I have even tested non running tractors by taking the seat/fender pan off so I could drive the hydro with a long belt and another tractor for the test.

 

I would never say anything bad about Matts foot control as by the  testament  of many on here, He makes a fine product.  But, I must say the Redneck foot control I have put on my 520 and 312 is perfect for me.   One spring loaded right pedal gives full range of forward/reverse control.         Push down for forward and allow the spring to raise the pedal for  reverse.  With a little practice, it is very easy to stop at the neutral position.  If you must stop quickly, simply push the left brake pedal which forces the motion control to neutral and applies the brake.

The right hand stays on the steering wheel and the left hand stays on the hydraulic lift.     No lost motion due to changing gears or switching hands or feet to different levers or pedals.

[CasualObserver 3,408]

You may want to dig through the old search bar....  as you would imagine, this has been discussed once or twice before. In addition to your responses here, you can see what has been said by people in the past on this very same question.

 

Heres just a few examples from searching Hydro vs

 

 

[briankd 817]

Thanks A lot guys this really help me what I want . been mowing an acre grass with my old 857 for 15 year now and have dozen or more trees and flower beds to mow around never bother me to clutch it . hell im so used to it bet I can change direction just as fast as a hydro or even a zero turn.

 

                                                         Thanks Again for all your input  Brian

[squonk 41,464]

19 hours ago, stevasaurus said:

Everyone is basically saying the same thing...and I agree.     My left leg would actually ache after clearing snow in my driveway...from all the shifting with my 857.  My 876 hydro makes clearing snow a dream.  Also, if your wife has a ton of pink flamingos in the front yard, the hydro is the only way to cut the grass and still be able to walk afterwards.    If you have a good sized yard, with nothing to mow around, I would go with the manual transmission...just because that is easier to fix if something breaks.

You may need a pair of compression socks!