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 | DJ
Join Date: Posts: 1 
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2000-10-17 20648
Anyone out there with a Kubota that has the Glide Shift Transmission (GST). I would like to hear you facts on how you like it etc and if you had your choice would you choose it again. I am very interested in the GST do not like HST or DT. Thanks
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| Greg Harrison
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2000-10-18 20654
I own a L4310GST. For me the GST is fine. If you do a lot of loader work you should try the HST with an open mind. After several hours operating the shuttle shift your arm gets tired with the GST. I understand what Mark Chalkey meant about it being a labor saver and much more efficient. It is a proven design and I havent heard of any failures. The only downside with the HST is the brakes are on the same side as the speed pedal and if you do a lot of ag work with plows in loose ground you lose differential braking. Once again I like my GST, someone on one of the chat rooms complained that on steep hill when you go from 3rd to 4th the tractor at slow speeds actually will roll back a little before it changes gear, true, it will. Make sure you try both transmissions in the applications you expect to be using them in before buying. ....
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 | Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada 
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2000-10-18 20659
We use a small fleet of Compacts in our business (golf course construction & maintenance), almost without exception they are Kubota's (L3450's & Grand L4200's mostly) all with the GST, we had one HST unit which I recently sold off. In our work the HST was a hinderance, for some work it may be more convenient, but after 12 hours of work you will be tired on any machine. The main problem we had was excessive heat and the mechanical losses. In cases such as building bunkers (sand traps) the HST was about 20% slower on a days work, mostly because travel speeds under load (pulling a dump trailer loaded with sand) are reduced dramatically as the fluid heats up. This heat also affects the operator who has to sit next to this heat source all day. We also noticed that the GST was far superior for any task which requires what we jokingly call "cruising", that is chores such as aerating, mowing, sweeping, etc. with the HST you are constantly changing the "cruise control" to adjust machine speed for obstacles, terrain, etc., whereas with a GST you merely shift gears with your left hand, no foot/leg movement required, a bonus on rough terrain (such when bush-hogging bumpy fields). As for loader work, the HST was difficult for a less than "old hand" to do without spinning tires (which can get VERY expensive, FAST), whereas with the GST, no matter how far down on the peddle (foot throttle) you push, the tractor is still only going to roll as fast as the gear it's in will allow, forward or reverse. Judge carefully, and best of luck. ....
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 | Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6898 Waterville New York
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2000-10-18 20662
The biggest concern would be what you are going to be doing! Would there be other operators? ....
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| Eddie Watkins
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2000-10-18 20672
When I was shopping for my tractor, a couple of dealers told me that most people that use their tractors commercially buy gear transmissions. I assumed it was because of the cost. Thanks for the education Murf. ....
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| Greg Harrison
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2000-10-19 20678
Murf, Glad to hear a commercial user's view on the GST being favorable. Makes me feel better about my choice of the GST
Thanks
Greg H ....
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| Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6898 Waterville New York
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2000-10-19 20680
Murf in reading your differences with the transmissions some of what you said I see very easily. The part of spinning tires to get a bucket full with a hydro is the sign of an inexperienced or untrained operator. Did your dealer or salesperson give you or your help any training on this tractor? Both transmissions work best for different types of work. The GST is a definite plus over the DT or straight gear transmission. There is no way you can operate a GST and load faster than a hydro with out tearing the area up. Often times I find that different people are accustomed to different styles of operation and it's normally best to find the best machine for the operator not nessecarily the best machine for everyone as in your case if you were taught proper operating technique. ....
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| Bird Senter
Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 962 
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2000-10-19 20695
I have a great deal of respect for Murf's opinions; I've learned from some of his messages, and I think he probably also has more experience than I, but in this case, I have to agree with Art. I did a lot of wheel spinning when pushing the loader into a pile of dirt with my first hydro . ., and then I learned to use it! And I'm convinced that it would impossible for a GST to work faster than a hydro with an experienced operator. But I can understand the GST being preferable for "cruising." ....
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| Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2000-10-20 20718
I purposely said that the HST was more difficult for a NOVICE to use. I am fully aware of a Hydro.'s capabilities, I also have several payloaders & TLB's which are Hydro. However the problem is more one of logistics, we run 2 shifts of 10 hours a day, seven days (4 days on 4 days off) a week building a golf course, etc. So it works like this, 6 machines x 2 operators (shifts) per day x 7 days a week = 84 shifts per week using 14 different people.......wanna see how fast tires go bald? Best of luck. ....
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| Bird Senter
Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 962
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2000-10-20 20725
OK, I'll buy that, Murf. Different equipment for different purposes. And of course there are individuals who prefer GST or just plain manual gears, or else they wouldn't still be making and selling them, and if that's what they like, that's what they should buy (I hope everyone is happy with the one they bought). But for an individual who intends to own one tractor for his/her personal use, it's a little hard for me to imagine NOT preferring HST for convenience, speed, safety, etc. ....
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| KlayW in MI
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2000-10-20 20730
Hey Murf, that is the best explination of why GST is a preferance. Like Bird, I am an HST fan for loader/mowing work for residential use but I see your point clearly. What I thought was interesting was your last comment on speed, "whereas with the GST, no matter how far down on the peddle (foot throttle) you push, the tractor is still only going to roll as fast as the gear it's in will allow, forward or reverse." I have heard from users of hydro's that they will roll on their own down hill. Is that what you were refering to? I have not noticed that with my Kubota, down hill I remain the same speed in relation to foot pedel pressure.
P.S. With all those shifts which brand and type of tire lasts the longest for you? ....
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| Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2000-10-31 21045
Klay, I was not refering to 'over-run', which is the downhill coast problem you spoke of, I meant the travel speed. The farther you push down the Hydro pedal, the faster you go, to the limit of the range you are in. With Hydro.'s you have 2 or 3 ranges, depending on make, etc., with a Gear trans. (GST or regular shift) you have 8 gears, therefore you have a much finer control over travel speed while still at full power. As far as tires, all the machines are equipped with Bridgestone R3 ("Pillow Block") turfs. The other consideration which is important to commercial operators such as myself, but not the average homeowner is fuel economy, with a Hydro. the tendency is to set the throttle and use the peddle for speed control, with means the machine is often (if not always at full throttle), whereas with a GST (or gear) the norm is to use a combination of foot throttle and gears, much as you would in a truck, resulting in considerable savings for us. Best of luck.
....
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| DJ
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2000-11-02 21162
Thanks to all that replied. I purchased a L3710 GST with R4's, loader,disk,post hole digger, box blade and a cutter from my local dealer we finally came to terms. After 12 hours I am happy with it. So far all is great. Just finsihed planting 32 poles for a place to store it. Thanks again. ....
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