Today's disaster - rethinking HST

[First one]

Sounds like you hard quite a ride, glad you were not hurt to bad.
(..engine kill switch stopped it as soon as I left the seat.)

Sometimes those little switches can save you from a far more serious injury , then if you had unhooked it. There a pain in the arse most of the time but when you need them it's nice to know they work.
I still think that the HST is easyer to use on hills . With a gear tractor you had better be in the right gear going up , so you don't have to shift or coming down, or your going to be riding the brake alot.:2cents:

 

[ihuntbear]

we have a 55 hp hst bota at work .One day we were bush bogging on the highway under a bridge.The driver was going uphill under the bridge when all of a sudden the tractor seemed like it went into neutral .On the way down the hill going toward the road he struck the cement pillar breaking the rearend in two.We called the dealer,they said hst tractors aren't supposed to go up or down a hill greater than 22 degrees because there is a safety pop off valve in the trans to keep from starving for hyd fluid.They went to the hill and measured the degrees,It was 25 degreees and they voided the warenty

 

[jenkinsph]

I don't think I would call the tiny litte grip thingy on a lawn mower "brakes". More like something to hold it still while fueling.:laughing:

Really depends on the lawnmower, mine has wet disc brakes. That said I have no plans to run up and down a long 35 degree slope either.

 

[TripleR]

we have a 55 hp hst bota at work .One day we were bush bogging on the highway under a bridge.The driver was going uphill under the bridge when all of a sudden the tractor seemed like it went into neutral .On the way down the hill going toward the road he struck the cement pillar breaking the rearend in two.We called the dealer,they said hst tractors aren't supposed to go up or down a hill greater than 22 degrees because there is a safety pop off valve in the trans to keep from starving for hyd fluid.They went to the hill and measured the degrees,It was 25 degrees and they voided the warranty

Interesting, I have run my L5030 and BX's up grades steeper than 25% and never had a problem.

 

[escavader]

GREG FENDER,
Im curious to which model you have.I know on my older geared craftsman the clutch and brake are one and i learned long ago DONT STEP ON THAT PEDDLE ON A HILL It is a hydostic tranny as you state,just wondering if that pedal kicks it to neutral as well.
ALAN

 

[whistlepig]

This is probably one of those situations where we just simply have differing opinions or experiences, and I appreciate the ability to discuss such things here. It gives us all a chance to hear the different opinions and make our own decissions.

In the OP's situation: trying to stop a run-away on a steep slope: I would prefer to have both rear wheels lock and not be able to steer than to be able to steer while the machine proceeded down the hill. Admitedly, I am thinking about my steep areas BUT there are probably situations where I would prefer to steer also.

I agree that our experiences are different. I think that the both of us are concerned about the OP's safety on a hill. I wouldn't call it differing opinions though. I would call it sharing opinions.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

did you see any skid marks on the grass,ie. to see if you were sliding?

Bet there were skid marks in his underwear. That's a scary situation no matter what the cause.

I had a similar situation going in a different direction when hauling an overloaded wagon of wood. 2 wheel drive tractor, steep slope, and the drive wheels broke traction almost at the top of the hill. Wagon pulled everything down hill, wheels spinning, and jackknifed about 3/4ers of the way down. Trailer went over on it's side and stopped the tractor without flipping it; but I was shaking like a leaf for an hour afterward.

 

[Ford tractor]

I don't think you can really extrapolate lawn mowers to tractors

 

[jenkinsph]

I don't think you can really extrapolate lawn mowers to tractors

Bet you would have remembered this if it happened to you.

 

[crazyal]

When I first got my Kubota I made the mistake of going down the driveway in 2wd. I don't have loaded tires and the fel lightens up the rear quite a bit. The rear wheels started to skid so I quickly put the tractor into 4wd. Since then I now have a rear ballast box. If you're looking into getting a tractor it sounds like you really need 4wd or at least to fill your rear tires.