Kubota HST Side-by-Side Pedal Modification

[k0ua]

I don't have a dog in this fight but aren't most riding mowers HST on the right and brakes on the left?

My Deere rider is

 

[TripleR]

I'm one of the contrarians I suppose as I prefer the brakes on the "right" side, as does my son. With the way the brakes are located more towards the center on the L40 as opposed to some, my son has no trouble using the steering brakes and HST. I have little use of my left leg, but have found just as an experiment I can easily use the steering brakes via the cruise control going forward. One of the reasons I traded in my L5030 with only 1400 hours in on a new tractor was to avoid the left foot brakes.

I can certainly understand why some, well apparently most, prefer the brakes on the left, I am just not one of them. I might feel differently if I wasn't always getting on two different tractors a day; gets confusing; might also be different if I was (a) younger or (b) a better operator.:laughing:

Like many, I never understood why Kubota hung onto the clutch so long, sure would like to get rid of mine.

I do like the way TYM and John Deere had brakes on both sides, but maybe cost got in the way.

 

[avc8130]

I'm one of the contrarians I suppose as I prefer the brakes on the "right" side, as does my son. With the way the brakes are located more towards the center on the L40 as opposed to some, my son has no trouble using the steering brakes and HST. I have little use of my left leg, but have found just as an experiment I can easily use the steering brakes via the cruise control going forward. One of the reasons I traded in my L5030 with only 1400 hours in on a new tractor was to avoid the left foot brakes.

I can certainly understand why some, well apparently most, prefer the brakes on the left, I am just not one of them. I might feel differently if I wasn't always getting on two different tractors a day; gets confusing; might also be different if I was (a) younger or (b) a better operator.:laughing:

Like many, I never understood why Kubota hung onto the clutch so long, sure would like to get rid of mine.

I do like the way TYM and John Deere had brakes on both sides, but maybe cost got in the way.

CRUISE CONTROL. Yeah, that would be the ticket. That is how Kubota shows the brakes used in their HST+ demo video. Looks to work great. Unfortunately they didn't put CC on ALL tractors. Plus, generally when I am using the brakes I need to turn NOW so I need the inside wheel locked AND the power up so the machine skids quick. I mostly use the brakes in the snow using the loader when the machine won't steer because the front tires push.

Honestly, I like the clutch. I've read enough complaints about the engagement/disengagement of PTO on machines with electronic clutches. I just wish they swapped the pedals. Yeah, it would be strange with a clutch on the right, but with how infrequently these controls are used with the HST I don't see it as a big deal.

ac

 

[pmsmechanic]

JUst another thought here. Is the clutch on a Kubota an actual clutch or is it just a hydraulic dump. If you don't like the clutch on an hst can you not just remove the pedal? Or unhook the wires if it's just a hydraulic dump?

 

[TripleR]

CRUISE CONTROL. Yeah, that would be the ticket. That is how Kubota shows the brakes used in their HST+ demo video. Looks to work great. Unfortunately they didn't put CC on ALL tractors. Plus, generally when I am using the brakes I need to turn NOW so I need the inside wheel locked AND the power up so the machine skids quick. I mostly use the brakes in the snow using the loader when the machine won't steer because the front tires push.

Honestly, I like the clutch. I've read enough complaints about the engagement/disengagement of PTO on machines with electronic clutches. I just wish they swapped the pedals. Yeah, it would be strange with a clutch on the right, but with how infrequently these controls are used with the HST I don't see it as a big deal.

ac

Yeah, that's why I say my tractor works for me and acknowledge why other tractors won't for other people. The "cruise control" on the L40 can be used in the same manner as the HST foot pedal and I often use it that way. Unlike many, it doesn't just lock in a position and will move the tractor forward as easily as with the foot, so if I needs brakes, I just use it instead of my foot.

On dirt with Industrial tires, I've found locking a wheel has little to any impact on turning; totally different than on our M8540 with Ag tires, so we use the brakes on it a lot. As I've been careful to note, I am only speaking of my situation which involves so little snow as to be inconsequential and can certainly see how differently that would affect someones usage/preference.

I don't like the push button PTO engagement and hated giving it up on my L5030, but we've had them for years on John Deeres and they seem to hold up, so while I would prefer the lever engagement, I can live with it. Our Case had a system I really liked, it had a position in the mid point of travel between on and off where you paused for a few seconds to let the clutch gradually engage to get it spinning before full engagement.

No on makes a perfect tractor and I've often said I would like to have a JohKuoti or some such combination as I see nice features on different tractors and a couple I don't like on mine.

 

[avc8130]

I've found locking an inside rear while trying to turn with my industrial tires in mud works a charm.

In fact, pretty much any time the fronts push rather than steer, I cross my legs like a proper school girl and use the steering brakes. Works every time.

ac

 

[TripleR]

I've found locking an inside rear while trying to turn with my industrial tires in mud works a charm.

In fact, pretty much any time the fronts push rather than steer, I cross my legs like a proper school girl and use the steering brakes. Works every time.

ac

I call that the Kubota shuffle. When it's muddy I tend to park my tractors, but I know that's not always possible. I saw a guy moving what appeared to be several truck loads of cow manure out of his barn through a muddy cattle lot and I use to feed cattle through the winter every winter no matter the weather. I am now just a hobbyist, so my needs are different than many.

 

[avc8130]

I call that the Kubota shuffle. When it's muddy I tend to park my tractors, but I know that's not always possible. I saw a guy moving what appeared to be several truck loads of cow manure out of his barn through a muddy cattle lot and I use to feed cattle through the winter every winter no matter the weather. I am now just a hobbyist, so my needs are different than many.

That's exactly it. My goats poop whether it is sunny and dry or rainy and muddy or snowy and slippery. If I can't get the tractor there, the stink builds up to the point I can smell it at the house. If I can smell it at the house...so can my wife. If my wife can smell it at the house...

You get the picture .

ac

 

[TripleR]

That's exactly it. My goats poop whether it is sunny and dry or rainy and muddy or snowy and slippery. If I can't get the tractor there, the stink builds up to the point I can smell it at the house. If I can smell it at the house...so can my wife. If my wife can smell it at the house...

You get the picture .

ac

I sure do. :laughing::laughing:

 

[930ck]

If my Kubota 5740 was my first or only tractor having no clutch and the brakes on the left would be better, but my other tractors have foot clutches and brakes on the right. Where the Kubota brake pedals are I don't have a problem using left foot for brakes. It was time for Kubota switch to new layout.