Snowback
Platinum Member
Agree 100% This is an excellent opportunity to decide on the machine that fits your needs and you best. Kudos to that dealer. I'll be interested in your final thoughts. Good luck!
Opinion?
- Thread starter bigsilver
- Start date
- Views: 15681
Snowback
Platinum Member
I tend to agree. My four years with a non suspension seat on the Max 25 didn't bother me at all, but that was on a relatively manicured and smooth/maintained 2 acres. Rough ground = must have susp seat for me now. The 2540 he'll be checking out has one standard, and I think the 1538 does as well, but I'm not positive...
dickfoster
Elite Member
Don't know about suspension but it sits on springs and is well padded. Comfortable enough on my bottom but I bring my own padding to the party too.
Roughshod
Member
I had the same experience with the 1538 HST pedal. On paper I loved that tractor. I had pretty much decided it was the one...and then I went to a dealer and sat on it. Well, so much for internet tractor shopping. Ergonomically that pedal is just terrible. But HST was a non-negotiable item for me, so I ended up going with the 2538HST, with the far superior side by side hydro pedals.
dickfoster
Elite Member
While I didn't drive a 2500 series I think the side by side would likely be a better deal too. Heck anything would be better than that poorly placed rocker doohickey, my leg started to crap up just driving it down the lot a little bit. It took maybe 100' driving in a straight line for my little voice to say, nope this just ain't gonna do. Actually unless you're doing a lot of back and forth, the shuttle is probably easier as the hand throttle is like a cruse control, so you just sit and steer. Once I get to where I'm going, I select the gear for what I'm doing if any and from there it's the shuttle. I can see where the HST would be better for scooping out horse stalls or something like that but so far I'm doing very little loader work. It's mostly all about the backhoe for me.
oldpilgrim
Elite Member
I'll take any rocker pedal setup over a shuttle with a clutch. I can and do use either style but I prefer the rocker.
I think the rocker is actually safer when using a tractor in close in areas. I KNOW whether my toe is pressing on a pedal to go frontwards or if my heel is pressing on a pedal to go backwards.
With side by side pedals, all I know is that I'm pressing a pedal. That could be an issue in a tight situation.
I think the rocker is actually safer when using a tractor in close in areas. I KNOW whether my toe is pressing on a pedal to go frontwards or if my heel is pressing on a pedal to go backwards.
With side by side pedals, all I know is that I'm pressing a pedal. That could be an issue in a tight situation.
dickfoster
Elite Member
I don't see how being uncomfortable and distracted by a cramping leg could ever be considered a safe operating practice but to each his own. I simply couldn't stand the thing for the very brief time I was on it. Maybe I have longer legs or something, it's not my foot size because for my height I have a pretty small, size 9.
brasco426
Gold Member
I do fine with the rocker pedal and like it. The side by side is ok too. I really enjoy loader work being easy with the hydro to. I had standard transmissions growing up, until I got my first auto and never looked back. Maybe I'm lazy lol 
oldpilgrim
Elite Member
I'm 6'3", 225 lbs, size 11 foot.
What I find cramps my leg on a gear machine is when I move snow or dirt. With snow, clutch down, shift into gear, push snow with bucket, clutch down, shift into R to position, clutch down to stop, shift into first to get to where I dump, clutch up, move to dump location, clutch down to stop, dump, clutch down, shift to R, clutch up, back up, clutch down, shift into F, clutch up, repeat several hundred or a thousand times to clear a 600-800 ft driveway. Do this for an hour or so, then do the same thing for a neighbor. With deep snow, my left leg hardly ever stops going up and down. Talk about thigh burn ! When I got off the machine I could hardly walk. I did this for nearly 25 years.
Now I just gently rock my foot back and forth. I can run the machine all day without a single ache or pain.
I like the fact that I can make those wheels turn so slowly, that it's barely perceptible. I can drive up to a truck to dump with tremendous precision and not worry about hitting the truck.
And since the machine is designed to run like that, I'm not hurting a clutch disk nor worrying about wearing it out with slippage.
I will restate..... I will never have another gear again....hst is the only way to go.
dickfoster
Elite Member
"I'm 6'3", 225 lbs, size 11 foot." And yet you're too feeble to drive a tractor. LOL
Just yankin your chain.
Just yankin your chain.