Steering Brakes,,, A Necessity,, Or A Nicety?? (41HP, 3000 Lb Tractor)

[TripleR]

I've said this several times and it's fitting here.

The most complex thing to understand here on TBN is the broad variation in uses of tractors. Necessity dictates operational methods. And dictates the steepness of the learning curve.

James uses his tractor on steep terrain a lot. So do I.

James' HST tractor has the brake pedals on the left. Easy for him to use the brake pedals while operating the HST. In my opinion, if you have an HST tractor, this is the best setup, regardless of paint color.

So in the end if an operator says they never use their brake pedals I contend their situation is much different than mine. I try to not be condescending about their lack of use. Just suggest they try using them a little and if they see no purpose, so be it.

And if an operator says they use their brakes all the time I contend their situation is different than the reference above. Again trying to not be condescending.

For the operators that never use their brakes, they probably don't need to.

For the operators that use their brakes all the time, they probably can't stop using them.

Excellent points all. I've been driving tractors including different configurations for over 60 years and have been flamed in the past for not knowing anything about the wonders and downright necessity of any "experienced" operator to use split brakes. We have hill farms and flatland farms with five 2WD drive, four 4WD and three 4WD SCUTs. We have a mix of geared and HST and our use of brakes is dependent on the tractor, terrain and use/equipment.

I grew up at a time when neighbors shared tractors, implement and sometimes labor, so it was not unusual to use a tractor not ideally suited to the implement and wind up driving it from one property to another with the front wheels never or occasionally touching the ground, steering was by brakes only.

When giving advice or opinions on how others should use their equipment please keep Richard's points in mind.

 

[ovrszd]

Excellent points all. I've been driving tractors including different configurations for over 60 years and have been flamed in the past for not knowing anything about the wonders and downright necessity of any "experienced" operator to use split brakes. We have hill farms and flatland farms with five 2WD drive, four 4WD and three 4WD SCUTs. We have a mix of geared and HST and our use of brakes is dependent on the tractor, terrain and use/equipment.

I grew up at a time when neighbors shared tractors, implement and sometimes labor, so it was not unusual to use a tractor not ideally suited to the implement and wind up driving it from one property to another with the front wheels never or occasionally touching the ground, steering was by brakes only.

When giving advice or opinions on how others should use their equipment please keep Richard's points in mind.

I've been the recipient of those flames as well Larry. I'm trying to live your signature motto.

I've stopped counting the number of times I've been bluntly told that "they" know more about running my equipment than I do.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

You my friend have the ideal setup and don't even know it.....

There is a lay out, deff lock is "D"

 

[ArlyA]

The YTM we rented had a heal actuated differential lock as well. Used it to.....

 

[RalphVa]

I've had tractors with and without steering brakes and R4 tires. With R4s, you definitely need steering brakes. The R4s slip sideways more than turfs. I've my steering brakes back and won't get another tractor without them.

Also, if you do any snow plowing, you need steering brakes, particularly with R4s. Yet, just on grass you'll notice a difference. If you do any row work, you need steering brakes to make those quick, precise turns at the ends of each row.

 

[olPete]

I wouldnt be without them.. for what I do.
I use them more for fine tuning alignment when attaching something heavy to the 3pl than much else. Handy to give the arms a little swing across with a dab on the brake just as you close in on it.. also very good for reducing turf damage when sidling with say a big disc mower on the downhill side. Those cleats love to chew up turf if you're mowing at speed with some sideslip. Then again I've not driven a tractor smaller than 60hp so I'd imagine the OP will be just fine without them most of the time, if turning becomes an issue then put the heavy end uphill and back around the turn. Theres more ways to kill a cat than drowning it in cream.

 

[k0ua]

View attachment 495933

View attachment 495934

There is a lay out, deff lock is "D"

good ergonomic layout..

 

[k0ua]

I wouldnt be without them.. for what I do.
I use them more for fine tuning alignment when attaching something heavy to the 3pl than much else. Handy to give the arms a little swing across with a dab on the brake just as you close in on it.. also very good for reducing turf damage when sidling with say a big disc mower on the downhill side. Those cleats love to chew up turf if you're mowing at speed with some sideslip. Then again I've not driven a tractor smaller than 60hp so I'd imagine the OP will be just fine without them most of the time, if turning becomes an issue then put the heavy end uphill and back around the turn. Theres more ways to kill a cat than drowning it in cream.

I hadn't even thought of using them to swing a bit in 3pt hookup. Thanks. That is one more usage for split brakes.

 

[olPete]

I hadn't even thought of using them to swing a bit in 3pt hookup. Thanks. That is one more usage for split brakes.

Really handy for getting that drawbar pin to drop, too. Would love to have a go on some of these scaled down tractors on here, they look really neat and the work you guys do with them is far different from my tractor work.
Luckily I learnt the art of tractor almost 30 years ago as a young boy and the bug bit hard. I probably do about 1000hrs/year now I'm part-time!

 

[jibe717]

To be brutally honest I have farmed and been around farmers for almost all of my 48 years and all of us rarely use the "steering" brakes, which we refer to as turning brakes. They are called turning breaks since they are really only used to make sharp turns at the end of large fields when you are doing tillage work such as discing, cultivating, harrowing or even plowing. They are used in loose soil only and for stopping and for setting the tractor in park when it is standing still. Generally never use them when haying since you don't prefer to mar up the hay field and leave clumps of sod and dirt that you would have to mow through the next time around. I can imagine if you are relying on these breaks to steer that you will be burning the breaks up since they weren't designed for this use.