About this pedal thang

[Corkpuller]

I'm likely going to be buying an L2501, 3301, or 3901.
Never owned a Kubota.
Never operated a "tractor" with a Hydro tranny.
I have a JD lawn tractor with Hydro.

I understand that after a bit of time most seem pleased with the Kubota bi-sexual pedal treddle thang. But, it sure feels clumsy to me by just resting my foot on it.
I've yet to operate one, so my concerns about the comfort and user friendly part of it may be for naught.

I'm curious how many folks buy the Kubota HST because it "just seems like the thing to do".
Are there any of y'all that a dead set on using a geared tranny?

Another thing that I don't care for on the models I'm looking at, is the brake pedals are on the same side as the pedal thang.
On other tractors I've operated, they were all geared trannys and I used the heck out of one wheel braking. That's not possible with these.
Anyone else miss that feature?

I would like to like the HST but wondering if a geared unit would be a better fit for me.

Most of my use initially will be using a brush hog in tight quarters to cut/chop and maintain underbrush. (9 acres heavily wooded)
Moving the brush to burn piles.
And maintaining 600' of driveway, til I die.

I remember the days of using a box blade and the geared tranny. That was a workout at times.

All opinions appreciated. thank you

Undecided and still kickin tires

 

[ruffdog]

"brush hog in tight quarters to cut/chop and maintain underbrush"

Yeah, that's where a hydro works best.

 

[dalola]

Based on your criteria, I would go with the HST. You'll quickly get used to the Kubota treadle pedal set-up. At first, I preferred the dual side-by-side pedal arrangement, but have become comfortable with the treadle. I would not let that be the deciding factor. For me, the KB had more meaningful advantages, and it's a decision I would make again if I were allowed a replay.

Good luck!

 

[Newby first timer]

When I bought My Kubota I had Never driven any Tractors ever.

I do a lot of Loader work and the peddle was weird at first.
I can not see me ever having a Manual Shift Tranny in a tractor even if I get another one bigger or smaller than the one I have now.
But then again I have never driven any other to compare the two.

Good Luck with what you decide on.

 

[MossRoad]

If you're used to using brakes on a tractor and like using brakes on a tractor, and the Kubota design is deterimental to using the brakes and one-foot treadle pedal at the same time, well, then..... consider a different brand of tractor that has the brakes and directional pedal(s) on different feet.

I used to operate a Kubota mower with the single foot treadle and I did not like it. I had a late 70's IH HST tractor loader that had the directional pedals on the left foot and brake pedals on the right foot. That was very nice. My current machine has left foot reverse and right foot forward with a center mounted treadle and NO brakes. I like that just fine as well.

You should test drive as many makes and models as it humanly possible before making your decision. Find the one that you feel the most comfortable on. Really helps if you're going to spend hours and hours and long stretches of time on a machine to get one that fits you just right.

 

[ruffdog]

I agree^^^ It's time for a bunch of test drives!

With a hydro, my wife is happy to drive..........:cool2:

 

[Diggin It]

Do those K models the OP mentioned even have real (drum/disc) brakes? Or are they the hydro embedded 'wet brakes'?

 

[jeff9366]

I'm going to buy an L2501, 3301, or 3901.

I don't care for the brake pedals on the same side as the pedal thang. ( ?? )

Other tractors I've operated were geared trannys and I used the heck out of one wheel braking. That's not possible with these. ( ?? )

I would like to like the HST but wondering if a geared unit would be a better fit for me.

My primary application will be using a brush hog in tight quarters to cut/chop and maintain underbrush. (9 acres heavily wooded)

Maintaining 600' of driveway.

The Kubota L2501, 3301 and 3901 have the split brakes on the left side of the tractor, HST treadle on the right side of the tractor.

You use split brakes on Kubota HST tractors the same way as split brakes on a gear tractor.

HST tractors are 90% of the market in subcompact and compact tractors to 60-horsepower. Nothing wrong with gear except that your resale value craters and $1,200 clutch rebuilds are periodic events. Few would contest that contemporary HST transmissions require less repair than clutch & gear tractors.

"My primary application will be using a brush hog in tight quarters to cut/chop and maintain underbrush." HST excels in forward/reverse applications.

The Kubota L2501, 3301 and 3901 are physically small tractors. What gear tractor did you operate before?

L2501 CLUTCH & GEAR VERSUS HST: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...523-warning-those-considering-gear-drive.html

VIDEO: HST Treadle pedal VS. Twin touch pedal - YouTube

 

[CobyRupert]

"brush hog in tight quarters to cut/chop and maintain underbrush"

Yeah, that's where a hydro works best.

I read "tight quarters" as: "I really need to be able to steer with the brake pedals".

Being able to do this is not where some hydros work best. However it's (sort of) a separate issue from the hydro/gear debate, or rather just one factor of that debate.
Some hydros with cruise control, brake pedals on the left, or a driver who can cross their legs are able to use their brake pedals to steer.
(Why they put them on the right on a hydro is a mystery to me (tradition?).)

I suspect that a lot (but not all) of hydro drivers don't miss using individual brake pedals cause they never or rarely use individual brake pedals.
There's a lot of advantages to hydros in certain situations and disadvantages in others. What your needs are and what you value is just that.

 

[skipperbrown]

I think you will find that you don't need the brakes to make tight turns or stop with the models you are considering. They turn pretty tight w/o brakes. Since you can instantly change direction with the HST, you can perform a similar 'wheel lock' 180 degree turn with a couple of front/back maneuvers that is much smoother than the spin the steering wheel, lock the brake and hold on, gear style turn. Also being able to slow down and speed up while mowing without changing the engine rpms is so convenient. Encounter a rough or thick patch, just lighten up on the petal or if there is a thin patch for 200', just push down and speed up. You will quickly become accustomed to the heel/toe or toe/toe use of the treadle and the ease of direction and/or speed changes. Precise movement is soooo easy. The only downsides to HST is the whine and the loss of a couple of horses to spin it. Otherwise, the advantages way outshine the disadvantages. I use both kinds of tractors and much prefer HST especially for tight quarters and loader work.