About this pedal thang

[jeff9366]

I am only knowledgable about Kubota tractors but I believe following true for most tractor brands:

Hydraulic shuttle shift transmissions are not available on subcompact nor compact tractors.

Hydraulic shuttle shift transmissions are first offered on utility class tractors, which commence at 5,000 pounds bare tractor weight.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

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-****** 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

I hate HST... I went with the L3301 geared, shuttle shift on the fender, same as my MX5100. This set up is fantastic. Don't let anyone tell you hst is better or quicker... not true. I just sold my little B2320 because it was hst, and after two years of it, I had had enough. Go geared...

 

[MossRoad]

I hate HST... I went with the L3301 geared, shuttle shift on the fender, same as my MX5100. This set up is fantastic. Don't let anyone tell you hst is better or quicker... not true. I just sold my little B2320 because it was hst, and after two years of it, I had had enough. Go geared...

How about some details as to why for the OP to ponder.

 

[atitus74]

I was going to ask same thing.

 

[Corkpuller]

How about some details as to why for the OP to ponder.

:thumbsup:

 

[Corkpuller]

While I agree that the split brakes are useless on these models unless you have cruise control, they actually don't need them. I used the split brakes on my 770 a lot, but the 2501 seems to turn better. With a 5ft mower on the back, I think you'll be able to get to everything you need to.

I do like to use the split brakes as a "locker" though, and apply power to the rear wheel of my choice. Hard to do on this machine.

If you need a lot of PTO power, the higher power model (3901) may be a better choice. I've had mine bog in heavy growth with both the 6ft finish mower and 5ft bush hog on and had to slow down to clear it out.

Please explain how this Cruise Control operates.
Any CC I've ever had on anything.....touching the brake disengages the CC.

Brush hog size is another question. To me, a 2501 or 3301 will not have the balls to run a 5' rotary. ???
I don't think I'll be using this machine for a lot of grass mowing. Certainly not pasture type mowing.
I will likely buy a second hand heavy duty 4' rotary that I can abuse. I figure 4' would get me a little tighter but the tractor width would eliminate some of that. If these 25 hp models will swing a 5' rotary with authority then maybe I should go with that. ???
I can see a LOT of backing up to underbrush and Youpon, lowering the boom and shredding the chit outta that stuff.

Also will need to keep about 2 acres beat down after it's cleared. For about 3 yrs until a house takes up some of that space.

 

[MossRoad]

 

[MossRoad]

Please explain how this Cruise Control operates.
Any CC I've ever had on anything.....touching the brake disengages the CC.

Brush hog size is another question. To me, a 2501 or 3301 will not have the balls to run a 5' rotary. ???
I don't think I'll be using this machine for a lot of grass mowing. Certainly not pasture type mowing.
I will likely buy a second hand heavy duty 4' rotary that I can abuse. I figure 4' would get me a little tighter but the tractor width would eliminate some of that. If these 25 hp models will swing a 5' rotary with authority then maybe I should go with that. ???
I can see a LOT of backing up to underbrush and Youpon, lowering the boom and shredding the chit outta that stuff.

Also will need to keep about 2 acres beat down after it's cleared. For about 3 yrs until a house takes up some of that space.

You're neck is gonna be sore backing into that stuff all day.

Also, I'd want a brush cutter that's at least was as wide if not wider than my wheels side-to-side.

 

[RjCorazza]

I’m in the hst camp. My first 2 tractors were geared, non-live pto. Non-live pto is a royal pain for my rear mower use, and combined with a geared transmission made backing up to my stream bank for mowing horrible (and unnecessarily dangerous).

My past 2 hst machines with live pto are much easier to use for my purposes. I could never go back to a geared tractor. My current L4060 hst has some very nice control features that make operation highly customizable.

As far as brakes, I don’t know all of Kubota’s lineup, but most current models seem to have split brakes on the left, hst on the right. My previous L3410 did not... clutch on left, split brakes and hst on the right. That said, I rarely use the split brakes even with them being well placed.

 

[bunyip]

i have never used the brake, just foot off hst quick.ly is enough to almost launch you over the steering wheel.
We are looking at a bigger proprty that is half scrub and I will look at hst again, much less fatigue on the operator.

 

[wagne223]

OP, as mentioned you need to get on a few tractors and try them out.

As for your concern regarding the steering brakes......I'm no expert. My understanding is that steering brakes were designed for row crop tractors that were 2wd and had skinny front tires mounted close together.
The operator needed the steering brake to make the tight 180 at the end of the row, aligning the tractor for the next row with minimal effort.
These tractors were also geared and the operators could perform the maneuver without clutching or shifting.

On a utility tractor I have never needed steering brakes.

As mentioned, with HST, for a turn that is tighter then the turning radius (rare on utility)the operator can perform a 3 point turn very quickly and easily.

In my experience on utility tractors, geared are great for tasks where you are at a constant speed for a long time.
Row cropping or mowing roadways or many acres of pasture.
For everything else, HST wins.

And if you get cruise control on the HST, they are good for those constant speed tasks also!

 

[TractorGuy]

I am use to the side by side pedals but I test drove a cabbed Kubota a while back that had a modified design treadle. I found it to be a non issue compared to the usual design. It had a pieces off to the side I found very easy to get used to. Should be easy enough to modify the common design if that other type isn't an option.

 

[Corkpuller]

You're neck is gonna be sore backing into that stuff all day.

Also, I'd want a brush cutter that's at least was as wide if not wider than my wheels side-to-side.

yer right about the neck, kinda dreading it actually. Be like a Notre Dame fan watching the Alabama score.

Maybe once my initial clearing is complete(farmed out to a track hoe and dozer), I won't have as much as that demolition style shredding as I expect.

I agree about the width for flat out cutting, but still not convinced that 19 horses at the PTO would satisfy me and a 5 footer. I will pose that question in another thread so more owners of the actual machine I decide on can comment.

 

[bunyip]

As for your concern regarding the steering brakes......I'm no expert. My understanding is that steering brakes were designed for row crop tractors that were 2wd and had skinny front tires mounted close together.

And I recall reading that they were notorious for rolling and killing farmers.

 

[joecoin]

I have operated both types of tractors and I have to say, I don't care either way, as long as my mower is out in front of me.

I can't understand why anyone would want to drag a mower behind them.

 

[DVR]

As others have mentioned- brakes are almost never used (on the hst models you are considering) other than to hold it when parked.
I have a 120' elevation drop on 335 acres and seldom touch the brakes on my 3301 hst.
If you have any plans to use a loader, it's a no brainer.
I've had several geared and hst machines. About the only place I prefer gears is with ground engaging attachments.
3301 is the sweet spot for me. 3901 won't do much the 3301 can't. 6ft goods are too big for both imo.

 

[MossRoad]

On my old IH2500b I often used the brakes and HST pedals at the same time when doing precision work on a slope. It was just about a perfect setup with directional pedals on one foot and brakes on the other.

My current machine, as I mentioned before, is right foot forward, left foot reverse. That is also very nice doing precision work on slopes.

 

[TnAndy]

Please explain how this Cruise Control operates.
Any CC I've ever had on anything.....touching the brake disengages the CC.

The CC on my New Holland was a rocker button on the dash....that is the only way you could disengage it.....as my wife found out the hard way went she came up to the garage one day, couldn't get it to stop in time (not used to the CC) and rammed a pallet fork thru the trunk of the car .......making 2nd runner up for a "Farmers Insurance, we've seen a thing or two" commercial.....

I definitely would get CC if you decide to go hydro....otherwise long runs wear out your foot for sure.

 

[airbiscuit]

• I've had a hydro and a shuttle - like em both.
• Buy some Mickey Mouse Boots, and you'll be able to operate that Mickey Mouse Kubota hydro treadle.
• Kubota also makes a Glide Shift Transmission (GST) that is pretty nice and might be more to the OPs liking.

 

[Jstpssng]

Please explain how this Cruise Control operates.
Any CC I've ever had on anything.....touching the brake disengages the CC.

Brush hog size is another question. To me, a 2501 or 3301 will not have the balls to run a 5' rotary. ???
I don't think I'll be using this machine for a lot of grass mowing. Certainly not pasture type mowing.
I will likely buy a second hand heavy duty 4' rotary that I can abuse. I figure 4' would get me a little tighter but the tractor width would eliminate some of that. If these 25 hp models will swing a 5' rotary with authority then maybe I should go with that. ???
I can see a LOT of backing up to underbrush and Youpon, lowering the boom and shredding the chit outta that stuff.

Also will need to keep about 2 acres beat down after it's cleared. For about 3 yrs until a house takes up some of that space.

That term is misleading. On a Kubota it's simply a lever that you can use to hold the pedal at the speed desired.
If you're mowing a large field or running up a road it will prove handy, as you don't need to hold the pedal continuously.
You still can use the clutch to disengage, just as on the tractor's you're accustomed to.