Brake operation on Kubota L3800

[lunky55]

Very interesting site. What is correct operation of brakes to assist turning on a Kubota L3800?

 

[k0ua]

Very interesting site. What is correct operation of brakes to assist turning on a Kubota L3800?

If a hydrostat, and you have the cruise control option.. make sure brake pedals are split, set forward speed with cruise and press left or right brake pedal to assist turn, and when completed shove cruise handle backward with left hand as it will not go back to neutral by brake pressing without pressing both brakes at the same time.. If gear transmission, just set forward speed with hand throttle, and press left or right brake pedal to assist turn. Or with hydrostat, if you are pretty good at ballet, you can cross over left foot to actuate brake pedals while pressing hydrostat pedal with right foot, OR if you are built with boats for feet, you can press hydrostat rocker forward with right foot heel and tap brake pedals with toe of right foot. (I never could do this one very well)..

James K0UA

 

[texasjohn]

James, good description...I'm going to have to give that a try...haven't been using brakes to turn...guess I've been missing out on some fun!! Thanks

 

[lunky55]

Thanks James. That will help. I'm getting my L3800 delivered this week. Just trying to learn as many tricks as I can. Any other tips-go for it. Thanks

 

[The kid]

Welcome to TBN from Tennessee.

 

[Briana03]

Welcome to TBN

I moved your thread to the Kubota Owning/Operating forum.

 

[Bluegill2]

Welcome. You have good taste in tractors.

I don't use the turning brakes on mine...

 

[Gary Fowler]

If it is a tractor, then it should have steering brakes. Many times you need them to keep your tractor moving in a straight line when using the FEL to grade and the wheels off the ground or not enough pressure to hold a straight line or when you need to boost it around tighter than the wheels will turn to avoid a tree. Get your tractor on a muddy slope wheels sliding sideways and heading for the creek or pond without steering brakes to push you around and then tell me they arent needed.
Heck even my JD 332 lawn tractor has steering brakes. It isnt that difficult to put an extra pedal on a tractor when you have brakes on both wheels anyway.
Very important is that you turn your wheels in the direction of turn and then use the brake to assist. It would put a lot of unwanted pressure on the tires, rim, bearing and of course steering components if you try to just slide the front wheels when facing directly forward.

 

[art]

Very interesting site. What is correct operation of brakes to assist turning on a Kubota L3800?

There are several ways of doing it although using the brakes to steer is not what it was three or four decades ago. Kubota tractors do have about the shortest turning ratio of all compacts so they normally will go where others have had to use the brakes to get in or out of areas. Kubota four wheel drive actually turns as tight and tighter then some two wheel drive tractors. Personally seeing what we find in the shop I don't recommend using the brakes to steer do to steering component failures. Sometimes it's better to just make two runs at it.

 

[TripleR]

There is another very active thread on this with some good advice. I no longer use my tractors in the mud, when it's muddy, I park everything including UTV/ATV and keep my 4WD pickup on the road, so steering in the mud is not an issue for me. I spend enough time repairing washouts not to want to tear my soil up anymore than absolutely necessary.

In some situations/tractors steering brakes are helpful; just not generally how I use my tractors.