Brake Steering a Kubota HST

[glennmac]

While testing B series today, I recalled some discussion here and on CTB to the effect that you couldn't brake steer a Kubota HST. This was because the brakes are on the wrong side, and that's why Deere's are better. Something like that.

Well, maybe I dont understand brake steering, but I did notice this. All the B's except the BX have an on-dash cruise switch. If the split brakes are locked together, the cruise control will pop off when you brake. But if you just hit one brake, the cruise will stay on, one side will brake and you can slide into a sharp turn. My sainted dealer was unaware of this.

This was quite fun. Like whipping a whitewater boat into an eddy or slide turning on skis. (I realize you Texas guys have no idea what these references mean.)

On the 2910 it gets better. With the on-dash cruise contol you can't vary your "gas pedal" while at the same time braking. Instead of the on-dash cruise switch, the 2910 has a long cruise/travel control lever next to the seat that is a functional substitute for the gas pedal. Hence you can vary the travel speed with your right hand on the lever while at the same time braking with your right foot and steering with your left hand. Thus you can blast down a straightaway at the truly awesome (to me) forward speed of the 2910, let up on the gas lever, cut into a turn with one brake and the steering wheel, and then give it the gas when coming out of the turn. How do you spell ROPS.

Too bad my departing BX doesnt have split brakes and such a lever. With its low center of gravity I could start a whole new thrill sport. There are practical reasons to brake steer that many of you are aware of.

Glenn

 

[Bird]

glennmac, us Texans know about white water and skis; we read about them on the Internet./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif And of course you're right about using brakes for turning on the B2710 and B2910. You'd think personnel at the dealership would know, but sometimes they don't. I just occasionally use my brakes and cruise that way on the B2710 I have, but with the HST, I rarely need brake steering.

Bird

 

[Pks]

My B2400 doesn't brake steer very well in icy conditions due to the goofy pedal arrangement. I'm considering the prospect of adding two hand operated levers that will allow me to brake steer with my right hand while steering with the left. My cruise interlock is never used, maybe I can use it: pull up and turn right, push down and turn left.

 

[W5FL]

pks,

Amazing isn't it. That was the way the 1947 Farmalls steered. They had mechanical brake levers for each rear wheel.

I doubt that much brake steering is done as it is only applicable to a plowed field where you need to turn quickly around in a limited space or maybe in the woods. I find almost no use for brake steering with an implement on the rear.

 

[Pks]

I certainly would not want to brake steer while cutting my lawn but I do need it when plowing the drive in the winter with the loader and when going up steep inclines with my box-scraper/weight-box.

I've been moving a lot of dirt around lately with the loader and when I go back to the sand pit to get another load, the front wheels tend to skim the trial while traveling up a hill that is on the way. The trail bends to the right and the tractor goes straight. A little RH brake corrects the trajectory. But I am forced to bend down and use my right index finger to apply the brake. Bending down is a bother.

Sure is a great wheelbarrow, that loader bucket makes great concreate

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I've actually found a use for brake steering. In the winter I use my loader to scrape the ice sheet off my driveway. I lower to bucket and raise the front of the tractor to increase the bite into the ice, then move forward to scrape away the ice sheet. With the front wheels off the ground, normal steering is, shall we say, impared, so I tap the brakes as needed to adjust the tractors direction as I scrape away.

Regardless, at the end of the day it's still near impossible to do. You really need two right feet, and I don't have that. Without the lever HSD control that the 2910 has, break steering is not practical on the Bs and only can only be done in a pinch with great difficulty. Good thing there's no real need for it.

 

[glennmac]

Other uses reported on forums all relate to situations where you need to pivot on a dime to reverse direction. Reportedly, real farmers do it all the time when plowing and disking. Other reported uses: grading, grading on curves on hills, plowing snow with a blade, picking up and stacking things in confined quarters like a barn, picking up heavy logs in the forest and pivoting to stack them behind you. One person did a test. Could turn a 6' circle with steering wheel and 2' with brake steering. Thought he could get close to zero radius with practice. JD must believe its useful, because that is supposedly why they put steering brakes on the left and the regular brake on the right.

Glenn

 

[gordon]

Brake steering to me is a very important part of my tractor as I use it quite often. Alot of people using tractors will never or maybe on a rare day use brake steering. Its something thats learned and helps in the usefulness of the tractor as far as I'm concered.

When skidding logs using a tree for a scrape and sharp turn in the trail---what else brake steering. Guess that pretty much sums it up. There are alot of justified uses for brake steering. Now do you actually think that a tractor manufacturer would put the second pedal on the tractor at an added cost if it didn't have a good use. --NO-- They would put one pedal just like your truck has./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Gordon

 

[scruffy]

Gordon, I whole-heartedly agree with you, the brake steering any tractor enhances the manuverability of the tractor and makes many jobs much easier. Another side benefit is if one wheel looses traction, by simply breaking that wheel lightly, the other will pick up the 'slack' so to speak, comes in handy every so often.