Snow Brake steering on Snow

[AndyMA]

When ever plowing or bucketing with either my TN or 2120 I steer with the brakes. Bucket float makes no difference. what I am pushing is always off center enough to pull me one wy or the other. The parking lot at my building has enough slope so that I am always sliding downhill. 4WD or 2WD makes no difference, I'd be lost with out usuable split pedals. One bid negative aganst most hydro setups in my opinion.

Andy

 

[_RaT_]

"One bid negative aganst most hydro setups in my opinion."

I think Kubota's HST is one of the few that has this as an issue, especially if we are talking about the larger compacts. I assume that you are talking about your parking lot at work having snow on it. One negative about living in snow in my opinion besides the cold, oh yeah and that spring thaw. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Of course there are worse things like living on a little city lot.

 

[CTyler]

Chains would no dought make a difference. I'd be able to plow up the big hill on our drive easily. Can only take a light pass going up. Last year we had record snows and did ok with out them and on our last snow. I'll probably get a set because just because of all the freezing rains we had this year.

This the start of my second year in the country and its been bang from day one!

 

[_RaT_]

Currently at our place in Tahoe we have 72" of snow. At the nearby resorts there is over 200". It's funny because I'm only 60 miles away from there and yet once every 5 years we get a drop of snow.

 

[Freds]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Make sure your not putting your whole foot on the pedal, )</font>

I've had my foot in every conceivable position on the pedal except for Henro's sidesaddle method /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
When I hit a bump or rut my body moves, which translates to my leg moving, which pivots my foot a bit on the heel and moves the HST pedal. I've no doubt it's operator error, but I never had this problem with my B7500. I prefer the operation and location of the pedals on the B7500, especially reverse, but that's just me.

For those that may not know, I haven't seen it mentioned... You can vary the speed on a 3130 (and I'm sure other models) with the cruise lever. It isn't a locking lever/knob that locks the HST pedal in one position like on a B7500.
The cruise lever, which is on the left side of the seat and easy to reach without moving, actually moves the HST pedal. It's very easy to adjust speed with your left hand and work the brakes with your right foot.

 

[JayC]

<font color="orange"> The cruise lever, which is on the left side of the seat and easy to reach without moving, actually moves the HST pedal. It's very easy to adjust speed with your left hand and work the brakes with your right foot. </font>

That sounds interesting. I didn't know Kubota had an adjustable cruise control.

One thing that I wish these companies would do is if they want to use the treadle pedal, why not at least place the brake pedals on the other side so those who use differential braking could use it? The adjustable cruise that Kubota has is ok, but as far as I know most machines don't have an adjustable cruise. If you need to use the differential braking and have to engage the cruise in a tight spot that could make for a dangerous situation.

 

[_RaT_]

Freds, as little as I use the cruise control, it is remarkably simple and easy to use. I don't know how you could improve on it. In the past I have thought about the brake issue Kubota has with regards to HST. I envision using a electro mechanical means of actuating the pedal via a toggle that would operate the left or right brake. It could have the toggle switch on the joystick

 

[Freds]

It's really no different to use than a hand operated throttle on anything else (snowmobile, ATV...).

I was thinking about Kubota's pedal placement this afternoon and the only reason I could come up with, and it's a stretch, is that they wanted the clutch pedal by itself. Maybe they feel the clutch pedal by itself is more idiot proof if the "feces hits the fan" and you need to get things stopped in a hurry. That or it's a patent thing /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[_RaT_]

"If you need to use the differential braking and have to engage the cruise in a tight spot that could make for a dangerous situation."


The cruise control instantly is out when you hit the brakes. I think what it boils down to is that if you insist on having differential braking and want HST on top of that, look at NH or JD. Since snow is not a factor for me, or at least not to where I need to move it myself, I have found that even on my NH 2120 and my old International 454, I simply never take advantage of differential braking. Even in our orchard where we make tight turns with a large mower, the turning radius is more then sufficent without having to use differential braking and skid a wheel around the turn.

 

[Jibber]

No, I don't NEED the BH in the winter.. it's more of a space thing.. Keeping it on the Tractor lets me get the BH in the garage over winter too. I know they are built to sit outside.. but I'd rather not worry about rusting of the hydraulic pistons and all. And, in case I do need to use it.. I'm not digging it out of three feet of snow and ice.

as for the 4wd issue.. the whole reason I'm using the rear brakes to turn is that the front tires are lifting off the ground, or at least losing grip to the point that I'm going where I don't want to go. So.. I don't think dragging the front tires is an issue. Next significant snow I'm going to try 2wd.. not sure that will make a difference going uphill and all. PS.. it's only on float that I seem to have this problem.. if I'm running the bucket with the stick I can bring it up a little and the fronts sit down.. unfortunately.. that doesn't help filling the bucket with snow. I keep the lip angled up a bit because I don't want to bite in too much and take too much gravel with the snow..

I may just go back to the blower full time. My Neighbor suggested suitcase weights to help keep the front end down.. when pushing snow. I'm not sure you can use weights with the loader attached.. will have to investigate that.