DIfferential braking

Anonymous Poster · Mar 23, 2003

I am looking at tc29d and tc33d tractors to mow 3 acres/snow blow 600 ft/fel/bh. The land is a mix of level and inclined. Most all of the mowing is level. From reading on this net it seems the brake and hydro pedals are on the same side. How do you use the brake to make a tight turn?Is differential braking something that you do often? I am obviously new to compact tractors-sorry if these are simpleton questions. Along the same line- are many of you using super steer tractors? Do you like the feature? Anyone dislike super steer? With the mowing I need to do it seems like a good feature.

cstocks · Mar 23, 2003

MIKED,

I've had my TC33D for a year and a half and I have never used my brakes once, aside from setting the parking brake. Obviously, that means I have never used my brakes to assist in turning. With the hydrostatic transmission it is easy for me to negotiate sharper turns than the front end makes by making quick back and forth adjustments as I turn the wheel. Those who have supersteer will all tell you how much they love it, while those without supersteer tend to agree that the 29 and 33 turn plenty sharp without it. Since I have never used my brakes seperately and don't have supersteer I cannot tell you what I am missing. For me, the turning radius is sharp enough and adjusting w/ short, quick forward and rear movements is all I need. I mow flat land on my three acres and up and down hills on a highline on my other property and neither have many trees or other obstacles to mow around, so that influences how I feel about my setup. If your situation involves lots of stuff to navigate around your needs will most likely be different than mine.

thcri · Mar 23, 2003

MikeD,

I have the TC29D and that was my question to the dealer. He told me that New Holland uses the same format for Hydro as the standard clutch. I have owned my TC29D for almost a year now and had a TC21D for a year also. I have never had to use the differential braking at all. I don't think on my 21 I ever had the cross link off of the brakes. My 29 I took the cross link off a couple of times to check the differential. Where you may get into trouble is when brush hoggin with the mower up and you take the weight off the front end. I usually leave my loader on for that. The other thing I do have on my 29 is supersteer that will help in tight turns.

I just don't think you will have any trouble with it and if you are creative you can put the heel of your foot on the hydro and the toe on the brake. Im not cordinated enough to make that work though.

murph

Mark_in_NH · Mar 23, 2003

Mike,
I am not sure just what the peddle layout is on the models you mentioned. One of the reasons I liked the TC35D, 40D, 45D series is that,
The hydro peddles are on your right while the brake and differential lock lever is on your left. Otherwise I don't know how you would one foot to do it all.

Anonymous Poster · Mar 23, 2003

I believe most hydrostat tractors have cruise control. You set the cruise control then your foot is free to use the brake pedals independently of each other, for a left turn or a right turn.

thcri · Mar 23, 2003

Shoppintractors,

You can't do that on my TC29D, you'll end up with the steering wheel in your face!!!! Just kiddin, but hitting the brakes turns the cruise off and whamooo, instant stop.

murph

Bird · Mar 23, 2003

( set the cruise control then your foot is free to use the brake pedals independently of each other, for a left turn or a right turn )

As far as I know you can do that on any Kubota, but not on a TC29D. That's because on the Kubotas you have to depress both brake pedals to release the cruise, but on the TC29D you can use the brake to turn one direction (and I've forgotten which), but the other brake pedal releases the cruise control. At least that's the way it is on my cousin's TC29D, and according to his owner's manual, that's the way it's supposed to work.

thcri · Mar 23, 2003

Bird,

So what you are saying is I could try the other direction or brake and it may work. I just got lucky then the first time, crapped my pants and never tried it again. Or I suppose I could see which brake has the switch on it.

murph

Bird · Mar 23, 2003

That's right, Murph. I read my cousin's manual and was surprised to see that, so I had to go try it and found the manual was right; I just don't remember which way you can turn and which way will release the cruise. You can probably look for the switch or simply try one brake and then the other to see which one. You don't even need to be turning to do it. And I believe my cousin's TC29D is a 2000 year model, so I can't say for sure that it's true of all of them.

thcri · Mar 23, 2003

Bird,

Mine is a 2001. But for the life of me I can't find anything in the book. In fact in the glossary or the contents the word cruise is not in it. I paged through each page one by one and I can find where it talks about differential braking but nothing on the cruise control. In fact when they display the dash, they don't show the switch for the cruise. So tomorrow night I will go out and test it for sure.

murph

thcri · Mar 23, 2003

Bird,

Your absolutely right!!! There is a switch on my left brake. I just turned the key on, flipped the cruise on, light came on and then hit the left brake, off went the light. Did the same thing on the right side and the cruise light stayed on.

So if you plan on doing things to the right or plan it that way you should be ok. But gee why could not one pull the switch. Yes it is a safety feature but what makes going to the right safe but not to the left??? I take no responsibility for anyone disconnecting their cruise brake switch. Actually I disagree with the brake even turning the cruise off on high speeds. Them hydros slow down pretty quick on their own and them steering wheels don't taste too good.

murph

Anonymous Poster · Mar 23, 2003

murph,

It's kinda like having your right turn signal stuck in the 'on' position. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Plan your work, then work your plan, shouldn't be a problem.

jinman · Mar 23, 2003

Mike, I think if you've never had a tractor with differential braking or had to use it, you will probably never miss it. I learned to drive a tractor on a '51 Ferguson TO-20 and it had a single brake pedal in addition to brake pedal on both the right and left side that worked the associated wheel's brake. When plowing and at the end of the row, we'd stand on that right or left brake and turn the tractor on a dime. My second tractor was/is a Ford Jubilee and it has two brake pedals on the right side that can be used independently or as one by stepping on both at the same time. When I went to buy a Boomer, I was so used to differential braking that I was thrilled to find the Class III Boomers had a brake pedal and hydro pedal setup I was instantly comfortable with. Again, if you've never had it, you probably won't miss it and should not let that bother you about the Class II Boomers. ...just my opinion.

beenthere · Mar 24, 2003

You could solve the brake problem with a Deere. They had a bit more foresight, or something, to put the left/right brakes on the left side. I have had no trouble adapting to that side and could not operate a tractor without the use of individual rear brakes. If you don't use them, that is fine by me too. Your conditions of usage are more limited than mine.

Using the differential lock helps avoid some of the need for using individual rear brakes.

When plowing snow with a front blade, the blade may try to crowd the front end (also when using the FEL) at which time the use of the brake to help keep the tractor going in the direction you want it to go will come in mighty handy. While operating on slopes, where the high side is a bit lighter and traction is lost, braking the high side wheel lightly to give more traction to the lower side gives control back to the operator. You don't want to have to put the cruise on to do this.

thcri · Mar 24, 2003

( Using the differential lock helps avoid some of the need for using individual rear brakes. )

When I use my differential lock my tractor goes straight forward /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

murph

beenthere · Mar 24, 2003

And I didn't mean it was for turning. Without differential lock, the individual brakes can help hold a single spinning wheel from spinning and causing power to the non-spinning wheel, negating the action of the differential. A balance is needed so both wheels give as much traction as possible. I find my differential lock is useful and do not use the individual brakes in its place. However, without diff. lock, individual brake usage would be "necessary" when traction is "different" on one side of the tractor than the other. Hope you get the picture now. Sorry for causing confusion. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

thcri · Mar 24, 2003

Beenthere,

I just had to take a shot at ya. We were all talking about turning with the brakes and then you put that in there. Yes your right with the differential loc on hill sides. My 29d with sensi-trac I never really have to worry about that stuff. It pretty much holds its own. As far as turing with the brakes, I use to do that a lot on larger tractors with large tool bars on the 3 point but never with these little 4 wheel drives

murph

Kent · Mar 24, 2003

Split brakes and (front) snow blowing

I never thought I would unlink the two pedals (and would never do it on dry pavement), but I liked having the option just in case. (one reason I went for the TC40D was the brakes on left, hydro on right and NO treadle).

I have since learned that with the snowblower out front that once the front tires hit ice or dig deep in the "snow shoulder" that steering via the steering wheel is impossible/useless. So I am constantly steering the rig using the left or right brake. The brakes are a bit noisy/scraping sound, but do the job quite well!

tc35dforme · Mar 25, 2003

Re: Split brakes and (front) snow blowing

Kent,

That's 'sactly what I was thinking. The only time I unlock mine is when I need to negotiate some slippery surface without the needed traction up front. Used them quite a bit this winter !!

jinman · Mar 25, 2003

Re: Split brakes and (front) snow blowing

Kent, if you backdrag with your FEL bucket, you'll also find a use for differential braking. If your front wheels lift off the ground, you can steer the tractor quite easily with the rear brakes. That's where I use mine most often. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif