How many operate the left/right brake pedals independantly?

[tcreeley]

I used to have a 1948 Farmall cub I used for snow plowing. I used to keep the brakes separate. When I wanted both, I put my foot in the middle of the brake pedals. I found it useful in the snow when one tire started to slip and to avoid getting stuck, I would step on the brake for that tire - switching the "push" to the other tire and releasing it as I started to creep forward. I always used the Cub with chains. I couldn't afford to get it stuck- hard to get out.

 

[John_in_TN]

I never lock my brakes together. I grew up on small farm tractors (primarily tricycle style) and the individual brakes were routinely used for turns. I still frequently find them very useful with my small mfwd, wide-front tractor.
For higher speed stops, I place my heel on one brake with toes on the other brake so that I can use them to stop & steer. If you have them locked together: you had best make darn sure they are adjusted exactly the same for those emergency stops!

 

[fishmen222]

I use them independently all the time (not a choice on my 755) when cutting the grass. I have 2wd with turf tires so it does not tear up the grass bad and greatly reduces the turning radius. Also useful when one tire spins and the situation does not call for locking the rear. Give it a try for a while and see if you like it. After a while, you will instictively know where your foot goes to press both. You do not have to completely lock up the braked side in many situations...just enough friction to alter wheel speed.

 

[k0ua]

I use them rarely.. as others have noted, on ice, up against a tree with an implement to slow down a spinning wheel or just need to avoid something.. Mine are on the left now, with the Kioti, and that makes them more useful with a hydro machine. But Kioti thinks there should be a big axed warning lamp when they are unlocked. on the dash.. it says SPLIT!... you would think that was a big deal or something. I guess they don't want some newby stepping on just one going down the road real fast..Most of the time with hydro you can see-saw pretty fast and don't always need them, but there are times when nothing else will do, but mine stays locked most of the time.

James K0UA

 

[joshuabardwell]

On my kubota, its a lot harder to use the brakes independently because they are on the same side as the hst. I have to either use the cruise function so i can use my right foot for braking, or swing my left leg over which is what i do more often.

I was going to say. I bet a lot of drivers of HST tractors with the brakes on the same side as the HST lever never bother to even try (myself included) because it would require some contortion of the feet to accomplish it. And even if you were using cruise control, as soon as you hit the brakes, it pops off. So I don't see how you could really manage it, unless you put both feet on the same side, which would just be silly. Rule number one of tractoring is always look cool doing it.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I use my brakes separately all the time when I am in the woods. It is alot easier to jig around in tight places using the steering brakes and in the winter when you are pulling wood it is an absolute must to use them.

 

[k0ua]

I was going to say. I bet a lot of drivers of HST tractors with the brakes on the same side as the HST lever never bother to even try (myself included) because it would require some contortion of the feet to accomplish it. And even if you were using cruise control, as soon as you hit the brakes, it pops off. So I don't see how you could really manage it, unless you put both feet on the same side, which would just be silly. Rule number one of tractoring is always look cool doing it.

The cruise works pretty well, on a L3400HST, as it does not pop off (it is not a magnetic cruise) if you just push one pedal at a time.

James K0UA

PS. Oh, it does not work in reverse at all though.. disadvantage there

 

[RoyJackson]

I use 'em when plowing snow...helps keep the tractor on the straight and narrow...

 

[TripleR]

I was going to say. I bet a lot of drivers of HST tractors with the brakes on the same side as the HST lever never bother to even try (myself included) because it would require some contortion of the feet to accomplish it. And even if you were using cruise control, as soon as you hit the brakes, it pops off. So I don't see how you could really manage it, unless you put both feet on the same side, which would just be silly. Rule number one of tractoring is always look cool doing it.

On our Kubota, the cruise control only kicks off when you apply both brakes and the manual at least on the 5030 indicated to use the cruise control in order to use the turning brakes. I rarely use turning brakes on our Kubota HST as the turning radius is very sharp and doing so really helps little for the amount it helps with Industrial tires. I took our new L5740 out out into an open field yesterday just to see if it was any different than our previous L5030 and the results were pretty much the same, not worth the effort to use on a regular basis.

The M8540 with Ag tires reacts better to split brake steering and my son uses them often working in the woods. I mostly use it pulling a pull type rotary cutter where tight turns will just break stuff.

I grew up farming where using split brakes was necessary to make the quick, short turns at the end of the row, also used them to keep from getting stuck, maneuver through tight sections in the woods etc.

Utility of steering brakes in turns will vary from one tractor to the other as we have had some that due to tire type, wheelbase or whatever, all that happened was you just tore the ground up, so we didn't bother with them.

I would recommend anyone who hasn't tried it on their tractor to see if it helps or not and go from there.

 

[tow653]

I would think anyone who has row-cropped has used them independently a lot. Now with a utility tractor I use them most of the time but not all the time