HST as parking brake?

[TMcD_in_MI]

I have a JD 4310 and I know that the owner's manual and John Deere's lawyers say that I need to lock the brake before getting off the tractor. But if I'm on fairly level ground, or even a gentle slope, I've noticed that when I have my foot off the HST pedal the tractor won't roll. A few times lately when I had to hop off to hook up a chain or throw something in the bucket, I've just ignored the brake. The tractor stayed put. Am I being stupid to do this? What do other folks do?

Does anyone know enough about how HSTs work to tell me exactly what is happening in the transmission that seems to act as a brake? An automatic transmission in a car or truck sure doesn't act the same way. Not that I understand them either.

Tom in Michigan

 

[chucko]

they can roll that is why they say to lock the break or as I found out the other day after being too lazy to walk alllllllll the way around my tractor to get on it you can step on the peddle while getting on and reallllllllllllly create a good pucker.

No I, me, myself not trying to tell you to go against what all the wise lawers say seldom use my parking break

 

[shvl73]

<font color="blue">step on the peddle while getting on and reallllllllllllly create a good pucker.
</font>
I asked my dealer to put a step on the right side of my tractor where it was already tapped for one. He refused for just that reason.
I only use the brake on uneven ground or when I want to leave it running.

 

[Boondox]

I just lower the bucket and whatever implement I have on the back end, then get off. I'll use the brake if I can't lower both ends, i.e., if I need one or the other raised for whatever reason. Pete

 

[keeney]

When you get off and shut it off, you have to go to neutral to restart. If the brake is not on and you move to neutral, you may start rolling. If you are not in the habit of using the brake, panic can happen trying to stop with the HST peddle when you are in neutral!

My procedure now is to always use the parking brake, and I even tend to keep it pushed down when starting and changing the gear select.

I tend to not like to get off the tractor and leave it running, but when I do, I am so in the habit of using the parking brake, that I almost always put the brake on.

I think a better safety system would be much more like a car. The gear select would have four positions: Park, Low, Neutral, and High. The seat-switch kill should require operator presence unless the gear is in Park, and starting should be disabled unless in Park. The seperate parking break is kind of whimpy anyways. The only thing Neutral should be used for is to go between Low and High, and the occasional times when the tractor needs to be moved (pushed, pulled, winched onto a trailer) when not running.

- Rick

 

[BigEddy]

Mine will roll. Not always right away.
Funny story - I have a slight ramp down into my shed. I parked my lawn tractor at the top of the slope about 6' away, and went to open the door. Turned around to see the tractor rolling right at me. I dove through the opening just before the tractor hit the door and pushed it closed.
Glad I have a door on the other end as well or I could still be in there.
I always set the brake when I get off either tractor now.

Interestingly - on my Garden tractor (322) I can't get off and leave it running without setting the brake, and I must press the brake to start it every time, but on the 855 the seat switch only affects the PTO and there is no switch on the brakes.

 

[dliston]

My New Holland will shut down if I get off the tractor with the HST engaged. Must have the tractor in HST "neutral" and the parking brake set - some type of safety switch under my butt when I'm on the seat. I rather think it is a good idea to set the brake, anyway - better safe than sorry - couldn't forgive myself if someone got hurt because I didn't take one second to reach for the brake. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Doug

 

[PineRidge]

Doug I think that's a good system that the Class III Boomer's use.

When I'm working on our rig even if it isn't running I just don't feel confident sliding underneath it if the brake isn't SET. I have always made a habit of using it when I'm not on the tractor platform.

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue">Am I being stupid to do this? What do other folks do? </font>

I think one needs to ask himself how much trouble it is to set the parking brake, VS the risk that may result from from not doing such a simple thing.

Personally, I must admit that I have gotten off my hst tractor a couple times without setting the brake. But I have concluded that setting the parking brake is such an easy thing to do, there is really no reason why I should not set the brake before getting off the tractor.

Not doing so will only prove to be a mistake after something happens. Why take the chance? Setting the parking brake is just so simple and pain free it has become a no brainer for me.

By the way, I also turn the engine off before hooking anything to the PTO...

Safe is better than sorry...

 

[btolle]

After reading the TractorByNet forums for a while I have become more safety conscious. Read some of the horror stories and it will make you consider giving up bad habits.

I too, have accidentally hit the HST pedal while getting on and it can be a wake up call. I used to just set the brake SOME of the time but find that if I get in the habit of setting it EVERY time it will become second nature.

Like Henro, I would not consider going anywhere near the PTO or any PTO driven implement without shutting the engine off. I can just see what I would look like if my shirt or pants got caught in a rotating driveshaft.

I work in the woods a lot and have had some small limbs fall on my head. After reading about a man about 15 miles from me who was killed by a falling limb while riding a tractor I went out and bought a hardhat about 2 weeks ago. I'm not sure a hardhat would have saved his life but it might have. It cost less than $7 at Lowe's. I think my life is worth $7 (contrary to what some other folks think it is worth).

BTW, I hate hardhats, seatbelts, and a few other things, but I want to live to see 60 next year so I use those things.

Think about this: How would feel if your tractor just happened to roll and your child 9or grandchild) just happened to be standing in front or it? How would you feel?

Bill Tolle