HST as parking brake?

MossRoad · Nov 20, 2004

I've noticed that when I have my foot off the HST pedal the tractor won't roll. 

Then you've surely noticed that when your foot is ON the HST pedal, the tractor WILL move. The first time your shoelace or pant cuff gets caught on the pedal as you step down, or you trip and step on the pedal, and the tractor lurches forward or backward causing serious damage to property or worse yet, runs you over, you'll wish you never started the bad habit of not setting the brake each and every time you get off the unit, especially when it is running. Re-enforcing bad habits makes them automatic, so as time goes on, you will be less likely to ever use the brake, especially when you are in a hurry, which is when accidents happen most. How long does it really take to set a parking brake anyway??? About a second and a half. Is that second and a half worth leaving your loved ones forever? That is the thought that goes through my mind each time I catch myself doing something stupid(and I do catch myself more times than I care to admit). If we would just practice good safety habits each and every time, we are more likely to use them in a panic or rush situation as they are automatic reflexes.

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. 

Here's a link to a thread that discusses how HST works.

thcri · Nov 20, 2004

Maybe you can call me one of the dumb ones that started out not setting the brake. Yep, just like the guys said, getting on the tractor once I hit the hydro pedal. The New Holland's pedal are low on the deck and easy to hit. Lucky it was just me, if someone else was one they could have fell off. So now, I put in nuetral and hit the parking brake. A no brainer, less than 1 second, faster than TBN can post. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

murph

TMcD_in_MI · Nov 20, 2004

Thanks to all of you who took the time to respond and for encouraging me to practice safe tractoring. The consensus of opinion was definitely that I AM being stupid to not set the brake whenever I get off, although everyone was too diplomatic to actually use the word "stupid". I appreciate you all helping to set me straight. Thanks to Moss Road for the HST link. That was an interesting thread.

Tom in Michigan

adegiulio · Nov 20, 2004

I hardly ever use the parking brake on anything but serious grades. If the grade is too severe and the brake isn't on, the tractor will barely roll anywhere. I am just as safety conscious as the next guy, but for most things, the parking brake is un-necessary.

Some people have mentioned that they will only get on or off their tractor on the side opposite the HST pedals. The only problem I have in getting off my 4310 on the right side is that I might smack into the DSCV and move the loader. There is a switch in the seat that locks out the pedals when there is nobody sitting in it.

755inNY · Nov 20, 2004

The only problem I have in getting off my 4310 on the right side is that I might smack into the DSCV and move the loader. There is a switch in the seat that locks out the pedals when there is nobody sitting in it.


You can also position the DSCV lock lever to the locked (full down) position to prevent movement of the FEL if the control lever should get smacked.

One thing I note from reading all of the replies is the wide variety of safety interlocks on the different makes and years of tractors.

The 4310 HST does not require the transmission to be in neutral to start the engine. The operator must be in the seat for the transmisison to respond to pedal input.

On my old JD 755 HST there was a mechanical lockout that restricted pedal movement if the operator was not in the seat. The tractor would still move but very slowly. This was handy when hooking up implements on the 3PH. You did not need to climb back into the seat to move the tractor forward or back that last 1/2 inch.

Gary_in_Indiana · Nov 21, 2004

'I hardly ever use the parking brake on anything but serious grades." 

For the first time ever I actually had my 4200 move when I had neither hydro pedal depressed. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I'd never even had to consider it until I made a hill with my little bulldozer. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

NOW I'm going to have to pay a little more attention to that. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

LBrown59 · Nov 21, 2004

1*My New Holland will shut down if I get off the tractor with the HST engaged. 2*Must have the tractor in HST "neutral" and the parking brake set. dliston
3*Doug I think that's a good system that the Class III Boomer's use PineRidge .
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2**If I put my BX 23 tractor in HST neutral and set the parking brake it will roll away if it's on any kind of a slope
3*It's bad news and dangerous on my bx23.

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GET THE BASICS HERE.
http://consumers.creditnet.com/straighttalk/board/showthread.php?s=&postid=410243#post410243
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chucko · Nov 22, 2004

Well that figures...Friday after saying that I dont use my Parking Break
I get home and see something shiny on my garage door were something shinny should not be

I had left the 3pt sprayer hooked up and the tractor backed in the garage. The 3 point had leaked down over night and the frame of the sprayer hit my box blade that was on the floor behing it. Pushing the tractor forward just enough to put one of the bolts for the front weights trough the fiberglass door. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
I was almost thinking "who on TBN has a Chucko voodoo doll?" /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

MossRoad · Nov 22, 2004

DOH! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

RalphVa · Nov 22, 2004

Around here with all our hills, I ALWAYS set parking brakes on vehicles when stopping. Figure I might as well do it on my JD 4010, too. Its brake holds. The one on the Gravely doesn't hold that well. You'd best put it in gear when shutting it down and shut it down when getting off on a hill and put in gear.

Ralph