I have just driven a L3710 with HST and really liked this type of transmission, but how does anyone get use to the boomerang shaped pedal? I'm use to the separate pedals for forward and reverse shifting like on the Deere 10 series, and have great reservations about my being able to manage this Kubota HST pedal. It seems that a persons foot would have to be at a really awkward angle to manipulate this weird shaped pedal. How do you other owners out there use this pedal? Do you have to twist your ankle or foot to use this pedal, or even go through other leg contortions to shift?
HST F & R pedal?
- Thread starter woodyed
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Boondox
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Notice how the pedal is at an angle? If you put the heel of your boot on the deck and use just the toe on the pedal, it's a much more natural position. And in reverse, if you plant the toe of your boot on the deck and the heel on the reverse end of the pedal, it's also a fit...especially when looking over your shoulder while backing.
Pete
Pete
_RaT_
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Woody, I have to laugh a little at your concern. Of course you can just as one gets accustom to two pedals side by side, brakes on the left side when the norm for many, many years has been to have them on the right. To drive a Bobcat skidsteer with your hands and control the loader with your feet becomes second nature as well. I personally really like the single pedal that Kubota as well as others use, not that a JD is better or worse, just different. Let me also say that one day while digging next to a culvert, the entire front end of my L 48 dropped down into the ditch. Apparently both the hole in the pipe and muskrats had made a good size cavity. It happened instantly and all I could do was step on the rear of the pedal which is a manuver you simply cannot confuse and don't look to see where the front and back is. While the rear tires spun and could not hold the tractor, they did slow the descent down. All that took place in about 1/10th of a second. Had the pedals been like the JD, I could just as easily hit the forward pedal or perhaps both pedals simoultaneously which wold not have worked for what I did next. It bought me enough time to get the loader down and dig the bucket into the ground to push me back up the hill and out of the ditch. Yes, believe me, you not only get accustom to it as you do controls that are brand specific, you may come to find its better contrary to the stories I've read at JD's site. I could get accustom to most any style, I was quite happy to not only see Kubota keep the style of pedal on its new series, but that the tried and true and arguably the best hydrostatic drive transmissions in compact tractors are still being implemented in the series as well as the same quiet and clean engines. You will be suprised how what appears to be awkward at first not only becomes second nature, it quickly becomes obvious why the design is as it is. Rat....
kyoders
Silver Member
Woody,
I would echo what Rat said, with a little variation. I was not "used" to either arrangement. I had a HST garden tractor on loan sort of for a week that had separate pedals side-by-side for forward and reverse. In my few hours of playing with it, on several occasions I mistakenly used the wrong one. Fortunately, I wasn't in a situation where it would cause any serious damage to me or the tractor. Having determined that a GT just wasn't going to cut it for what I needed to do, I got a BX2200. In over 60 hours of use, I am happy to report that I have not once mixed it up. From that, I would suggest that if you aren't already "used" to one or the other setup, the Kubota peddle is quicker to learn (more intuitive?). Anyway, I would not think that having to "unlearn" one way would take long. Some people just flat out don't like the Kubota system, even after using it long enough to become accustomed to it. Different strokes.
I don't find it at all akward to use. I normally have my foot slightly turned to the outside, but heel and toe are usually always in contact, especially using the loader. When I am traveling a long distance in forward, I sometimes slide my foot further up the pedal, with my heel resting more at the pivot point. My advice would be to try it out for a while if you can. Once you are used to it, it will probably be no big deal, unless you have to constantly switch between the two systems.
Kevin
I would echo what Rat said, with a little variation. I was not "used" to either arrangement. I had a HST garden tractor on loan sort of for a week that had separate pedals side-by-side for forward and reverse. In my few hours of playing with it, on several occasions I mistakenly used the wrong one. Fortunately, I wasn't in a situation where it would cause any serious damage to me or the tractor. Having determined that a GT just wasn't going to cut it for what I needed to do, I got a BX2200. In over 60 hours of use, I am happy to report that I have not once mixed it up. From that, I would suggest that if you aren't already "used" to one or the other setup, the Kubota peddle is quicker to learn (more intuitive?). Anyway, I would not think that having to "unlearn" one way would take long. Some people just flat out don't like the Kubota system, even after using it long enough to become accustomed to it. Different strokes.
I don't find it at all akward to use. I normally have my foot slightly turned to the outside, but heel and toe are usually always in contact, especially using the loader. When I am traveling a long distance in forward, I sometimes slide my foot further up the pedal, with my heel resting more at the pivot point. My advice would be to try it out for a while if you can. Once you are used to it, it will probably be no big deal, unless you have to constantly switch between the two systems.
Kevin
_RaT_
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Kevin, actually for a while there I was using both types. A John Deere front deck mower model 510. Never gave it a second thought. I try to think about how I do it on my Kubota, but I don't know, it just happens. I again don't think either system as having a big advantage over the other. Kinda like having a automatic transmission with the stick on the column or on the floor. I can say that either way, its immensely conveniant. Rat...
DavidInNH
Gold Member
Maybe its because both of my previous HST mowers had similar pedals, but I find it very natural to push my foot forwad to go forward and backwards to go backward. I'm not the most coordinated person on the planet, but my brain always seems to make my foot do the right thing.
Both of my mowers had rocker pedals where your entire foot was on the pedal. These are kind of tough to hold steady when the ride gets bumpy - there isn't anything to anchor your leg and foot. With the Kubota pedal you have your heel on the deck in forward and your toes on the deck in reverse. (Unless you have size 15's like Rat). And the best part is being able to creep it when using the backhoe by using your hand to lift or depress the rear pedal.
Both of my mowers had rocker pedals where your entire foot was on the pedal. These are kind of tough to hold steady when the ride gets bumpy - there isn't anything to anchor your leg and foot. With the Kubota pedal you have your heel on the deck in forward and your toes on the deck in reverse. (Unless you have size 15's like Rat). And the best part is being able to creep it when using the backhoe by using your hand to lift or depress the rear pedal.
_RaT_
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David, you are exactly right. With either your heel or the ball of your foot being used as a pivot or hinge, it makes control very precise. Even with bumps etc., it is very easy to maintain a constant pedal pressure and a smooth ride. Thanks for mentioning that, I don't even think about it yet it is in fact one of the sub conscience things one does with this "boomerang" shaped pedals.
longway5
Silver Member
Working at a golf course, all our mowers are hydros, and you just get used to each mower's set up. Most of the JD's have side-by-side, and after a while you just know which one to press. All the Toro's have the front/back setup, but mounted with a slight angle to give you room for your heel on the floor. We also have a BX2200, and I actually don't like how far apart the two halves of the pedal are (the Toro's are closer resulting in slightly quicker times for changing direction). We also have a couple of JD's with a front/back setup that I just don't like. It takes a long time to change direction, because you almost have to shift your whole weight to move your foot back, and going forward for a long time will result in your foot "creeping" up the pedal until your heel is no longer on the floor. I know they have changed the setup on these mowers in the past few years to bring them inline with the side-by-side setup on their other equipment.
I have an L3710 HST (used) with about 30 hours (350 total), first tractor, and love the HST. A couple points. When doing long runs in reverse, I simply move my foot so the toe is on the reverse, thus eliminating the chance to do anything but reverse. Forward/backward stuff seems to happen pretty naturally. Lastly, when changing attachments or fine tuning PH digger location, I stick the tractor in low at idle and adjust location by hand (standing next to the tractor) with about 1/4" accuracy.
I don't have anything to compare it to, but think the Kubota HST is pretty slick! Hope that helps, comments are welcome!
Chuck in Maine
I don't have anything to compare it to, but think the Kubota HST is pretty slick! Hope that helps, comments are welcome!
Chuck in Maine
