HST pedals: rocker or separate?

[bp fick]

Actually, I did address the BX and B style layout. The design is essentially a treadle system, but the treadle pivot is below the floor, if you will, with only the "tops" of the pedal sticking up. To repeat, if one has a big enough boot, I suppose one could "reach" toe-heal to the two pedals. No way I can. I must actually pick my foot up and slide to the correct pedal. I don't think this results in particularly speedy operation. But again, I've gotten quite used to and, like an organ player dancing on the organ foot pedals, I could do it in my sleep, I think.

The only thing Kubota might have been looking to achieve was a roomier looking floor board area and perhaps even some supposed measure of safety? Sheer speculation.

 

[devildog1]

Do you really think it is "much" faster? (and I'm asking honestly, not to be sarcastic or start an argument) But I just don't see how it is all that much faster?

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my kubota and I think it is a great tractor. However, I don't see how the treadle pedal makes it any noticeably faster to change direction than two separate pedals.
My neighbor has a JD 4720 with separate pedals (HST) and I've operated that a bit, I never did do a 'test' of the two by timing myself, but I didn't notice that it was any slower. It seems like when you start talking about speed and efficiency with one type over another, it is all theoretical and not real world.

Again, I'm not trying to start an argument, and I do LOVE my tractor
but I don't think it's any faster because of the pedal design. Just my opinion :thumbsup:

I guess the only way I can explain it would be that your foot stays in one place rather then moving from one pedal to the other. That movement takes time, not much but it is time. After reading the thread responses it seems that many like the pedals and many like the threadles, Good thing there can be a choice, each to there own I guess.
DevilDog

 

[Grandad4]

Guys, he is not talking about a rocker verse 2 side be side pedals, like you are thinking. If you read his post:

He is talking about the HST and the kubota B and BXs.

His currant Kioti has a rocker pedal like Kubota's L series, which you are all thinking of. What he doesn't understand, is why they made it the way they did on the B and BXs. For some reason, Kubota built them with neither 2 pedals side by side, or a rocker like on the Ls. Instead, the forward is up where you would expect it, and the reverse is back where the differential lock would be, with flat deck between them.

I can't find a good picture, but if you go here, click "Features" and them click "Top" over to the right,and then click on the little circle that says "2-Pedal HST Operation", you can see what I am talking about.


chelydra - I can't really help you, we have a M7040 with hydraulic shuttle, but I can't think of any good reason to do it the way they did on the B and BX. Either do two pedals side by side (my personal preference) or the rocker style like on the Ls and your Kioti.

Ed

Thanks for 'splaining it, Ed! Both of my Kub's have the older treadle style, and I didn't appreciate the geometry of the newer models. Sorry if I took everyone off on a tangent with the 2 pedal vs. treadle thing.

 

[xtn]

Actually, I did address the BX and B style layout. The design is essentially a treadle system, but the treadle pivot is below the floor, if you will, with only the "tops" of the pedal sticking up. To repeat, if one has a big enough boot, I suppose one could "reach" toe-heal to the two pedals. No way I can. I must actually pick my foot up and slide to the correct pedal. I don't think this results in particularly speedy operation.

Hmmmm. Sounds like an owner could easily bridge the two pedals with a bit of plate and use it like a real treadle.

 

[chelydra]

... the BX and B style layout. The design is essentially a treadle system, but the treadle pivot is below the floor, if you will, with only the "tops" of the pedal sticking up. To repeat, if one has a big enough boot, I suppose one could "reach" toe-heal to the two pedals ....

Yeah, that's what I was trying to understand. Kioti and Kubota HST both have the rocker, with the pivot below the floor. The Kioti is more of a true treadle, easy to rock back and forth. The Kubota requires repositioning the foot to change directions, and seems to offer little advantage over side-by-side forward and reverse drive pedals. I think I would find delicate work more difficult with the Kubota system, though I do understand that some people might strain the Kioti drivetrain by changing directions too suddenly.

If I ever do windup with a Kubota B or BX, I might fabricate a treadle to sit on top of the pair to make rocking easier. Has anyone here tried this? Or is it possible that downward pressure on both pedals at once would harm the rocker pivot?

 

[aczlan]

I use the treadle on our B7500 and BX2660 by pushing down on the forward pedal, or putting the toe of my boot toe under it and lifting it to backup. My heel then stays put and off I go.

I have used the 2 pedal setup on a Deere 755 and a Cub Cadet GT3200. I dont like it as I have to look to see what pedal I am on, whereas with the Kubota, I can work by feel.

Aaron Z

 

[bp fick]

Not to beat a dead horse, but I think operators adjust to what's before them. Gear, Shuttle, pivoting HST, below the floor pivot, two pedal style, whatever.

Since I have run the BX or B Kubota the last years at home, a shuttle when down in TX, grew up on nothing but gear, I honestly just adjust.

The BX and B system is very, very easy to adjust to and yes, you can do efficient, close in work very well.

I have to flip flop between my Ford truck and my wife's Honda all the time. Absolutely everything is backward and reverse between the two. Wipers, lights, cruise, and one's a 5 speed and the other an automatic. This is nowhere near that difficult and even that isn't really difficult. Two days/8 hours? on any tractor? You're good to go.

 

[chelydra]

Not to beat a dead horse, but I think operators adjust to what's before them. ... I have to flip flop between my Ford truck and my wife's Honda all the time. Absolutely everything is backward and reverse between the two.

I used to commute to England for a week or so every month. Never really got over jet-lag. Alternating which side of the road to drive wasn't really an issue - except a couple of times entering country roads at night after exhausting meetings, and being on the wrong side. Got some interesting reactions from oncoming drivers! I always asked for a standard-shift car (common over there, practically unavailable in the US) to help me remember that I was through the looking-glass.

 

[KYDan]

I have a new MX5100 with the rocker pedal (treadle design) and love the way it works. My old Kubota L2900 with the glide shift was a good tractor and gave me 14 years of faithful service with nary a problem although I never used the shift without clutching (Old habits die very hard.) It took me about 10 hours of use to acclimate to the HST, but once I did I definitely love it. That said, I absolutely despise the brakes on the same side as the HST pedal! It is an absolutely horrible layout and basically negates the use of the brakes for turning or for that matter braking. Basically, all that I use them for is a parking brake and then I had to put a decal just below the instrument panel to remind to release it. The L had a light the reminded you to release the brake. I basicallly use the HST pedal for braking by slowing it to the point that it holds the tractor and actually it works pretty good. All that said, I really do love this tractor and think it is one of the greatest general purpose tractors I have ever used/owned. Nothing is perfect and life is compromises. I did not shop for another brand as I have a good dealer less than 10 miles from my farm and I am a big Kubota fan. This is my 4th general purpose tractor and by far my favorite.

 

[Grandad4]

Yeah, that's what I was trying to understand. Kioti and Kubota HST both have the rocker, with the pivot below the floor. The Kioti is more of a true treadle, easy to rock back and forth. The Kubota requires repositioning the foot to change directions, and seems to offer little advantage over side-by-side forward and reverse drive pedals. I think I would find delicate work more difficult with the Kubota system, though I do understand that some people might strain the Kioti drivetrain by changing directions too suddenly.

If I ever do windup with a Kubota B or BX, I might fabricate a treadle to sit on top of the pair to make rocking easier. Has anyone here tried this? Or is it possible that downward pressure on both pedals at once would harm the rocker pivot?

As bp said, we're near to beating the dead horse, but it might be worth commenting that I have tried using my old style pedals as a true rocker, with toe on forward and heel on reverse at the same time. The action is just too jerky to be comfortable and steady. But keeping the heel on the floorboard for forward motion and using it only for reverse has become a natural movement that's easy for me.

The advantage of the rocker vs. 2 pedal design, IMHO, is it seems it would be pretty easy to hit the wrong pedal if they are side-by-side... shades of Audi unintended acceleration. With the rocker, it's about impossible to mistake forward for reverse.