HST vs. Gear

[To20Chris]

I use the turning brakes quite often on my LK3054. Usually it's when I'm in tight quarters with low traction. I was working on a trail in the woods last weekend when I got in a relly soft spot. With the loader and brush hog on it it's pretty long, and the trees were too close (after a bit of sliding!). I would have been in a bad spot without the turning brakes, but it really rotates with the brakes and the front heels turned & pulling. I wouldn't be without them.

I see no reason HST cannot have turning brakes, other than pedal placement, and the need to have a foot on the HST control. Maybe they figure you'd need three feet, so they don't bother. Or perhaps turning brakes are seen as a more serious ag feature (for turning at the end of the row, etc.), and they figure most small HST machines won't be doing that anyway.

I THINK the Kioti CK30 has turning brakes on both the HST and gear models - you could ask on the Kioti page and find out pretty quick.

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( use the turning brakes quite often on my LK3054. Usually it's when I'm in tight quarters with low traction. I was working on a trail in the woods last weekend when I got in a relly soft spot. )</font>

Chris, reading that portion of your post reminded me of another use for differential brakes that my father taught me when I was about 12 years old.

We had a TO-20 with the brake pedals on each side of the running gear. When one rear wheel would lose traction and start to slip, you could step on that brake pedal and cause the other wheel to continue to turn. I guess it could be called a poor man's differential lock. I know I've gotten myself out of several "almost stuck" situations by using differential braking to ensure both wheels keep pulling. Of course, I've also been in situations with both wheels buried up to the axles too. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[JerryG]

<font color="blue"> I guess it could be called a poor man's differential lock. </font>
You got that right. I have gotten out of a bad situation many time in the past by doing the exact same thing. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[daTeacha]

You can do something similar with some 4x4 trucks -- lightly braking will often get you through a place where one axle is spinning and the other is just sitting there looking useless.

 

[NHeuro]

I thought every hydro had turn brakes (at least the tractors)
And on my tc 45 d i had brakes on the left side and the hydro on the other side, this worked great

 

[daTeacha]

Some of the sub 30 hp models have only one brake pedal. Many of them have the hydro pedal and brake pedals on the same side, making use of both at the same time difficult or impossible unless you can "heel and toe" as the sports car drivers do. The pedal arrangements I have seen do not make this activity easy unless you have some very odd feet!

 

[To20Chris]

Jinman - What a hoot - I've done this on my TO-20 several times! I was brush hogging one time in really high grass when I got into some really soft muddy stuff. By dancing on those pedals I could pull it right through. That would be tough with both brake pedals on the same side! Gotta think the guys who designed those TO-20s knew what they were doing. Active traction control in the 50's /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Dmace]

On my CK20 there are two brake pedals connected by a lever that can be removed for left/right braking. I rarely use the brakes at all with the HST, but when I do, it's for tight cornering in 2wd. I use my heel for the HST pedal and use the toe of my boot for either brake pedal. Works like a charm with a little practice and it makes getting on/off the tractor much easier with no pedals on one side.

Infinite gear ratio's come in very handy. I will never let my HST go. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[RobertN]

It's more of a quagmire than that...

Turning brakes are not very effective in a 4x4, which most CUT's are. Your brake may be on, but the front drive will pull different and not yield the same turning brake effect that you might see on an old Ford 8N or Farmall C. It' a good way to stress the front driveline and u-joints too.

Most newer CUT's have power-steering(my '86 B8200 had it as an option). For most applications, power steering nullifies the need for steering brakes(most, not all apps).

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( power steering nullifies the need for steering brakes(most, not all apps). )</font>

Hmm.. most of the times I've ever needed turning brakes are when. say.. the front wheels are turned and still plowing straight ahead or whent he front end is light due to a high draft situation.

I also imagine 'pullers' don't think much about power steering, as in all 3 of those situations.. the front wheels aren't doing much.. or aren't on the ground.. Ditto with wet sludgy terain... If you have front weight, I've had decent luck with 4wd and turning, and even used the brakes too. I used to disk my 10 aces a few times a couple years ago.. 4wd and diff lock to get thru the soft spots, and on the end of the rows.. hard over on the (power) steering, and a step ont he appropriate brake and a bit o' lift on the 3pt. Could fall in and hit right alongside the last row and not mow the fence over.

Soundguy

Soundguy