Hydro's and brake pedals

[RobertN]

I think Patrick is right; agree to disagree.

I think its the lack of exhibited understanding between the conditions of "have no need" and "don't require".

My tractor design is just fine perfect. For me. There is not a single solitary itsy bitsy little thing wrong with it. It completely fits the market it was made for.

I can use my steering brakes if I wanted to. I have messed with them. I completely understand what a steering brake is used for.

For me, they are unnecessary. I have used them on my Dad's 9N, and on the Farmall-A I just sold. I have used them a tad on my Kubota too. I did not need them. And, I did not like the skid marks they made.

IF I needed that maneuverability I would look at an ASV RC30 or one of the small Bobcat tracked loader. Turn around in it's own radius. It does not even had a brake pedal.

What you are claiming, and myself even is opinion. And, it is based on your particular application and needs, as is mine.

IF, it does not fit your needs, then don't buy one. There is a big market out there. Get the one that fits YOUR needs.

IMHO, of course

I think its the lack of exhibited understanding between the conditions of "need to some extent" and "require". Those 2 conditions cover the whole range of general purpose mobile terrestrial uses. Crummy design is a bane to both.
larry

 

[buck12]

Our tractor had brakes on the opposite side as the direction pedals. Here's my experience on your very valid concern. My large HST tractor loader weighed about 8000#. On a steep slope you could inch up to something very precisely with the HST. However, if you let off the direction pedal, the tractor would roll down the slope ever so slightly, moving you away or towards your intended target by a couple inches. By keeping one foot on the brake and inching forward with your other foot on the HST you could actually use the brakes to hold it in place once you got in position. The only ways to do that on an HST with the brake and direction pedals on the same side is to either swing your other leg over to the pedals or hope you have a big, fat, coordinated right foot.

Moss Road your reasoning and logic support my position that brake(s) on hydro tractors would function best when located on the opposite side of a tractor than hydro pedal(s). Many seem to be arguing the merits of steering brakes when it seems to me the real discussion should be whether it is best to have brake and hydro on the same side regardless of whether it is one or two brake pedals.

 

[JB4310]

.... Many seem to be arguing the merits of steering brakes when it seems to me the real discussion should be whether it is best to have brake and hydro on the same side regardless of whether it is one or two brake pedals.

Good point.

A couple of pics for those who have never seen the other way.

JB.

 

[Egon]

Gosh, my John Deere has three brake pedals with the third one located on the right side. It must have been designed to meet the needs of the undecided!


For these turning brakes one might think about an electrical option that will turn them on at a flick of a switch. It would be actuate the brakes in accordance with the amount the steering wheel is turned. Even have it variable with speed and amount of steering wheel turn.

 

[patrick_g]

I think it is part C, where you won't accept it is a crummy design.

It does not mean the tractor is a bad tractor. It is a good tractor. A great tractor. The masses love them. I love them. I just wonder why they didn't make it even better by making the split brakes useful by putting them on the opposite side as the drive pedal. That's all.

Oh but I do accept it as an extremely crummy design FOR THOSE WHO NEED TO USE CUTTING BRAKES and not very good for those who need HST and brakes at same time. I have no clue why Kubota, who ordinarily do good stuff, put the cutting brakes where the average guy couldn't use them on a HST tractor. For those who actually use the cutting brakes it is a stone bummer. For those who find instances where they can't hold a hill with the brake and then get to the HST pedal quickly enough to avoid a little downhill motion... life is hard and a better requirements analysis prior to acquisition would have saved some grief.

For the thousands of us in the majority who have no problems at all with the pedal placements because we NEVER use the cutting brakes and hardly ever use the brake pedal at all except to set the parking brake, it just is not a personal problem. However, we do feel your pain. I, for one, can certainly see how it would be an important issue and a deal breaker if I needed to use a feature that was so poorly incorporated into such an otherwise desirable tractor.

Just out of curiosity yesterday when tractoring out to the herd to feed I tried using the HST and brakes at the same time. I tried with my right foot on the HST and brought the left over to use the brake. I also tried the right foot on the brake and left foot on the HST. I am 6'2" 200LBS and had on size 13 lace up boots. Both attempts worked. Both seemed unnatural. Neither were really comfortable. I could do a really good job but it wasn't easy or fun. If I did this routinely I'd probably get better at it like playing a guitar with your feet but it would still not be my first choice as to pedal layout.

What did I learn? If I ever need to use my cutting brakes while using the HST pedal, I can, but I'd need to anticipate that need for two reasons: 1. I normally have the brake pedals locked together (easily unlocked without tools but isn't instantaneous) and 2. I have to get the left foot over to the right side and get it onto either the brake (easier) or onto the HST (doable but a bit more clumsy of an operation that is already clumsy.)

I also learned why those needing to use cutting brakes tend to get a little testy regarding the layout that has the HST and cutting brakes on the same side. Using that arrangement is a PITA. OK (sort of if you are coordinated) for once in a blue moon but not at the end of every row in the garden or row crop field.

I took a good look at the problem of adding another HST pedal on the left. Piece of cake. You could fab your own or buy one as a part from the dealer. Interconnect the two pedals via a torque rod so that the pedals are locked together and move as one. Then you can operate the HST from either side freeing up your right foot to operate cutting brakes. This looks to be such an easy mod that if you like the other features but the pedal arrangement is a deal breaker, add the left pedal. It isn't a big deal.

Patrick

 

[patrick_g]

For these turning brakes one might think about an electrical option that will turn them on at a flick of a switch. It would be actuate the brakes in accordance with the amount the steering wheel is turned. Even have it variable with speed and amount of steering wheel turn.

If you use a general purpose computer to operate the system instead of a purpose built collection of analog thingies you might be able to program the tractor for autonomous operation for standard chores and just leave me in the house by the fire till, as Eliza put it, "Spring creeps over me window sill."

Pat (Its not so much the drugs as the cumulative mental deterioration)

 

[jimmyj]

Wow, what a roller coaster ride. All I can say is that I find it hard to use the split brakes on the right with the HST pedal on the right too. I would like to use the split brakes more and wish they made it easier. To me, that is the point of this whole thread.

 

[patrick_g]

Wow, what a roller coaster ride. All I can say is that I find it hard to use the split brakes on the right with the HST pedal on the right too. I would like to use the split brakes more and wish they made it easier. To me, that is the point of this whole thread.

So install a HST pedal on the left side and connect it mechanically to the one on the right and don't worry be happy.

If I wanted that mod I could have built, installed, tested, and adjusted it with less effort than being involved in this thread. I don't need it but if I did I'd be installing it.

What is the real desire here, complaining about not having what you want or getting what you want? Come on guys get in touch with your masculine side and fix the problem instead of romancing the problem to death.

Pat

 

[jimmyj]

That is a good idea!

 

[jenkinsph]

Come on guys get in touch with your masculine side and fix the problem instead of romancing the problem to death.

Pat

But I don't have that problem on mine! We were just pointing at the problem on yours.