Hydro's and brake pedals

[TripleR]

When you are in a real touchy situation... like side of a hill next to a fence and some compromised traction mixed in, you really need full simultaneous control of brakes and wheel torque from zero to give you the best chance. An hst with proper ergonomic setup can present you all the advantage options. - - The second sentence in the quote tells me you havnt used your tractor enuf in demanding and unpredictable circumstances to force you to discover the advantage offered by a well integrated system in contrast to one that just makes the wheels turn. The problem that those who "dont ever need them" will find when they do, is a delayed or absent recognition of the need and a lack of practice in application. Now combine that with a control setup that makes the necessary contol action very difficult ....:tractor:
larry

I hope I misunderstood this post as it sounds as though you believe that I am either stupid, inexperienced or both with maybe a little na?et thrown in.

I grew up on a farm and have driven a tractor for over fifty years. I have used 2WD as well as 4WD, geared and HST. I have operated equipment in conditions as you describe and I prefer diff lock as opposed to split brakes as this works better for my tractors. Having used split brakes most of my life farming, it was kind of hard to adjust to the limited utility on my newer tractors and it took quite a while to adapt. If split brakes work better for you and your tractor then fine, but don稚 assume that I don稚 is the result of inexperience or ignorance.

At my age the é›»emanding and unpredictable situations no longer apply as I have learned enough not to get myself or equipment into such a situation. I also know that in an ç*¥npredictable situation, I am going to react instinctively and since seven of the tractors I operate have right foot brakes, that is where I am going to put my foot.

 

[RobertN]

Dunno about that. I sold my Kubota to get a larger, more hp tractor. Now I have a New Holland with HST on the right, brakes on the left. Either way is just fine.

The only reason I see for steering brakes is for a farmer plowing 40 acres and having to make that zero radius turn at the end of the row.

The 30 pages seems mostly to defend a poor design, but then we tractor owners do protect our decisions to buy what we like. I think most people are happy with their decisions. I am, and wouldn't think of having the brakes on the right where I couldn't use them.

 

[RobertN]

For you guys that are plowing snow and using the steering brakes, how do you handle this when you plow with a pickup truck?

Do you run in to the same issues with getting traction and control of the front of the pickup? How do you adjust for that?

 

[Hematite]

When you are in a real touchy situation... like side of a hill next to a fence and some compromised traction mixed in, you really need full simultaneous control of brakes and wheel torque from zero to give you the best chance. An hst with proper ergonomic setup can present you all the advantage options. - - The second sentence in the quote tells me you havnt used your tractor enuf in demanding and unpredictable circumstances to force you to discover the advantage offered by a well integrated system in contrast to one that just makes the wheels turn. The problem that those who "dont ever need them" will find when they do, is a delayed or absent recognition of the need and a lack of practice in application. Now combine that with a control setup that makes the necessary contol action very difficult ....:tractor:
larry

Aside from using the split brakes, I learned, yesterday, that the hydro pedals on one side and the brakes on the other can be essential, as you described. I was helping a neighbor clear some HUGE slices of tree trunk and small stumps. I had to approach going uphill and the second I released the hydro pedal, the tractor slowly started backwards. By using the brakes on the left and the hydro on the right I was able to have incredible control holding the tractor and being able to slooowly inch forward precisely and under control. A good thing because I had a helper on the ground. Needless to say, I was delighted to have the controls on seperate sides.:thumbsup:

 

[Redneck in training]

My tractor has three break pedals. The split are on the left and third acting on both left pedals is on the right just by the HST pedals. Since my tractor is HST so I use breaks mostly for parking and only once a while for steering.

 

[TripleR]

My tractor has three break pedals. The split are on the left and third acting on both left pedals is on the right just by the HST pedals. Since my tractor is HST so I use breaks mostly for parking and only once a while for steering.

Redneck in Training, I love your tag line only I have to so out the back door except at night.

The controls on your tractor sounds like a really good set up. Does it have a clutch?

 

[John Clark]

Let's see if I understand this. You can roll your body and move your left foot over to the right and press on the left pedal above your right foot on the HST treadle.

No need to roll your body- the Kubota has a flat floor and you are talking less then two feet. Life is a compromise - get over it... and yes although I'm over 60 I can still put my left foot over my right, albeit I have learned to plan better and very seldom find a need to.

 

[SPYDERLK]

When you are in a real touchy situation... like side of a hill next to a fence and some compromised traction mixed in, you really need full simultaneous control of brakes and wheel torque from zero to give you the best chance. An hst with proper ergonomic setup can present you all the advantage options. - - The second sentence in the quote tells me you havnt used your tractor enuf in demanding and unpredictable circumstances to force you to discover the advantage offered by a well integrated system in contrast to one that just makes the wheels turn. The problem that those who "dont ever need them" will find when they do, is a delayed or absent recognition of the need and a lack of practice in application. Now combine that with a control setup that makes the necessary contol action very difficult ....:tractor:
larry

That was well stated Spyder.
Amazing what one has to give up or do, to make up for the design bleeps of a mfg. But that is what competition is all about.
I use the split brakes (on the left) less with 4wd than I did with the 2wd, but could not function in tight situations that are mentioned without easily accessible split brakes.
No requirement to lock them, as a single brake pedal for both wheels is also located on the right just above the HST pedals.

I hope I misunderstood this post as it sounds as though you believe that I am either stupid, inexperienced or both with maybe a little na?et thrown in.

I grew up on a farm and have driven a tractor for over fifty years. I have used 2WD as well as 4WD, geared and HST. I have operated equipment in conditions as you describe and I prefer diff lock as opposed to split brakes as this works better for my tractors. Having used split brakes most of my life farming, it was kind of hard to adjust to the limited utility on my newer tractors and it took quite a while to adapt. If split brakes work better for you and your tractor then fine, but don稚 assume that I don稚 is the result of inexperience or ignorance.

At my age the 電emanding and unpredictable situations no longer apply as I have learned enough not to get myself or equipment into such a situation. I also know that in an *npredictable situation, I am going to react instinctively and since seven of the tractors I operate have right foot brakes, that is where I am going to put my foot.

TripleR, Im sorry. I did not mean to insult you in any way...merely to bring up things that you may not have experienced or considered. Now youve given me information that suggests that you have more experience than I. It embarrasses me to be in a position where I am compelled to tell someone something they should know, but for some reason dont seem to. With my limited experience I know for a fact that every tractor operator will benefit from split brakes. This benefit will come in extremely varied and frequent circumstances to those who really know how to use them. The situations of benefit will not be restricted to unpredictable terrain or transient traction conditions, but will present potential benefit it every situation of direction control or traction control. In some of these cases they will be essential to enable efficient work w/o excess maneuvering. In others they will prevent embarrassment or death. These benefits will of course accrue only to those who dont have no need for them and, hence, use them enuf to develop skill. And its up to you to develop the skill -- its a poor mans traction/direction control, unlike the virtually identical application of the same idea under computer control in high end cars. Back in the early 80s when antilock brakes were just coming on I made this mental link about selective control and talked to a bunch of guys at a business dinner about it. We hoped the car company gurus would do it cuz we sure didnt have the wherewithall. Well, they have to an extent. Nothing you cant do with your feet at tractor speed, assuming your tractor does not tangle them up.

With your experience Im surprised you would introduce differential lock without mentioning the fundamental difference of action and performance result between them and split brakes. All a DL does is get both rears turning at the same speed. This gives more push but inhibits maneuverability - it wants to go straight. Split brakes can stop or inhibit rotation of a selected wheel, shifting torque to the other wheel. In this way any traction that the braked wheel has can be used to favor turning the tractor to that side. With skillful application the selective brake can give the full traction benefit of a DL, but while turning and aiding the turn. The only disadvantage is the waste of some power while doing this. A few drops more fuel is used along with a little brake lining. A bargain.
larry

 

[TripleR]

Spyderlyk,

There is a line in Quiggly Down Under if you are familiar with it in which Quiggly shoots his antagonist with a revolver. He essentially said, I didn't say I don't know how to use it, I said I never had much use for one.

I have stated previously that I used and benefited from split brakes while farming and if I ever use one of my tractors that react well to their use and conditions dictate, I will use them again.

The tractors and operations for which I use them now do not dictate their use. If conditions change, I will change how I operate my equipment. I do what works best for me and my equipment after trying different approaches/methods.

You apologize in words only and not intent as you continue to be condescending in your posts which I find personally distasteful..

 

[John Clark]

To TripleR

You are a class act:thumbsup:

It's hard to have been-there and done-that, yet called stupid by those who have never been there. Such is life.:laughing: