JD790 Brakes

[EastTNBrooke]

I'm ready to buy a new JD 790 w/FEL & RFM, having looked at the Massy 1528Kabota L3400.... I am concerned about the dry brakes and the basic 2 range old style gearbox. I just bought 2.3 acreas of pasture with half having a side slope of 15 - 19.25 degrees. My neighbors say I can slowly mow the pasture down low and it will look like a lawn within three months. The hills make me worried about the 790 brakes and slow speed issues. Any thoughts????? This forum has been a fantastic resource for me....Thank You Everyone
Brooke

 

[dirtworksequip]

What exactly are your concerns? If the tractor is 4 wheel drive I would have no concerns as far as the brakes. Always use 4 wheel drive when on any slopes. The brakes are going to be used only for stopping and not for slowing you down. Select the proper gear and range for doing the job plus holding you back enough on the slope. I have an 870 (2090hrs) that I used on some pretty steep slopes (2-1/2 to 1)on some pond dams I have with no problems. You use the transmission to control your speed not the brakes. Use the brakes for comming to a stop.

 

[EastTNBrooke]

My concerns center around the issue of dry brakes and the above normal usage of the brakes due to stopping on hills. I understand that dry brakes tend to wear faster than wet brakes. I am also concerned about having enough forward and reverse speed options with only a two range transmission.

 

[gordon21]

You will have 8 gears and a speed range from 1-12MPH. 12MPH is pretty fast for a tractor working on anything but dead flat farm land. I have cleared my house site on 2.5 acres at the top of a mountain and use high range only for going from the storsge shed to the site. Once ready to work it stays in low range all the time. You can go down a 15 degree hill with a full bucket full on the FEL in any of the four low gears and never have to touch the brakes. The brakes get used very little.

 

[pruntyc]

I think you have the wrong idea about dry brakes. They don't wear all that fast. That is what you have on your car and or truck, they make a lot of stops before they wear out. Even with dry brakes you don't have to adjust them very often, fact is, I don't think you would have to replace them for a very long time, even if you use them a lot.