Limits on reverse speed

[ddonnell]

On my hydrostat, the brakes are essentially built in, i.e. when I let up off either the forward or reverse pedal, braking action occurs automatically. I only use the seperate brake pedal for parking. The parking brake has to be depressed or locked to be able to start the engine. Since the hyrostat is essentially a hydraulic system, I don't see why Power Trac can't design the same kind of system since the PT is already a mass of hydraulic engineering.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

On my hydrostat, the brakes are essentially built in, i.e. when I let up off either the forward or reverse pedal, braking action occurs automatically. I only use the seperate brake pedal for parking. The parking brake has to be depressed or locked to be able to start the engine. Since the hyrostat is essentially a hydraulic system, I don't see why Power Trac can't design the same kind of system since the PT is already a mass of hydraulic engineering.

The PT system is as you describe. When the treadle is centered, the machine is stopped, as is the case on most hydrostatic machines. The braking is hydraulic, however, not mechanical. The machine stops because the valve(s) controlling hydraulic flow are closed. The parking brakes on the 1845 are discs, which engage automatically when the engine is stopped and stay engaged after starting the engine until manually disengaged. The machine will not start unless the treadle is centered. The 400 series machines function similarly, but use a peg and cog lock for the parking brake which, as I recall, is manually engaged and disengaged. 400 series owners: is there an interlock to prevent starting without the brake engaged?

 

[woodlandfarms]

On the 1845/50 are the brake disks on all 4 wheels?

 

[Bob999]

On the 1845/50 are the brake disks on all 4 wheels?

Yes there are brake disks on all 4 wheels.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

On the 1845/50 are the brake disks on all 4 wheels?

All four wheels, with springs holding them locked until unlocked by hydraulic pressure, similar to some truck air systems.

 

[ddonnell]

Is the treadle spring loaded so as to return to neutral (center) when not depressed in forward or reverse? And if so, does the "braking action" occur quickly?

 

[MossRoad]

.... 400 series owners: is there an interlock to prevent starting without the brake engaged?

Nope. It will start if your foot is on the treadle. At least my 2001 model PT425 will. But that will never matter, because I never take the parking brake off until after the engine has started... yeah, that's the ticket!

 

[MossRoad]

Is the treadle spring loaded so as to return to neutral (center) when not depressed in forward or reverse? And if so, does the "braking action" occur quickly?

On my PT425, if you lift your feet off the treadle very fast, the unit will stop very fast. My old IH had a circuit that would not allow it to stop abruptly if you did that.

 

[J_J]

I drove a Kubota with treadle and brakes on same side. Yikes. How can you use the brakes without taking your foot off the treadle?

My old IH had foreward and reverse pedals on left foot and brakes on right foot. That was a nice setup.

When one normally uses the brakes, the purpose is to stop forward or backward motion. The foot control normally goes to neutral. I don't see a situation where you would use the brake and the foot control on the Kubota at the same time, however on the PT, if you take your foot off the treadle, you might go to neutral. Most cases you have creep in fwd of rev. On just about any hydra-stat, if backing down a ramp, you have to think in reverse logic, press the fwd treadle to slow speed of the machine going back wards.

Years ago I had a serious accident with a Dixie Chopper hydro stat. I had cut this hill, 40 ft wide and 300 ft long which had 4 foot drop at the bottom edge to the next level. Early morning, wet grass, I made a slow turn down hill, and started sliding down, building up speed. I had the hand controls in full reverse, but nothing happen. Right at the edge, I put the hand controls in neutral and dove forward as much as I could. The Dixie Chopper landed on my legs and pinned me under the 500 lb machine. I lay there with the pain and hollered for help. Nobody came, so I managed to drag my legs from under the Chopper, and finally got some help. I missed an Air Condition unit only by inches. After all the x-rays were done, the only serious thing was that my thigh muscle was split. I am glad that it didn't land on my head, and the way it tumbled off the ledge, it would have drove my head into the ground . It did not have ROPS.
Lessons learned, never cut a hill that has wet grass. and always turn uphill. Going is reverse and applying brakes isn't going to help on wet grass.
A seat belt, if used in this situation , you would be talking to a ghost.

Another useful little hint. if cutting around ponds or lakes, even if you have ROPS, don't wear a seat belt, unless you want to. Why, as you start to roll, you will be thinking to grab something to hold on to, and ignoring that seat belt and when the tractor or whatever machine pulls you under water, you might make it, maybe not . In the Navy, they taught us to get out of an upside down situation under water, wearing full glight gear, helmet, boots, and wearing a seatbelt and shoulder harness. Let the machine stop, unbuckle ,watch the bubbles and follow them to the surface.

 

[RegL]

When one normally uses the brakes, the purpose is to stop forward or backward motion. The foot control normally goes to neutral. I don't see a situation where you would use the brake and the foot control on the Kubota at the same time, however on the PT, if you take your foot off the treadle, you might go to neutral. Most cases you have creep in fwd of rev. On just about any hydra-stat, if backing down a ramp, you have to think in reverse logic, press the fwd treadle to slow speed of the machine going back wards.

Years ago I had a serious accident with a Dixie Chopper hydro stat. I had cut this hill, 40 ft wide and 300 ft long which had 4 foot drop at the bottom edge to the next level. Early morning, wet grass, I made a slow turn down hill, and started sliding down, building up speed. I had the hand controls in full reverse, but nothing happen. Right at the edge, I put the hand controls in neutral and dove forward as much as I could. The Dixie Chopper landed on my legs and pinned me under the 500 lb machine. I lay there with the pain and hollered for help. Nobody came, so I managed to drag my legs from under the Chopper, and finally got some help. I missed an Air Condition unit only by inches. After all the x-rays were done, the only serious thing was that my thigh muscle was split. I am glad that it didn't land on my head, and the way it tumbled off the ledge, it would have drove my head into the ground . It did not have ROPS.
Lessons learned, never cut a hill that has wet grass. and always turn uphill. Going is reverse and applying brakes isn't going to help on wet grass.
A seat belt, if used in this situation , you would be talking to a ghost.

Another useful little hint. if cutting around ponds or lakes, even if you have ROPS, don't wear a seat belt, unless you want to. Why, as you start to roll, you will be thinking to grab something to hold on to, and ignoring that seat belt and when the tractor or whatever machine pulls you under water, you might make it, maybe not . In the Navy, they taught us to get out of an upside down situation under water, wearing full glight gear, helmet, boots, and wearing a seatbelt and shoulder harness. Let the machine stop, unbuckle ,watch the bubbles and follow them to the surface.

In some situations you just can't beat a walk behind. I have mine set up with a pro-slide sulky so to be able to ride, but in a jam like you had I can just step off and let her go.