Buying Advice Many People Seem to Favor Kubota over Deere on TractorByNet.

[4570Man]

The style of of pedals and the location of the brakes is clearly personally opinion, and JD needs to stop including that in their Kubota bashing videos.

 

[MossRoad]

BUT... Many, many, many people do not understand the priceless utility of the split brake capability on a tractor. Thats why it has taken many years for the mfgs to respond to the need for them to be opposite the "go pedal(s)"

,,On a gear tractor the clutch is the go pedal. On an HST the treadle is.
larry

Yep. My first tractor was that late 70's IH2500b. It was 2wd. We have sand and narrow rows of trees I had to turn around at the end of the rows. Stomp one side brake and push the go pedal and it does a pretty good 180 in its own length. I had a differential lock, so didn't need to stop spinning tires too often, but it works good for that, too.

 

[jenkinsph]

BUT... Many, many, many people do not understand the priceless utility of the split brake capability on a tractor. Thats why it has taken many years for the mfgs to respond to the need for them to be opposite the "go pedal(s)"

,,On a gear tractor the clutch is the go pedal. On an HST the treadle is.
larry

Larry,
I can assure you I understand the capabilities of split brakes and their function.

Years ago most tractors did not have a fel or 4wd and were much easier to turn using split brakes. The older 4020, 3020 and 820 tractors I have used all had hydraulic actuated split brakes that I used frequently. The newer compacts I have now have mechanically actuated split wet disc brakes, these require much higher pedal pressure to operate. If you are operating in 4wd those front wheels are not going to free wheel and spin the tractor around on one rear tire. With a lot of pedal pressure I can make a row end turn with my 4520, well sort of but it isn't anything like the older 2wd (or tricycle) tractors I have driven in the past.

On my 110tlb I do use split brakes to reduce drift when using the fel as needed. Did not mention that in my earlier post you quoted.

 

[jenkinsph]

The style of of pedals and the location of the brakes is clearly personally opinion, and JD needs to stop including that in their Kubota bashing videos.

Manufacturers in general will tout their designs and compare their designs to the competition. Being able to use split brakes with one foot and operate the go pedal(s) with the other foot is an advantage in my opinion. It is also an opinion shared by others and may influence their tractor purchases. That is just business, a manufacturer develops designs they consider to be selling points to be competitive.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Larry,
I can assure you I understand the capabilities of split brakes and their function.

Years ago most tractors did not have a fel or 4wd and were much easier to turn using split brakes. The older 4020, 3020 and 820 tractors I have used all had hydraulic actuated split brakes that I used frequently. The newer compacts I have now have mechanically actuated split wet disc brakes, these require much higher pedal pressure to operate. If you are operating in 4wd those front wheels are not going to free wheel and spin the tractor around on one rear tire. With a lot of pedal pressure I can make a row end turn with my 4520, well sort of but it isn't anything like the older 2wd (or tricycle) tractors I have driven in the past.

On my 110tlb I do use split brakes to reduce drift when using the fel as needed. Did not mention that in my earlier post you quoted.

The answer to this [bolded] is essentially, "so what". The directional use of the brakes will still help -- and will help proportionately more the slipperier it is. ... 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 if possible, to give you the best chance. An hst with proper ergonomic setup can present you all the advantage options.
,,,larry

 

[jenkinsph]

The answer to this [bolded] is essentially, "so what". The directional use of the brakes will still help -- and will help proportionately more the slipperier it is. ... 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 if possible, to give you the best chance. An hst with proper ergonomic setup can present you all the advantage options.
,,,larry

I agree that proper use of split brakes can be useful. But why did you quote me as someone who doesn't understand how to use them? It isn't rocket science.

 

[SPYDERLK]

BUT... Many, many, many people do not understand the priceless utility of the split brake capability on a tractor. Thats why it has taken many years for the mfgs to respond to the need for them to be opposite the "go pedal(s)"

,,On a gear tractor the clutch is the go pedal. On an HST the treadle is.
larry

With my current tractors I have left side split brakes and right side pedals for forward and reverse. My mowers have the right side F and R pedals and the brake pedal mounted over them. After many years of use I find that brakes on all four of these are rarely used even on steep hills. The only thing I use the mower brake pedal for is to depress and start it and to park it, never need it for traveling and braking. I find the same thing to be true with the compact tractors except I have used the split pedals at row ends for tight turning on occasion. These newer tractors are operated quite differently from the older 2wd gear tractors where split brakes were the normal way of making tight turns. The new compacts with their short wheel base are easily turned around without the need for split braking in most cases. The older 2wd narrow front tractors could turn on a dime but they had other stability issues that outweighed this convenience.

I agree that proper use of split brakes can be useful. But why did you quote me as someone who doesn't understand how to use them? It isn't rocket science.

I didnt say you didnt understand how to use them. Rather, I saw nothing in your post that exhibited an understanding, or realization, of their priceless utility. The first seems a simplism, and the second was my attempt to allude around [or through] the simplism.
,,,As you say - it isnt rocket science. But if it doesnt really click with a person the secondary connections are never made and the true level of enhancement is lost to them.

I just know for a fact that every tractor operator can 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.
... I wish every one of my tractors had split brakes. My wife fell off a small embankment into a stream with our BX for lack of them. 4wd loses precise control when turning upslope and turning harder makes it worse. This can be remedied using the high brake [if available].

,,,Sometimes differential lock will be mentioned in the same context with split brakes for traction. Without quick and lucid elaboration the fundamental difference of action and performance result between them risks being lost. 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.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have been operating various tractors for about forty years. I have probably used the split brakes half a dozen times, mostly in snow it seems. If it were an option, it would not be something I would even consider on a new machine if I had to pay extra for this.

 

[KennyG]

I have been operating various tractors for about forty years. I have probably used the split brakes half a dozen times, mostly in snow it seems. If it were an option, it would not be something I would even consider on a new machine if I had to pay extra for this.

As someone who grew up on a row crop farm, using the brakes every time I turned in a field, it never occurred to me that there were tractors without independent wheel brakes. Having a CUT, I'm surprised how seldom I use them. However, when they are needed they are absolutely essential.

 

[KennyG]

I have been operating various tractors for about forty years. I have probably used the split brakes half a dozen times, mostly in snow it seems. If it were an option, it would not be something I would even consider on a new machine if I had to pay extra for this.

As someone who grew up on a row crop farm, using the brakes every time I turned in a field, it never occurred to me that there were tractors without independent wheel brakes. Having a CUT, I'm surprised how seldom I use them. However, when they are needed they are absolutely essential.