Relocate Brake Pedals? (L Series)

Iberian · Aug 4, 2017

My tractor owning friends and I have talked about this several times but never actually done it. It seems silly to have all that space on the left side just sitting there while my right foot has to work an HST and brake system not to mention how near impossible it is to use the peddle and one of the two brakes simultaneously.

Has anyone bothered to remount their brakes on the left?

bdhsfz6 · Aug 4, 2017

It seems like it would be quite a challenge to do so.

On all the early HST Kubotas I've owned, the clutch pedal was on the left side. I agree, it's a pain to work the right side split brake pedals so close to the HST treddle but it would be worse if the clutch was on the right instead. Most newer HST Kubotas no longer have a clutch and the brake pedal has been moved to the left side. It looks like Kubota has fixed this issue on a lot of newer models.

General Lee · Aug 4, 2017

Interesting thought. My HST L has the split brakes on the right w/ the Hst pedal. Never had a need or use to use the split brake pedals though.

SDT · Aug 4, 2017

Iberian said:
My tractor owning friends and I have talked about this several times but never actually done it. It seems silly to have all that space on the left side just sitting there while my right foot has to work an HST and brake system not to mention how near impossible it is to use the peddle and one of the two brakes simultaneously.

Has anyone bothered to remount their brakes on the left?

I've been shopping for a small tractor to pull a 5' rotary cutter that I currently pull with an excellent 12 speed 8N. I own 4 Kubotas and initially looked at the 33/3901 models but the brake and hydro pedals on the same right side was a show stopper. Still looking.

SDT

wagne223 · Aug 4, 2017

With HST, I only use the brake as a parking brake, never used them to stop or turn. Not a problem for me to hit reverse to back up for a "3 point turn" if I cant turn sharp enough. With HST the process is smooth.
Now with a gear tractor, split bake use is very beneficial.

So, to answer the OP question......No, have not relocated brake pedals.

If you are a good fabricator, I'm sure it can be done and would make for a very interesting thread! Be sure to take pics and update us with your project should you decide to do it!

art · Aug 4, 2017

Taking things to a different perspective! Old farm tractors had narrow front ends or if they had wide fronts the new tractors even with four wheel drive turn tighter then they did! Now whats interesting is what has happened to tractors since then as far as design and changes in the way they are set up. Typically with a two wheel drive tractor the weight distribution is 25% front and 75% on the rears and these are the tractors nearly everyone used to brake steer!
With the four wheel drives things have changed as the front tires got bigger and heavier and we added drive to the front axle. With no loader the balance is 40% on the front and 60% on the rear to allow the front to have some traction to assist the rears with the movement of the tractor and load. When a loader is installed it goes even further often with the weight of the loader and the load where 60% plus of the load might be on the front axle!!! Some manufacturers have built the fronts to withstand this load but amazing enough that for some tractors the weight of the loader and only half of a bucket full of dirt you have already exceeded the limit of the front axle, this is a different topic all together but those tractors are out there!!!
For those that choose to use the brakes when you have such loads on the front it is normally not during the warrantee period we see these tractors, it is five, six years or more that you start to pay! Tie rod ends, drive axle pivots and other repairs come in from the sliding of the front axle assembly while being at it's max load limits take their toll!
I do not recommend brake steer at all normally for the years that I have watched it I have seen the additional costs out of the owners pocket and I probably should not tell you to do as it is your business and it does help mine!! Thanks!

SDT · Aug 4, 2017

art said:
Taking things to a different perspective! Old farm tractors had narrow front ends or if they had wide fronts the new tractors even with four wheel drive turn tighter then they did! Now whats interesting is what has happened to tractors since then as far as design and changes in the way they are set up. Typically with a two wheel drive tractor the weight distribution is 25% front and 75% on the rears and these are the tractors nearly everyone used to brake steer!
With the four wheel drives things have changed as the front tires got bigger and heavier and we added drive to the front axle. With no loader the balance is 40% on the front and 60% on the rear to allow the front to have some traction to assist the rears with the movement of the tractor and load. When a loader is installed it goes even further often with the weight of the loader and the load where 60% plus of the load might be on the front axle!!! Some manufacturers have built the fronts to withstand this load but amazing enough that for some tractors the weight of the loader and only half of a bucket full of dirt you have already exceeded the limit of the front axle, this is a different topic all together but those tractors are out there!!!
For those that choose to use the brakes when you have such loads on the front it is normally not during the warrantee period we see these tractors, it is five, six years or more that you start to pay! Tie rod ends, drive axle pivots and other repairs come in from the sliding of the front axle assembly while being at it's max load limits take their toll!
I do not recommend brake steer at all normally for the years that I have watched it I have seen the additional costs out of the owners pocket and I probably should not tell you to do as it is your business and it does help mine!! Thanks!

Do not know your conditions, but I have various conditions, some very steep.

I've been mowing with various tractor/mower combinations for over 50 years and well know my conditions. It is not uncommon for me to carry the front wheels as I crest a rise while lifting the mower for whatever reasons. Sometimes I must make immediate steering corrections as I do so.

Tractors have been equipped with individual rear (steering) brakes for just such conditions. Ergonomics prohibiting such functionality is unacceptable to me.

Hydro pedal and brake pedals on same side is absolutely unacceptable.

SDT

Fallon · Aug 4, 2017

My new L4060hstc has brakes on the left. I occasionally use them for turning or actually holding myself in place. With a HST you rarely if ever need brakes to stop & only occasionally need them to hold you in place.

My old L3200 had brakes on the right over the HST go pedal. Annoying to sit side saddle on the rare occasions I needed turning brakes. But such occasions were in right places so I could plan it out & prep accordingly. I do strongly prefer the left hand brakes on the l4060, but as a practical matter right hand brakes on the L3200 weren't that big of a deal.

To much of an engineering challenge to move practically. Anything can be done with enough time & money, but if you go down that route upgrading to a different machine with preferred brakes will be easier & probably not that expensive.

Gordon Gould · Aug 4, 2017

art said:
Taking things to a different perspective! Old farm tractors had narrow front ends or if they had wide fronts the new tractors even with four wheel drive turn tighter then they did! Now whats interesting is what has happened to tractors since then as far as design and changes in the way they are set up. Typically with a two wheel drive tractor the weight distribution is 25% front and 75% on the rears and these are the tractors nearly everyone used to brake steer!
With the four wheel drives things have changed as the front tires got bigger and heavier and we added drive to the front axle. With no loader the balance is 40% on the front and 60% on the rear to allow the front to have some traction to assist the rears with the movement of the tractor and load. When a loader is installed it goes even further often with the weight of the loader and the load where 60% plus of the load might be on the front axle!!! Some manufacturers have built the fronts to withstand this load but amazing enough that for some tractors the weight of the loader and only half of a bucket full of dirt you have already exceeded the limit of the front axle, this is a different topic all together but those tractors are out there!!!
For those that choose to use the brakes when you have such loads on the front it is normally not during the warrantee period we see these tractors, it is five, six years or more that you start to pay! Tie rod ends, drive axle pivots and other repairs come in from the sliding of the front axle assembly while being at it's max load limits take their toll!
I do not recommend brake steer at all normally for the years that I have watched it I have seen the additional costs out of the owners pocket and I probably should not tell you to do as it is your business and it does help mine!! Thanks!

What you say is probably true in general. I can tell you are way more knowledgeable than me but having said that I will risk giving my opinion. You make it sound to black and white. It sounds like you are saying the steering brakes are useless on a modern tractor and that if you dare use them you will cause damage.

I strongly disagree. I agree with SDT and Fallon. To me the steering brakes are there to use and I use them - alot. I work in the woods, summer and winter. My dealer advised me against chaining up the front while working in the woods with the rears chained. He said the fronts need to slip some compared to the back. There are a few things that make it hard or impossible to turn w/o the steering brakes. A heavy hitch on the rear lightens the front end. A long hitch of logs on the back act as a rudder that trys to keep you going straight. Packed snow or ice or mud gives the front tread nothing to grab so the fronts can't pull into the turn. Try turning up hill with any of these conditions - a no can do w/o using the steering brakes sometimes - at least on my little L3010. Almost 2000 hrs, most in the woods, with constant use of the diff lock and the steering brakes. No problems - knock on wood.

I would not own a tractor that did not have convenient to use steering brakes.