Steering Brakes,,, A Necessity,, Or A Nicety?? (41HP, 3000 Lb Tractor)

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

But they are there if you need them and they would be convenient to use too. Pushing snow/ice on a parking lot that slopes is one good use for a steering brake. Give it a little right or left "rudder" and "tack into the wind". Working dirt up against a building is another good use for them. You can also use one to slow down a spinning wheel so the other wheel will take off and pull you out of a mud hole is. It can be used to "twist" you out of a stuck situation also and get your nose pointed downhill. It works as good or better than the differential lock, and you can use it while spinning a tire, you can also switch back and forth to "wiggle" out of a stuck situation, As well as just use one to make a sharper turn to miss an obstruction. Lots and lots of reason to use split brakes. Another arrow in your quiver. Try them some time and get good at using them, and you will like 'em too.

It's people like you and rich is the reason I'm here. Lots of good info to read, I am not very experienced with tractors, I'm just now getting smooth and efficient with my FEL moving pallets and round bales while the tractor is moving.

My break pedal has always been locked together like it was just one pedal since I bought the tractor. But I do have the ability to split them if I need to. I read back to the beginning of this thread and got some good ideas to use them for and your post was like icing to the cake by the time I got to the end.

I'm sure I will find myself in many of these situations and I have the knowledge to use the split breaks for diff scenarios.

I have already caught myself kicking the tractor into 4wd going down a few small hills on the property with a round bale on the forks because I read a thread on here where a guy went down a hill with a load in 2wd, the rear end got light and he put the forks thew the siding of his building by the time he got stopped.

I'm sure actually using my split breaks will be next lol.

But I have only used the tractor on a reasonably flat property where the tractor is on grass (yard) or the concrete/gravel drive. So that's the main reason I haven't split the breaks. I have yet to use by deff lock either lol, so far 4wd has been more than enough.

When we got my dads old 53 case SC going again I used the split breaks on it a few times just fooling around and trying them out. I wanted to see how sharp it would turn. it's a 32hp 2wd tricycle tractor with 38in R1 on the rear.

Thanks guys for taking the time to share the knowledge

 

[paulfun9]

Are we the only ones that realize how useful split brakes are? Man I wouldn't want to be without them..

I don't think so!

I use my turning brakes a lot also and would not be interested in a tractor without them. Even if things changed to a point that I didn't use them nearly as often as I do I would still want them for that odd time when they will come in handy.

I think that if some of those folks who don't use them regularly would take a little time to practice with them they would start to find many instances that they will actually come in handy. One of my friends has them but doesn't use them and watching him operate in tighter spots is rather funny because he is back and forth trying to line up. Have told him numerous times that a little touch of the brake will spin him right in without all the back and forth but he must just enjoy trying to jockey around things and take twice the time needed.

 

[paulfun9]

Actually, our JD 855 Hydro drive tractor has three brake pedals.
two for steering, and one for both brakes combined.

One of my JD's has the 3 pedal arrangement also. I just cant remember ever using the single pedal on the right.

 

[k0ua]

It's people like you and rich is the reason I'm here. Lots of good info to read, I am not very experienced with tractors, I'm just now getting smooth and efficient with my FEL moving pallets and round bales while the tractor is moving.

My break pedal has always been locked together like it was just one pedal since I bought the tractor. But I do have the ability to split them if I need to. I read back to the beginning of this thread and got some good ideas to use them for and your post was like icing to the cake by the time I got to the end.

I'm sure I will find myself in many of these situations and I have the knowledge to use the split breaks for diff scenarios.

I have already caught myself kicking the tractor into 4wd going down a few small hills on the property with a round bale on the forks because I read a thread on here where a guy went down a hill with a load in 2wd, the rear end got light and he put the forks thew the siding of his building by the time he got stopped.

I'm sure actually using my split breaks will be next lol.

But I have only used the tractor on a reasonably flat property where the tractor is on grass (yard) or the concrete/gravel drive. So that's the main reason I haven't split the breaks. I have yet to use by deff lock either lol, so far 4wd has been more than enough.

When we got my dads old 53 case SC going again I used the split breaks on it a few times just fooling around and trying them out. I wanted to see how sharp it would turn. it's a 32hp 2wd tricycle tractor with 38in R1 on the rear.

Thanks guys for taking the time to share the knowledge

If we have helped you in any way, I am glad to do it. You may not need split brakes very often in what you do and where you operate, but just remember them when you do need them and they will be there to help you out of a "sticky" situation.

 

[k0ua]

One of my JD's has the 3 pedal arrangement also. I just cant remember ever using the single pedal on the right.

I think the idea is to use that one for "roading" the tractor so that you can keep the other two split for turning brakes, and use the single for high speed stopping on the road without fear of accidently not pressing both the other ones at the same time causing you to veer off course.

 

[4570Man]

If we have helped you in any way, I am glad to do it. You may not need split brakes very often in what you do and where you operate, but just remember them when you do need them and they will be there to help you out of a "sticky" situation.

They saved my hind end once. I was unloading a tail heavy tractor off a trailer and the front end lifted off the trailer. It started to swing to the left. I used the split brakes to straighten it up and maintain control until it was unloaded and sitting on all 4 again.

 

[MossRoad]

My IH had a little flip tab between the two pedals to lock them together or unlock them. The operator's manual said always have them locked together when in high range to avoid accidentally only stepping on one at high speed, which could cause sudden turn to one side and tip over.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

If we have helped you in any way, I am glad to do it. You may not need split brakes very often in what you do and where you operate, but just remember them when you do need them and they will be there to help you out of a "sticky" situation.

I plan to do some different jobs this summer with the tractor, pulling tops from the woods, redoing driveways ext, who knows what I will get into but I'm sure I will save my azz with info from here when it happens.

They saved my hind end once. I was unloading a tail heavy tractor off a trailer and the front end lifted off the trailer. It started to swing to the left. I used the split brakes to straighten it up and maintain control until it was unloaded and sitting on all 4 again.

Like that right there, I can see myself in that kind of a situation, instead of trying to steer and drive back up, now I will try the split breaks first and continue backing down. I personally hate loading equipment, seen way too many videos of tractors, bull dozers and excavators fall off trailers and been totaled. Now granted most the time there tracked climbing a trailer and that's like a deer running threw a shopping mall but still. I would be devastated if I upset my tractor, blew out all the cab glass and had to take it to a shop for repair.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

After mowing an entire summer,, one day, my SIL asked what those 3 pedals were for,,,
he had never mowed with a riding mower before,, the JD855 was supposed to be operated by his wife,
he just hopped on one day,,,

I asked him recently,, he still has never used the brakes,,,

He did buy a nice "house" for the tractor,,, I think he is a computer geek addicted to the tractor,,,:thumbsup:
he is learning,,,

Looks good, I have seen a TON of those shipping containers go up for sale on CL lately, like 10 different listings for them right now.

I wonder how long they stay water proof and what kind of life to expect for one. I would think it would almost outlast me but I could be surprised I guess.

 

[4570Man]

I plan to do some different jobs this summer with the tractor, pulling tops from the woods, redoing driveways ext, who knows what I will get into but I'm sure I will save my azz with info from here when it happens. Like that right there, I can see myself in that kind of a situation, instead of trying to steer and drive back up, now I will try the split breaks first and continue backing down. I personally hate loading equipment, seen way too many videos of tractors, bull dozers and excavators fall off trailers and been totaled. Now granted most the time there tracked climbing a trailer and that's like a deer running threw a shopping mall but still. I would be devastated if I upset my tractor, blew out all the cab glass and had to take it to a shop for repair.

Steering wasn't an option, the front tires were off the ground. I've loaded rubber tracked equipment and that isn't too bad. I can imagine how bad steel tracks would be. We've loaded a skid steer quite a bit and thats rough. Trying to do it without a bucket is nearly impossible. Add some over the wheel tracks and you're really in for it.