Steering Brakes??

[John_Mc]

On the HST Kubotas, especially the smaller ones, the brake pedals are on the same side as the hydro pedal. The only way I can see to use the brakes for steering is to have the cruise control engaged where it is available.

Some of the New Holland CUTs are the same way. My TC 33D has the HST and brake pedals on the same side. Cruise control disconnects when brakes are hit. I've heard one guy just moved the cruise control disconnect over to his clutch pedal.

For me, it's been no big deal to just move my left foot over to the right side to use the hydro pedal, and use my right foot for the brakes. Works out great for me... The platform is almost flat anyway, so it's not tough to get my foot across. I wouldn't want to ride all day like that, but it works for when I need it. Of course, I'm "snowplowing" with my FEL and/or Boxblade, so I don't get a lot of side load as I would if I ever got around to getting a rear blade or a real snowplow

John Mc

 

[okie350]

I have know idea how the brake steering works when you have the HST
(L3010 Kabota) I know there is some sort of trick but other than being a contortionast I cant seee how it works

 

[bx23barry]

As far as I'm concerned, having the hydro pedal and the steering brake pedals on the same side/foot makes the steering brakes useless and operating dangerous. It is irresponsible by the manufactor and just plain stupid.

 

[SPYDERLK]

As far as I'm concerned, having the hydro pedal and the steering brake pedals on the same side/foot makes the steering brakes useless and operating dangerous. It is irresponsible by the manufactor and just plain stupid.

--- Its good that you recognize this and have the courage to say so forthrightly. Consumer complacence is the worst enemy to evolution of a truly competent product.
larry

 

[ChuckinNH]

--- Its good that you recognize this and have the courage to say so forthrightly. Consumer complacence is the worst enemy to evolution of a truly competent product.
larry

That is part of the reason that I started this thread, and I'm pleased that it is getting some response. If these things affect our buying decisions, they will be changed....... at some point.

 

[john_bud]

As far as I'm concerned, having the hydro pedal and the steering brake pedals on the same side/foot makes the steering brakes useless and operating dangerous. It is irresponsible by the manufactor and just plain stupid.

OK, where ya gonna hang them? I'll grant you full design freedom for all peddles. Place the Clutch, HST forward, HST reverse, Left Brake, Right Brake and (optional) overriding foot throttle.

jb

 

[RalphVa]

I use steering brakes on my JD 4010 when moving snow. They're also useful to get you unstuck. I usually stop and stab the diff lock to get unstuck but have used a brake on the spinning side.

One reason, apart from JD dealer being so near, I didn't buy a Kubota.

Ralph

 

[daTeacha]

This was a big issue for me when I was looking for a tractor. I cut my tractor teeth on gear drive, foot throttle as well as hand throttle, and individual rear brakes that were used a lot. I seriously considered getting a green one since it had what seemed to be useful steering brakes. A test in the dealers gravel lot turning hard both ways with and without the brake showed very little difference in actual turning radius of the HST Deere I drove. I didn't drive a gear model since by that point in the process I had decided the fine control offered by the HST was more important than any perceived advantage of the gear drive. I still wonder about the wisdom of that decision from time to time, but that's a topic for another thread.

I now have an HST with cruise and a very tight turning radius. It has steering brakes but the only way to make partial use of them is to separate the brake pedals, set the cruise control, then use the right brake only. The left one is the one that deactivates the cruise, so as long as I want to make brake turns to the right at a preset speed, I'm fine. Other than that, not. Basically, I just don't use them.

I used them a lot with my 8Ns, my FILs WD-45, his Ford 5000 and somewhat with the B7100 Kubota even though the latter was stuck in 4 wheel drive permanently. The DX29 seems just as manueverable as any of those older tractors except the Kubota (about 2/3 the size of the Case) even without using the brakes due to large steering angle made possible by the front end geometry.

 

[rback33]

I am such a knucklehead. All the years of driving tractors and using the turning brakes to steer out of mud and turn shorter.. I never ONCE thought to use them when pushing brush or back dragging or any other action where the front end was too light to steer effectively. I DID learn something today...

 

[bx23barry]

OK, where ya gonna hang them? I'll grant you full design freedom for all peddles. Place the Clutch, HST forward, HST reverse, Left Brake, Right Brake and (optional) overriding foot throttle.

jb

What is so hard? Clutch, HST forward, HST reverse on the right foot and Left Brake, Right Brake and (optional) overriding foot throttle on the left foot or the other way around if ya are left footed I guess. When do ya use the clutch and hydo pedal together? Why is there even a clutch on a hydro tractor? I guess if ya really need the clutch with the hydro pedal it could be hand operated. I would sure like a way to use the brakes with the clutch in. I don't see much need for a foot throttle on a hydo tractor either. Anyone that can't brake with their left foot shouldn't be operating equipment in the first place.

 

[shvl73]

Why is there even a clutch on a hydro tractor?

I've read posts where people don't care for the electric solonoid pto engagement that my tractor has, thus, the clutch. There is a Kubota dealer that posted in a Kioti thread that the electric pto is not the way to go. Time will tell, I guess. Mine has always worked well and I prefer the pedal layout, as it is user friendly.

 

[roccon31]

I use steering brakes on my JD 4010 when moving snow. They're also useful to get you unstuck. I usually stop and stab the diff lock to get unstuck but have used a brake on the spinning side.

One reason, apart from JD dealer being so near, I didn't buy a Kubota.

Ralph

me too on buying the JD over the bota-even at a 6k price difference. i use my 4115 for plowing snow and loader and backhoe work for my business. this tractor would be USELESS to me had i bought the kubota with their braking arrangement. i learned to to run large machinery early on, and the proper and faster way to run them without abusing them. the steering brake is probably the most useful thing on a loader other than the bucket.

i cut sidewalks in with my front loader, i grade driveways, etc. i sometimes will backdrag an entire 1/4 mile long drive way in 2 or 3 passes with the front end off of the ground the entire time. i also find it very useful for cutting in large flower beds along foundation walls, and backfilling trenches along walls, etc.

i RARELY use my pto for anything, so having an electric pto solenoid works great for me.

i have tried running the kubota (bx22 to be exact) as my uncle has one. i couldnt STAND that treadle pedal design with the brakes on the same side. if however, you find them comfortable to use, then by all means, go orange! it does not suit my application of this tractor.

 

[milkman]

i have tried running the kubota (bx22 to be exact) as my uncle has one. i couldnt STAND that treadle pedal design with the brakes on the same side. if however, you find them comfortable to use, then by all means, go orange! it does not suit my application of this tractor.

Your post reveals a lot about the amount of time you have spent on a BX 22.

 

[roccon31]

yes sir, not much time at all. probably 4 or 5 hours. i kept running into the side of my dump truck with that pedal, just couldnt get used to it. that is why i went green. i felt right at home on it with the jd pedal design.

as i stated before, if you find the orange style comfortable and it works for you, then by all means buy it, it is a great tractor!! it just didnt work for me having learned on a different style machine.

 

[SPYDERLK]

yes sir, not much time at all. probably 4 or 5 hours. i kept running into the side of my dump truck with that pedal, just couldnt get used to it. that is why i went green. i felt right at home on it with the jd pedal design.

as i stated before, if you find the orange style comfortable and it works for you, then by all means buy it, it is a great tractor!! it just didnt work for me having learned on a different style machine.

Gee!, 4-5 hours should be plenty of time to learn to walk with a broken leg.
larry

 

[daTeacha]

That's okay. Some of us who usually drive stick shift cars sometimes find out that an automatic has the brake pedal sticking way over where the clutch is supposed to be, and I think there may be a few who forget to lower the ROPS sometimes before going into the garage.

 

[KubotaEd]

I frequently find myself with both feet on the right side of my B2410 and also my B7200 Kubota tractors, and wish the arrangement was a little easier to use. I remember how nice the old JD A was with the hand clutch and individual brakes on each side of the operator's platform, and I also remember the old JD D that did not have individual brakes at all, and sometimes having a real problem getting the turn made without hitting the fence or going into the ditch.

 

[daTeacha]

One thing we need to remember as we try to improve the way things are laid out is that the brakes on a hydro are interconnected with the drive mechanism. They're more than just mechanical brakes like you find on older iron. I don't know that a hydro tranny would hold up well if a guy frequently locked up one rear wheel and pivoted on it like I used to do with my 8N and my FIL's WD-45.

 

[ChuckinNH]

Rich, Thanks for pointing that out. I wasn't aware that there was any possibility of potential damage to the hydro. The videos on Deere's site make a point of showing users locking up one wheel to turn, and tout it as a feature... which it probably is if no damage results. I am more concerned about traction issues, and steering control than sharp turns though that might not make much difference to the potential damage.

 

[yankeerider]

My first tractor was a Ford 9N, with the clutch and left brake on the left, and right brake on the right. You weren't gonna get your right foot on the clutch, and it wasn't practical to clutch and brake left at the same time!

My 755 has a wonderful setup. Individual left and right brakes on the left, but close enough that you can activate both with a single foot. The hydro pedals on the right have a single both-wheels brake pedal above them. Because I normally use the right brake pedal, the left pedals allow me to hold in position while I move my right foot down to the "go' pedals. Don't know if the newer JD's keep this feature.