That darn parking brake

DiezNutz · Jul 13, 2010

Gordon Gould said:
Me too - first thing step on brake... Becomes habit.

Me three! Heck I might even step on it twice without thinking about it.

The other thing that helps is to get in the habit of setting the brake firmly when you set it. Then the tractor shouldn't want to move when you step on the go pedal, which is a big clue that you forgot something.

I tend to think if you're able to drive around with the brake on, then you didn't set it properly to begin with... based on what I used to do.

bp fick · Jul 13, 2010

I have tried to drive it with the brake on many times. Thankfully, the BX parking brake holds so well, it's impossible to go more than an few inches.

CBW1999 · Jul 13, 2010

Haven't wore out the brake.......yet:laughing:

I did the same thing Monday night when mowing the field, although your length of time beat mine. Almost identical however, when I went to "park" and the lever flipped up!:ashamed:

I've never smelled or seen anything "hot" when this has happened.

I think I recall having seen another thread where someone rigged up an "idiot" light to the pedal. Parking brake on- light bright in the face. I'm thinking that should be the next thing I install on the tractor. a buzzer might help as well, maybe even one of those computer synthesized voices..... no matter what, I'll still forget

rjkobbeman · Jul 13, 2010

My parking brake is a transmission lock... and cannot be engaged until the mail gearbox is in neutral. When set, the main gearbox cannot be taken out of neutral until the parking brake (transmission lock) is released.

This was a nice feature I gained when opting for the M8540 over the smaller Ms (of course there are others too). Now that I have used it I love it. Very positive engagement and feels very secure.

number two · Jul 13, 2010

I don't use the parking brake a lot.When I do,I place the range lever in neutral.When I get ready to move,the tractor won't move if I've forgotten to release the brakes.Works for me.

dcyrilc · Jul 13, 2010

CBW1999 said:
Haven't wore out the brake.......yet:laughing:

I did the same thing Monday night when mowing the field, although your length of time beat mine. Almost identical however, when I went to "park" and the lever flipped up!:ashamed:

I've never smelled or seen anything "hot" when this has happened.

I think I recall having seen another thread where someone rigged up an "idiot" light to the pedal. Parking brake on- light bright in the face. I'm thinking that should be the next thing I install on the tractor. a buzzer might help as well, maybe even one of those computer synthesized voices..... no matter what, I'll still forget

That would be 4shorts up in Newfoundland. Nice bright blue LED light.

bellweather · Jul 14, 2010

I've done it a couple of times, happens when I set the brake before I hop off the tractor to clear something on the ground and then climb back on and take off without releasing the brake. Thought of painting a green mark on the bottom of the brake pedal shaft that comes through the floor as a reminder...the idea being if I can't see the green mark then the brake is on. Might work, then again it might not and I'll only feel even stupider...

DiezNutz · Jul 14, 2010

Really, if you just set the brake hard to begin with, you won't be able to move the tractor. That's more bulletproof than lights, buzzers, dayglo paint, dog's shock collar, or anything else you're likely to get used to and forget again.

The release lever pawl has several teeth on it corresponding to how hard you mash the pedal before you drop the lever. The first tooth does next to nothing. A few teeth in, and you're not moving.

TripleR · Jul 14, 2010

DiezNutz said:
Really, if you just set the brake hard to begin with, you won't be able to move the tractor. That's more bulletproof than lights, buzzers, dayglo paint, dog's shock collar, or anything else you're likely to get used to and forget again.

The release lever pawl has several teeth on it corresponding to how hard you mash the pedal before you drop the lever. The first tooth does next to nothing. A few teeth in, and you're not moving.

I have had three tractors that it made no difference how hard you stepped on the brakes, they still allowed you to drive off in with the brakes engaged.