Tractor Ergonomics

[FullBucket]

I have a BX2350 and love it, although I expect these questions apply to other models as well. Why is the brake pedal way up at the middle of my shin when the forward pedal is down near the deck. If I was in a hurry to stop I would want it closer and preferably below the forward pedal. Anyone know?

Also, the forward and reverse pedals seem like they are supposed to operate in a rocker arm fashion and yet the pedals are so far apart that I really can't span my boot between the two. Safety reasons?

The FEL control lever is up in the air to the right side. It is within easy reach of the steering wheel, but limits on and off access on the right side. Also will probably be somewhat tiring if you if are lucky enough to get to spend the whole day working the bucket .

Any known reason or comments? How about from the designers???

P.S. I found the cup holder right away but am still looking for the beer cooler

 

[pdowling1]

You'll never need to hit the brake pedal, except when parking. The transmission will stop you whenever you let off the pedal. After a little use you will see what I mean.

 

[Adam23]

you are lucky - I still have not found the cup holder on my tractor!

 

[wushaw]

You can only go one direction at a time so they want to make sure of it by placing enough separation between fwd/rev controls.

Your always suppose to mount a horse from the left side, same with a tractor.

 

[Volfandt]

Why is the brake pedal way up at the middle of my shin when the forward pedal is down near the deck.

Basically, the brake pedal is really just a parking brake. 99.5% of your braking is done via the HST pedal. You should have noticed by now that the HST pedal controls both motion and stopping. This is true with all HST's, whether they are foot or hand lever controlled.
About the only time you will use the brake pedal is in the case that you have the HST in neutral since HST braking doesn't work with the HST in neutral and you should NEVER take the tractor out of gear when going up or down a hill. The foot brake will NOT stop you once it gains some speed.

Also, the forward and reverse pedals seem like they are supposed to operate in a rocker arm fashion and yet the pedals are so far apart that I really can't span my boot between the two. Safety reasons?

If you look under the floor pan you'll notice that the HST pedal is in fact a rocker with only the top of it exposed above the pan. It's a redesign of previous BX models that had the rocker (treadle pedal) above board. I have an 04 BX23 and I prefer the above board pedal as I can easily change directions by just shifting my foot.
I don't know why Kubota changed it but it may be that the competition has separate pedals and they wanted to be like the Jones'. Again I prefer the older treadle pedal design myself.

The FEL control lever is up in the air to the right side. It is within easy reach of the steering wheel, but limits on and off access on the right side.

This is common on just about all tractors. Inorder to get the FEL control close enough to comfortably use it, this means it generally blocks easy access on the right side.

I'm no designer but if I were, theres a few things I would have done differently.

 

[Adam23]

Is there a kit to move the FEL lever to the fender area so that it would be right by where your right hand would be if you let it naturally lay next to the seat? that would be the best!

 

[milkman]

As mentioned earlier, the only time I use the brake is to park, and when I looked at the new BX 2350, the one thing I noticed that I didn't like was the new forward/reverse pedal are separate. I like the one on the earlier BX2200, don't have to move my foot, just rock my foot forward or back, even the new BX2350 is better than the side by side pedals, don't have to look which is forward and which is reverse, easy to mix up in a tight spot even after long time use.

 

[davitk]

Looks to me like you forgot to order the optional beer cooler - I mean, back hoe.

 

[texasjohn]

Adam23, on my cab tractor, the FEL joystick is just about where you want it to be... so, I guess that the kit you are looking for is to get a cab model with similar features

 

[RayCo]

I don't mind the placement of the loader stick. I do wish the pto lever were on the right though. Because of the loader, I do typically get off the left side. I'm noticing now that it's colder that my jacket or sweatshirt sometimes snags the pto lever and engages it when I get off, which shuts off the tractor.

I also think the fuel filler should be on the left since most people smoke right-handed.

 

[LBrown59]

1*You'll never need to hit the brake pedal, except when parking.
2*The transmission will stop you whenever you let off the pedal.

1*Don't bet on it.
2*Not if it's in neutral.
The BX has a very poor parking brake and virtually no stopping brake.
== L B ==

 

[LBrown59]

You can only go one direction at a time so they want to make sure of it by placing enough separation between fwd/rev controls.

Your always suppose to mount a horse from the left side, same with a tractor.

Nope not when the left is the down hill side.

 

[mswlogo]

Nope not when the left is the down hill side.

Perhaps with the bx23 pedal folks were hitting reverse to stop (possibly wearing something in transmission prematurely) and seperate pedals reduce that issue.

My bx24 won't budge with brake on.

Speaking of snagging a coat, I snag back hoe controls everytime I get down.

 

[FullBucket]

Another item I forgot to question is the placement of the hand grip in the way of the filler opening. Adding the grips is good and a funnel is easy enough to make up for the poor placement but having the handle inside the grip seems like it would have been a better spot.

I agree with the coat snagging issue but the only solution I can think of is to recess the levers which could create other issues.

I've been wondering whether I could add a footplate to gain heel/toe control of forward and reverse. Anyone tried this already?

All that said it still seems like a nearly perfect CUT

 

[rdsaustintx]

I've been wondering whether I could add a footplate to gain heel/toe control of forward and reverse. Anyone tried this already?

Um yeah. BX23 came with one.

 

[AceDeuce]

We consumers are a fickle group. It is impossible to please all of us all the time. The best most manufacturers can hope for is to please some of us some of the time by focusing their marketing efforts at only one or two groups of similarly opinionated customers. Given the high volume of sales, particularly with the popularity of the BX series, Kubota no doubt makes design decisions very carefully. Lots of factors get consideration. Sometimes it's simply about differentiating the product line from the competition's. Other times its about getting on the bandwagon (i.e. the split HST treadle design). And of course everything has to be balanced with economics; no one is going to pay $25,000 for a BX just because it is the most "comfortable" machine on the market. Ergonomics is a tough problem because all of us are different. It is both a physical problem and a subjective one. In all likelihood Kubota is taking a shot down the middle going for "best value" as seems to be their SOP.

 

[LBrown59]

1*Perhaps with the bx23 pedal folks were hitting reverse to stop (possibly wearing something in transmission prematurely) and seperate pedals reduce that issue.

My bx24 won't budge with brake on.

Speaking of snagging a coat, I snag back hoe controls everytime I get down.

1* Never heard of any bx23 owner having such an issue.

 

[LBrown59]

I also think the fuel filler should be on the left
since most people smoke right-handed.

took me 2 days after I got the 2 bx 1500s to notice the fuel filler is on the opposite side than the BX23s.
OOPS I'm left handed.

 

[KeithInSpace]

I got on my neighbor's Cub Cadet HST...a simple lawn tractor...and the HST pedals were a similar principal to the new BX design. They were probably more comfortable to use in straight forward and reverse, I guess, but efficiently swapping between the two was more difficult because it forces you to shift your foot. I actually had to look down to find reverse, but I'm sure I would get used to it.

I have two theories.

Theory #1) Perhaps the designers thought it would be more comfortable to have your right foot at the same level as the left. I mean, the new design has your heel on the footboard and your toe on the pedal and reverse for, well, reverse. In the older design, your entire foot is a couple inches off the footboard and there it stays the entire time you are operating your tractor. Unless, of course, you take long trecks in large fields or down the road where you'd use the cruise control or drop your heel off for a change in position.

Theory #2) Maybe this is to make the BX seem like a super-duper lawn tractor and hence more approachable by the suburban set. If it has features that look like a Cubbie or Crapsman, then it will be as easy to use, right? And if it as easy to use, maybe I can justify the $15,000 expense instead of $2,499 on sale. Better yet, maybe the wife will want to mow the lawn a time or two.

Either way, I like my single treadle. It was among the handful of reasons I purchased a BX2230 instead of a BX2350. Not to say the new one isn't cool and all, but sometimes things are so good that newer is just newer. Either tractor approaches the door of perfection through their own hallway.

 

[LBrown59]

As mentioned earlier, the only time I use the brake is to park, and when I looked at the new BX 2350, the one thing I noticed that I didn't like was the new forward/reverse pedal are separate. I like the one on the earlier BX2200, don't have to move my foot, just rock my foot forward or back, even the new BX2350 is better than the side by side pedals, don't have to look which is forward and which is reverse, easy to mix up in a tight spot even after long time use.

Which could be fatal in a teagious situation.
I'm filling in a whole about 25 feet long by about 15 feet wide and around 12 feet deep with my Fel.
The approach is down hill right to the edge of the hole.
The last thing I need is suicide pedals and hit the forward petal while attempting to back away from the hole after dumping the FEEL Bucket.
With the front wheels at the edge of the hole there is no room for error when you go to back away.