Turning brakes on JD 790

[JDtractor06]

Do you know what a good speed or gear is to use the turning brakes? Everytime I dont know if it is just me or if it is happening, it seems like the tractor goes up on two wheels!

Jon
John Deere 790

 

[RoyJackson]

We've got the same transmission, but the tire diameters are larger on your 790 then my 670. Therefore, the top speeds in any gear will be different. Since my tires are probably smaller in diameter, my 670 will go slower in any gear.

That said, I use the brakes for turning infrequently, but only when I'm in the lower three gears on LOW range. For the 670, 3rd Low is about 3.5-4 MPH. My bar-turfs are pretty wide, so even 3rd Low might be too quick if you've got narrower tires.
I also throttle back (I use the handle throtle almost exclusively) to 1200-1500 RPM's when I'm turning with the brakes. As you can almost pivot around the braked wheel, that's a pretty sharp turn.
More often, I use the individual brakes when I'm plowing snow. This is just to help keep the tractor in a straighter path as the snow tends to push the machine a bit to one side as the back blade accumulates the white stuff.

So...if I were you, I'd try it at really low speeds until you can gain enough confidence or determine when the tractor will lift.

If you use the tractor wheel brakes when mowing (cutter or mower) and throttle back to turn, the cut may not be quite as clean (especially when finish mowing...the cutter blades have greater inertia).

 

[JerryG]

Turning brakes are intended for low speed turns only. If you use them at anything other than low speed, you are asking for trouble. At low speed there is no chance of getting on two wheels. That is why most manuals say to connect the pedals for transport.

 

[beenthere]

The brakes are not just for turning. They are for other uses as well.
I only use the individual wheel brakes (to turn) when the front wheels are sliding and not 'making' the turn. No way would I use them at any 'speed' that would make me feel the tractor is tipping or lifting off two wheels. In fact, the braked wheel will just lift off the ground and no longer become a 'brake'. So there is a built in limit to tipping more.
Realize however, that stopping one wheel with the brake makes the opposite wheel turn twice as fast, as a result of the differential. That may be one effect you are experiencing. On ice, or in mud, you will touch one brake to get more traction from the opposite wheel, as well you will get more rpm if the brake is applied enough to stop the wheel.