What are the drawbacks of parking HST in "gear" instead of Neutral?

[Komrade]

I would like to leave it in "gear" so that when I start it in N it doesn't accidentally roll while in N, as it can be parked at a slight slope.
Manual recommends using N.

 

[oosik]

Strange. If your tractor will start while in gear then that's the reason why the OP manual recommends leaving it in N when parked. If yours, like mine, will not start in gear then I don't understand why you couldn't leave it in gear.

Another solution, that I use, when parking on a slope - curl your bucket on the FEL and pin it into the ground or drop your 3-point implement and let it sit on the ground or do both. If on a slope and the tractor is still running when I leave it I do both and set the park break. I DO NOT want to be in the position of trying to run down a tractor and jump on it. My Jeep started rolling back down my driveway while I was opening the gate and it almost ran over me as I tried to get back in it. I was finally able to reach in and pull the park break. Really stupid mistake on my part - leaving the vehicle without setting the park break. I didn't think the driveway was sloped - the Jeep knew otherwise.

 

[300UGUY]

I don't understand this. I don't see a "N" position on the HST? When using mine, I usually drop the bucket, rather than using the parking brake, as I frequently forget to release the parking brake. And the bucket and/or the 3 pt is a bigger brake than the parking brake.

 

[Retired Iron Peddler]

I don't understand this. I don't see a "N" position on the HST? When using mine, I usually drop the bucket, rather than using the parking brake, as I frequently forget to release the parking brake. And the bucket and/or the 3 pt is a bigger brake than the parking brake.

My tractor shows what gear the range transmission Low (L), Medium (M) or High (H) or if it is Neutral (N) on the IntelliPanel. I too always lower the implement and/or loader bucket to the ground in addition to leaving the transmission in neutral and setting the park brake before dismounting the tractor. It was a safety precaution I learned have been doing since attending a tractor safety school when I worked for I-H as a "factory sales rep" almost 50 years ago.

Bill

 

[J_J]

An HST tractor will stay in gear unless you move the lever to neutral. I never leave mine HST in neutral.

Although the HST is in gear, the fwd/rev pedal is in neutral.

You also have brakes you can lock.

Drop the bucket and 3pt attachments.

 

[C4Ranch]

Drawbacks none. Advantage yes. IMO.

I rarely put mine in neutral. I do when I run my PHD so I can control pto rpm with my foot while using auto throttle advance.

 

[NHbotanut]

I never put my tractor in N. I just shut it down and drop the bucket & 3pth. Just push the clutch in, start, and off I go. Where I park it during the week is flat, so I don't use the parking brake, but when I am working I always use the brake.

 

[Gary Fowler]

My B26 Kubota will start in any range as long as the HST pedal is in neutral position. I like this much better than having to shift to N to start. I thought my BIL's NH was going to melt the plastic hood when he stalled it while punching up a burning pile of brush. With the pressure on the HST, he couldn't get it to shift out of gear in order to start it. After what seemed forever, the pressure finally got down so he could shift to N, start the tractor, shift back to L and get the heck out. If it were my B26, it would have been just take the foot off the HST pedal, it would go to N and with a turn of the key, back to business.
I always lower the FEL when parked or when I dismount any of my tractors. It is much better brake than the parking brake and easier to engage and disengage.

There is definitely advantage to not having to shift range selector to N to start. ONE safety is plenty and I don't need 3 or more position safeties in place for starting. I can start my B26 while on the ground and with it in gear as long as the pedal is neutral, as soon as the pedal is engaged, the engine dies if no one is in the seat.

I would hate to have to trace down a bad micro switch on my ZTR mower which has to be in park (1 switch), handles pushed out (2 switches-one for each handle) ,seat occupied (1 switch), mower disengaged (1 switch). SO it could be any one or more of 5 micro -switches bad to trace down. So much simpler to just look at one although I do see the need for all of them on the mower, but not on a tractor which should need not more than 1 for HST pedal and one for PTO engagement.

For my gear drive tractor, I shift everything to N (range, gear and shuttle shift) and lower the FEL. I have to push the clutch fully in to start regardless of what position the gears are in. I don't usually apply the parking brake unless I am doing something where I need to leave the engine running as in hooking up to a piece of equipment where I may need to raise or lower the 3 PH. I always fully engage the parking brake when using it on any of my equipment so it wont move without releasing it. I always have to watch when my BIL uses my RTV as he will just lightly set it and I always end up running it for some distance with the brake on.

 

[teg]

Even in gear, while on a slope, a HST can roll with the engine off. BTDT.

 

[k0ua]

I would like to leave it in "gear" so that when I start it in N it doesn't accidentally roll while in N, as it can be parked at a slight slope.
Manual recommends using N.

Your post does not make any sense to me. How can you leave it in gear and have it in Nuetral to start at the same time.? Why is you foot not on the brake pedal during the start sequence? I just don't understand what you are asking:confused3:

 

[mfreund]

I have never put my hydro tractor in neutral for parking. I just turn off the key and lower any implements to the ground.

 

[bigbull338]

ive never put my hst in the n either when i had it as the loader was always down when it was parked.i pretty much do the 7040 hydro the same way leave it in gear and use the shuttle.if i need to change gears up or down i come i put the shuttle in n let it stop.then i change gears up or down without using the clutch.

 

[boggen]

Even in gear, while on a slope, a HST can roll with the engine off. BTDT.

was waiting to read this!

hst or any hydraulic transmission, can roll with engine off. regardless if in gear or in neutral. there is no actual drive shaft / gears between tires and the engine, there is a fluid, and that fluid can and will leak around and let the unit roll off. and by chance, dog, racoon, cat, etc.. starts climbing around and hits a lever or pedal while tractor is off. *waves bye bye to tractor*

set the parking brake. drop the fel, and drop the 3pt hitch.

 

[k0ua]

was waiting to read this!

hst or any hydraulic transmission, can roll with engine off. regardless if in gear or in neutral. there is no actual drive shaft / gears between tires and the engine, there is a fluid, and that fluid can and will leak around and let the unit roll off. and by chance, dog, racoon, cat, etc.. starts climbing around and hits a lever or pedal while tractor is off. *waves bye bye to tractor*

set the parking brake. drop the fel, and drop the 3pt hitch.

They will slowly drift downhill with the engine running too when the charge pump pressure slowly drops. Either give it some pedal in the opposite direction or put your foot on the brake if you are sitting on a hill. It doesn't just take off, but certainly a slow drift downhill. When I park on a hill, I set the brake, lower the FEL and lower my ballast barrel. I don't like the idea of the tractor running over me or someone/something else.

 

[MHarryE]

On the 60 series didn't they move the brakes to the left and eliminate the clutch so you need to be in neutral to start, or did they move the pedals and keep the clutch? Yes, on my old L3710 and the L5740 that replaced it neutral start was the clutch pedal but I assumed a shift to neutral when they moved the pedals.

 

[k0ua]

On my Kioti, there is no clutch, the Brakes are on the left side. You place the range selector in N to start. If you are starting on a hill, place your foot on the brakes to prevent the tractor from rolling away when you place the range selector in N. Just common sense stuff.

 

[Threepoint]

On my Kioti, there is no clutch, the Brakes are on the left side. You place the range selector in N to start. If you are starting on a hill, place your foot on the brakes to prevent the tractor from rolling away when you place the range selector in N. Just common sense stuff.

On our new Kioti NX series HST there is no clutch (as with the DK series), and you can't start the tractor unless the range selector is in neutral and the parking brake is set. I leave the range selector in gear when I shut down, so the first few times I tried to start it in the morning, I thought it was a bit of a nuisance. Now I just automatically remember to shift to neutral before I turn the key.

If you try to leave the tractor without shifting the range selector to neutral and setting the parking brake, the tractor will shut down after a delay of about five seconds when you leave the seat. I've always lowered the FEL and 3-pt implement before leaving the seat of any tractor I'm on, in case of creep. But as I get older, I'm starting to appreciate the enhanced safety features a lot more. :thumbsup: When I'm hurrying, it's just too easy for me to get careless. And when my wife uses the tractor occasionally, it's even more important to me.

 

[Komrade]

Thanks all. I am new to tractors in general, and this was very helpful.
I would not rely just on HST (like in my manual cars) to keep the tractor from rolling, but it seems like there is no drawback of using HST unless one relies on it as "break".
I still lower my FEL and use the parking break.
I had the tractor start rolling a few times while in N (quickly), and would rather not use it at all.

 

[Sysop]

I've never used N for anything except to allow the rear to freewheel enough to lift the front end with the loader, and then it goes back in gear and I set the brake. I do that simply so I can reach certain grease fittings without climbing under the tractor. As you get older, those few inches make a difference.

 

[tk tom]

I like being able to start my tractor without doing anything, don't even have to sit on it. It's convenient to not have to climb up then right back down if I don't need to be on it after starting. Dad's BX you have to pop it in neutral first, I don't care for that. I'm a fan of common sense over safety switches. I'd really like to be able to move the tractor without being on it. Loading the bucket by hand along a row of stuff it would be easier to just grab the HST pedal by hand and roll the tractor along. A lower back and knee problem doesn't make it all that easy to hop up and down on a tractor all day. Still, the tractor makes it easier than a wheelbarrow