Why left and right brakes?

[Steppenwolfe]

Like a tank, if you apply one brake fully, with the other off, you can turn the tractor in about its length.

Helpful in tight fields with Three Point Hitch mounted implements.

Ditto, was very handy when plowing in tight corners, edge of fields, and used those left / right brakes the most when cutting hay in the olden days with a sickle bar.

 

[DaveNJ]

Yup break steering,just remember to lock in both pedals when traveling the road.

Yes, otherwise a very exciting ride may ensue

 

[SandburRanch]

Anyone that ever operated a D John Deere then a tractor with L-R brakes knows the benefit of brakes.

 

[jeff9366]

A Prophet, not fully appreciated in his own Time.

Potential for Sainthood in the future.

 

[dieselcrawler]

No, they belong on the right side so you can use your left foot for the clutch pedal.

X2!!!!! Real tractors have a clutch! (So says a guy who is just stuck with his low HP gear drive only what he could afford but secretly wants hst)

I have run a buddy's hst L4310 kubota, and wondered why there's not a duplicate hst pedal on the left for those times split brakes are needed, or as I've seen on a JD 4066R, left side brakes and right side hst pedals.

Aside from discussion about adding a left side hst pedal, my buddy and I talked about a hst hand control that could be used in such situations, when needed. But you start running out of hands, left on steering wheel, right on loader joystick, none left for hst hand lever.

 

[ericm979]

I cannot press the brake and the forward pedal at the same time.

On my B7100 I could operate the brakes with my toe and the forward HST pedal with my heel. Perhaps that would work for you.
My Branson has the brake pedals on the left which works well with HST, but the diff lock pedal is on the right. I'd need a size 22 shoe to operate the HST pedal and diff lock with the same foot.

 

[vsteel]

They are also helpful when you are making a corner in a field where the soil has been worked. For example you just got done using a disk or 1 way on a field and now are going over it with the planter. The 2 wheel drive tractors don't alway like to turn well and want to push in the soft soil. A little nudge with a single break will help make the corner.

 

[teg]

:stirthepot: Split brakes were a must for 2 wheel drive tractors, especially ones without FEL (weight on front axle). They are great for gear tractors where your foot isn't on a "gas peddle". I love spinning on a dime... for "U" turns.

Split brakes are not needed as much for HST tractors since a 3 point turn is pretty effortless (no gears to grind). Also, 4x4 tractors will grab and bite into turns... It seems that Split brakes are mainly a left over design from yesterday's tractors... hence the stupidity of having brakes and the HST peddle on the same side. Although I've been told I have two left feet (dancing) I don't have 2 right feet to use both peddles...

I mow sometimes for fun with the 4x4 turned off... and my tractor is pretty useless in 2x4 (most of that due to my R4 tires).

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

On my B7100 I could operate the brakes with my toe and the forward HST pedal with my heel. Perhaps that would work for you.
My Branson has the brake pedals on the left which works well with HST, but the diff lock pedal is on the right. I'd need a size 22 shoe to operate the HST pedal and diff lock with the same foot.

This one surprises me. We have the same tractor (although mine has cab), but my diff lock is on the left, and back almost to the seat riser, just to the side of my front diff engage lever. Did they move the diff lock because of the cab (or lack of)?

 

[ericm979]

I think the sheet metal around the seat is different on the open station vs cab models. Maybe they fixed it in the cab model or they think more cab buyers will get HST. The right side location makes sense for a gear tractor but not HST.