That darn parking brake

[davatk]

Am I the only one who keeps forgetting to release the parking brake on their 'Bota ? I was about 30-45 mins into bushhogging the other day and went to hit my brake and saw the brake lever pop up. :ashamed:

Anyone ever wear their brake out by forgetting to release it ?

 

[TripleR]

I did it all the time with my BX2200, but my BX2660 won't move with the brake on. My L5030 and other tractors have warning lights or buzzers or I sure would leave them on too.

 

[bullbreaker]

On my L3400DT when you apply decent pressure to the brake it just releases(pops up) by itself.
BTW you just reminded me to go to shop and "lock-down"clutch pedal.
Boone

 

[Shantycoke]

Am I the only one who keeps forgetting to release the parking brake on their 'Bota ? I was about 30-45 mins into bushhogging the other day and went to hit my brake and saw the brake lever pop up. :ashamed:

Anyone ever wear their brake out by forgetting to release it ?

I just did that exact same thing on my B7800 the last time I mowed. Part of my front yard has a slight incline, and I couldn't figure out why my tractor started bogging down when I went up hill with it. After looking at the brake pedals, and calling myself a few unkind names, I released the brakes and voila, back to normal. Some day I'll learn....maybe.
Pat

 

[sunnyside360]

Am I the only one who keeps forgetting to release the parking brake on their 'Bota ?

No, you are not the only one. My son-in-law has a habit of doing it on my older tractor --- have had to adjust the brakes a couple of times. The newer tractors have warning lights on the console so he has yet to screw up there.

 

[k0ua]

I have done it too.
I have got in the habit of upon start up
stomping the H*** out of the brake before I push in the clutch
if you do it often enough, it becomes habit, you will never have that problem again.. I am still working on the habit part!
James
K0UA

 

[Gordon Gould]

Me too - first thing step on brake then click seat belt. Becomes habit.

 

[magicheater]

I have on occasion but I bet a couple of others here have wished they used it.

 

[redharley]

Have forgot a few times also, look down and mumble a few special words. No ill affects noted.I beleive I read on this forum somewhere of someone who rigged up a light switch for the brake pedal on a BX. Would not be a bad idea.

 

[teg]

I'm not sure if I have more hours on the tractor with or without the brakes on. :ashamed:

Been there, done that... waiting for a T-shirt

 

[DiezNutz]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[riptides]

It's just a habit, get into a pattern, think about what your doing, and it will start to not happen. After a while.