Operating with the park brake on

DT86 · May 11, 2014

It happens, or so I've been told.

Leejohn · May 11, 2014

I put a buzzer on my L4240, it can be a pain in the butt sometimes. With it I haven't drove with the brakes on. I wish I had went with the flashing light like the other poster did. Think I well try the flashing light on the B7800 and see how that goes. Did you just use a turning lights flasher?

Cherokee140 · May 12, 2014

When I put the brake on I but it on HARD.....not just enough to hold the machine in place. I can't tell you how many times I start to drive off with the brake on....but if you push that sucker down with all your might the machine is likely not going to move, or you will notice something is wrong.

Paul Thornton · May 12, 2014

After a few time trying to go with the brakes on I added two blue LEDs, they help.

L2800 w/FEL - 72" Land Pride rake

ETpilot · May 12, 2014

Leejohn said:
I put a buzzer on my L4240, it can be a pain in the butt sometimes. With it I haven't drove with the brakes on. I wish I had went with the flashing light like the other poster did. Think I well try the flashing light on the B7800 and see how that goes. Did you just use a turning lights flasher?

My Ford 4610 did not have any indicator for P brake. It has a pull and rotate lever used to set brake. Once lever is rotated you step on brake pedal to set the brake. I added a micro switch to the pull lever, placed an automotive light bulb in the pill bottle. Then wired the circuit using a 552 flasher. I have to say it works pretty good.

There is a very old thread in Customization IIRC with a couple of pictures. Pill bottle warning light, I think was the name.

Leejohn · May 12, 2014

I'm going to do it. Thanks for the info and flasher number.

Leejohn · May 16, 2014

ETpilot said:
I don't use my P brake too often. I too had a problem leaving it on while driving the tractor. I finally made a flashing warning light out of a pill bottle. It was to be a test. It works so good I never changed it out. That flashing light gets my attention.

Well I did it today and I even used the pill bottle. Lot better then a buzzer. I did screw up a little, I don't know what I was thinking of. I didn't hook into the key switch system and now it well flash with the engine shut off. Not sure if I well change tomorrow or wait awhile.

sixdogs · May 17, 2014

I used to read these "left the brake on" threads and of course I never left mine on :ashamed: but have learned the correct answer is to almost never put your brake on. That is unless the situation is so dangerous that the circumstances will cause you to alert you to remove the brake as soon as you get back on the tractor. Tractor brakes aren't like car brakes and they can fail or not be set correctly. Better idea is not to trust them from the get-go.

Most guys use the brake when they want to get off the tractor and leave it running when the tractor should really be shut off. The only time I use my brake is when I use the backhoe and I set it so hard that it won't move unless removed. This way, I haven't left the brake on it several years.

The fact you left the brake on is no big deal. Every one of us here has done it multiple times. Almost certain no damage

TerryR · May 17, 2014

My 18-year-old JD has a big flashing red light when the brake is on. Isn't this common?

Terry

pacerron · May 17, 2014

ETpilot said:
My Ford 4610 did not have any indicator for P brake. It has a pull and rotate lever used to set brake. Once lever is rotated you step on brake pedal to set the brake. I added a micro switch to the pull lever, placed an automotive light bulb in the pill bottle. Then wired the circuit using a 552 flasher. I have to say it works pretty good.

There is a very old thread in Customization IIRC with a couple of pictures. Pill bottle warning light, I think was the name.

I have a Ford 3910 with the same PB system. Only use it if back hoeing, or getting off the tractor on a hill. I prefer to put the FEL bucket down and leave it in gear especially in the winter when it might set for a month or more. I'm not sure if it could seize up, being in oil, but not taking any chances.
The newer tractor is a brain teaser... It has a flashing dash light when on but I've still popped the clutch a few times with it on and the engine running. The teaser part is.... if you shut down the engine without the PB lever engaged a loud alarm goes off. Luckily after about 15 seconds it stops chirping so it can be parked in gear with it off. Then to start the engine the PB must be engaged. Turning the key to start w/o doing so gives a dead starting position on the key switch.
Ok, so you pull up the PB lever and engage the key to the start position again. No joy:confused3:
You have to turn the key back to the off position again before going to start.
This one has it's own dedicated hydraulic brake system with a special fluid/oil required at $16 a pint.
I'm not complaining about either tractor set up. I just have to remember which one I'm on since they are 20+ years apart
in technology.
My point is, it doesn't matter much how many idiot lights and buzzers there are as an old foggy like me will still screw up once in a while