Traction BX 25 Differential Lock Pedal

Tractor Seabee · Jan 3, 2015

It is very unhandy to engage that little pedal with your heel when doing other things to increase traction. You engage it to get more traction and just as you get moving it drops out, then you are fumbling around trying to get it engaged again. It gets very distressing when you are on a hill and need to engage the Differential Lock (DL) when you are trying to maintain the traction you have. So, Questions:

What is the engineering rational to not have a solenoid or a pull rod or cable to engage the DL?

Why do tractor's not have a positraction rear axle like trucks?

Have any of you out there figured out a better solution to the heel DL small pedal?

Ron

dodge man · Jan 3, 2015

I'm not really doing anything with my left foot so it's not a problem for me.

meos1 · Jan 3, 2015

Ive been known to ride it when I need the locked axle.

AStanton · Jan 4, 2015

I found the pedal to be a pain to engage when you have a big foot like me and you are wearing a big winter boot.

Gunny · Jan 4, 2015

meos1 said:
Ive been known to ride it when I need the locked axle.

+1 here - If I need the differential locked in a situation, then I keep it locked until I'm clear, then I make sure I just drive straight for a bit to allow it to unlock. Actually, that's always been the way I thought they were supposed to used.

walker450 · Jan 4, 2015

Gunny said:
+1 here - If I need the differential locked in a situation, then I keep it locked until I'm clear, then I make sure I just drive straight for a bit to allow it to unlock. Actually, that's always been the way I thought they were supposed to used.

Same here. I know it is a little awkward but it is good that it is out of the way when you don't need it.

As far as why they are not "automatic", I don't have a good answer. The 200HP+ Deeres I have operated also have a diff lock pedal in the floorboard... I don't remember ever having to use it though.

Pepsiboy · Jan 4, 2015

Tractor Seabee said:
It is very unhandy to engage that little pedal with your heel when doing other things to increase traction. You engage it to get more traction and just as you get moving it drops out, then you are fumbling around trying to get it engaged again. It gets very distressing when you are on a hill and need to engage the Differential Lock (DL) when you are trying to maintain the traction you have. So, Questions:

What is the engineering rational to not have a solenoid or a pull rod or cable to engage the DL?

Why do tractor's not have a positraction rear axle like trucks?

Have any of you out there figured out a better solution to the heel DL small pedal?

Ron

Seabee,

The dif lock pedal is spring loaded. If you do not keep pressure on the pedal it WILL disengage. It is meant to do that to prevent damage to the dif and to prevent the inside tire on a tight turn from tearing up the ground. Operator manual and dealer both say that you must keep pressure on pedal for dif lock to remain engaged. For me it is not a problem. It is SLIGHTLY unhandy to get my foot on it, but once there it works just fine. The dif lock has pulled me out of trouble SEVERAL times. It would be nice to have it engage with an electric solenoid, but I'm just too cheep to buy what it would take to do it. :2cents:

Dave

radioman · Jan 4, 2015

I find that I really dont need to use the dl often. when I do , I am just glad the pedal is there so I dont feel push cable or anything else is needed. I can understand that for some people its awkward, but I think its done on purpose. I dont think you really want a small tractor to be accidentally left on as its a lightweight tractor and turning on hard surface like a blacktop/concrete can be disastrous. TO me - with the metals on hst is on the minimal side it can snap under stress like dl locked on on dry pavement turning alot.

oldballs · Jan 4, 2015

I'm like Pepsi and radio.....that is, I just use it when I'm stuck and one wheel is spinning. And it has never failed me in that situation. I'm also glad that it automatically releases when I'm unstuck. With over 650 hours on two small Kubotas, there has been no breakage.

s219 · Jan 4, 2015

You need to keep your foot on the lock pedal until you are clear of the trouble spot. I am not ever doing anything else with my left heel in those cases, so it's never been a problem for me. And BTW, make sure you engage it when stopped and wheels are not rotating, then disengage similarly. It's not meant to be kicked in when the wheels are rotating/spinning.

As for not having posi-traction, it's likely a cost and packaging issue, and not justified for a small low-speed tractor.

Toyboy · Jan 4, 2015

I find it easier to just drop it in 4wd as to use the diff lock

oldballs · Jan 4, 2015

Yeah, but 4wd doesn't get one unstuck sometimes....especially if the front wheels are spinning also.

kcender · Jan 4, 2015

The dealer near me told me to reverse the tractor a short distance to disengage the diff lock.It takes the binding out of the gears.I too hold the lever down with my left heel until I no longer need the differential locked.

Tractor Seabee · Jan 4, 2015

Hey guys, thanks for all the info. I was just curious on why things are the way they are. If I had a way to lock the DL other than the heel pedal I like to think I would disengage after the crisis was over. I do understand the principles involved in a differential relative to turning. I use my BX on some pretty rough terrain and am always finding only one or two wheels grabbing the dirt. In over 1K hrs I have come close but never had a tip over. I always run in 4WD and low when on rough terrain. Just yesterday I had to use the DL six times in 3 hours to get out of a bind while leveling out a 3 yard compost pile in the garden to spread it out prior to tilling up all the green manure (a twice a year evolution). My garden spot is very humusy and loose, but drains well so I could do this after 3 weeks of rain. It is a plot 100 X 70 and I add several CYs of compost every winter/spring plus as top dressing. In 4 years I have raised it up 5". We compost 4-6 CYs of compost every year.

Ron

dragoneggs · Jan 5, 2015

Hi Ron, I run in 4WD and in low gear almost all of the time (99%) as well. I also use the DL quite a bit and I sometimes do have to ride that pedal with my heel. I guess it is second nature to me now so I don't have an issue with a need for posi-traction or another means of engaging. Sometimes though, if I am wearing big clumsy boots I struggle a bit.

ericher69 · Jan 5, 2015

dodge man said:
I'm not really doing anything with my left foot so it's not a problem for me.

maybe this is Kubota's rational to having HST and brakes on the same side?; leave your left foot free for diff lock

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oldballs · Jan 5, 2015

Yeah, and the mount/dismount left side, where the clutch pedal is, is also more open for the DL to be available for that left foot....at least in the case of the "B".

AStanton · Jan 5, 2015

Seabe,
Maybe you should try using a set of chains. I find that I need to use 4-wheel when backing up a dry slope with a bucket of firewood. Now that I have my chains on for the winter, I don't need the front traction and can keep it in 2 wheel. This is on my B3030.

Tractor Seabee · Jan 6, 2015

AStanton said:
Seabe,
Maybe you should try using a set of chains. I find that I need to use 4-wheel when backing up a dry slope with a bucket of firewood. Now that I have my chains on for the winter, I don't need the front traction and can keep it in 2 wheel. This is on my B3030.

I am scratching my head on this one. In 2 wheel with one wheel spinning you are down to 1 driving wheel. The DL at least gives either 2 or four driving wheels.

Ron