B7500 speed governor - design error?

[zmansmac]

I have had a B7500 HST for over 5 years now and I just love it. Especially with all the modifications I've made. I mostly use my tractor for mowing and usually never use full travelling speed. One of the rare occasions I do want to go fast is for snow plowing the driveway. A couple of months ago I was getting the beast ready for winter and remembered reading something about an adjustment for travel speed. Thinking that I should at least check this adjustment, and perhaps tweak it, to make sure I was getting my maximum speed. I discovered that the rod adjustment was made correctly but there was another problem. Those of you with this series of tractor along with the BX series of hydrostatic drive units know that the forward and rearward pedals are connected using a rocker type motion. What I had discovered was that the slot in the platform for the rear pedal travel actually restricted the forward pedal from moving to the end of the adjustment rod which restricted my travel speed. I had to lengthen the rear pedal slot more forward to get the full range. Had a chance to plow snow twice since then and I can really tell the difference. The snow just flies now with the plow angled. I didn't take any speed measurements but I'll bet the difference is at least 2 MPH. Hard to believe Kubota would make this kind of design mistake. Any one else have this problem?

 

[techman]

I think it was done for safety. Going full bore in reverse is beyond the abilities of some people.

paul

 

[LBrown59]

I have had a B7500 HST for over 5 years now and I just love it. Especially with all the modifications I've made. I mostly use my tractor for mowing and usually never use full travelling speed. One of the rare occasions I do want to go fast is for snow plowing the driveway. A couple of months ago I was getting the beast ready for winter and remembered reading something about an adjustment for travel speed. Thinking that I should at least check this adjustment, and perhaps tweak it, to make sure I was getting my maximum speed. I discovered that the rod adjustment was made correctly but there was another problem. Those of you with this series of tractor along with the BX series of hydrostatic drive units know that the forward and rearward pedals are connected using a rocker type motion. What I had discovered was that the slot in the platform for the rear pedal travel actually restricted the forward pedal from moving to the end of the adjustment rod which restricted my travel speed. I had to lengthen the rear pedal slot more forward to get the full range. Had a chance to plow snow twice since then and I can really tell the difference. The snow just flies now with the plow angled. I didn't take any speed measurements but I'll bet the difference is at least 2 MPH. Hard to believe Kubota would make this kind of design mistake. Any one else have this problem?

Have you noticed your top reverse speed being slower since making the change?

 

[zmansmac]

No, I haven't noticed any change. The travel of the rear pedal was not affected by the slot because it moves toward the rear of the slot when depressed. But when the forward pedal is depressed the rear pedal moves up and forward in it's slot and would reach the end of it's forward travel. Of course, the forward pedal could be depressed more if the rear pedal slot didn't restrict it's full movement.

 

[bx24]

A couple more MPH would be a big help when having to drive down the road a mile or so for me. Like anything, good judgment is the key. We have a couple of small ATVs that the kids buzz around the yard on. Without failure, every one of their friends asks the first time they ride one of them is how to make it "go". I tell them the more important question is how to make it "stop"! (this is why the speed limiter is set slow enough that I can run to catch up to them!)

Any idiot can go balls out, but it takes some consideration to go the right speed for the situation. More speed would not help most times, but there are times where it would come in very handy. I know I am going to look at how much the design is limiting the valve's movement

Thanks zmansmac