Brakes on an L3010HST

[Frank_Mulligan]

I'm new to the compact tractor, but after putting a little over 11 hours on my new baby, I can't see any use for the brakes. When I take my foot off the boomerang, the tractor stops anyway. Can someone shed some light?

 

[Knight9]

Oh oh Frank....now you've done it /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. All those guys who like to brake turn will be taking pot shots at Kubota again!! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Seriously though, I've used my brakes only as a parking brake so far. I'm sure that on a hill it might be useful, but they are a necessity for parking safety.

Kevin

 

[kubmech]

And then there was the time that you left the range shifter in neutral /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif......................................

 

[john_bud]

Frank,

You are correct! On a Kubota with HST, the brakes are only used for parking 99.9% of the time.

John Bud

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Kubmech, now you bring up a point... On my old Simplicity W/HST you never parked on a hill without turning the wheels to where you wanted the lawn tractor to end up. The Hydro kind of leaked off and then off it went.

I learned that lesson for the fellow down the road who's kid mowed and then stopped on the edge of the hill and went for a pop. Pretty soon, as we watched the tractor went down the hill and crashed into the creek hitting an old sidewalk section placed in the creek for a stepping stone. Trashed that tractor.

Do the Bota Hydo's do the same?

Since I learned watching the Simple City I, 1: don't park on hills.... 2: always set the brake if even close to one and turn the wheels..

But never set them if parked on flat ground or stored because I don't want them to lock in.

So, once again my long winded question is: Do the Bota HST's leak off in gear?

Tom

 

[bsauter]

In seven years of Kubota tractoring I have NEVER used the brakes except for parking.

 

[gordon]

Ok I'll try to put some light on it for ya. I use brake steering and have all along with all tractors. Now I've got a 4310hst and by far it's not the best set up for brake steering but it still works. Here are a few times when I use brake steering. A good deal of it is in muddy ground in the woods, the rest of the time is doing dirt work. We didn't get enough snow this past winter for me to even try to push snow let alone need any type of brake steering.

When working in mud and loose traction not being able to climb out of the ditches that the tires have made I lay down hard on one brake and front end will climb right out of the ditches and I can then make the turn.

If one tire starts to spin bad before hitting the diff lock I'll lay down lightly on that tire and see if that gets me going again. If not then I'll hit the diff lock to get moving again.

At times when grading with the bucket and loose most of the front steering I'll lay down lightly on one brake to help steer to my desired direction.

When I'm skidding logs alot of times the front end will get light and brake steering helps to get me turned, also at times when the trail has a sharp bend I'll have to kick the tractor around with the brakes as well.

So for me 99.0% of the time my brake pedals are unlocked so I can use them separately. The other one percent I'm running at high speeds and have them locked for safety.

Another common use for brake steering is when plowing at the end row lock one tire up and turn her on a dime.

So you can use them as parking brakes, never thought of that one./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I always drop the bucket and the three point for my parking brake.

Gordon

 

[kubmech]

Tom, all HST's will leak off, just the nature off the beast.

 

[Taz]

Some good examples of what the brakes can be used for Gordon. They did leave me wondering... HOW? To use the brake you need to take your foot off the HST pedal which stops the tractor before you can get your foot onto the brake. The only way to do what you describe is to use the Speed Set Lever which on my L4610 is a hand lever under the steering wheel. You need to get going with the pedal then lock the lever by hand. On the B2910 the cruise control was, in my opinion, much better. Like a hand throttle next to the seat which would make what you describe pretty easy. In your ditch example I can't see you spinning your wheels while you set the lever. What am I missing?

 

[flomanno]

I always put my foot on the break petal whenever anyone is doing anything in front (or in back) of the tractor. It's a good place for my foot, and keeps a very serious accident from happening.