Traction Hydro transmission and diff lock

[navycryppie]

So, took delivery on my 3520h last night from Bruce Danielson, and happy to report that his customer service is everything I expected from the reviews here on TBN. I've got a little seat time moving a few dirt (mud) piles around the yard, and had a question for the fellow hydro owners. Being that the diff lock pedal is behind the forward/reverse controls, exactly how are you supposed to USE the diff lock function? On my Kubota, the pedal is on the left, which makes more sense. I'm trying to figure out what kind of contortionist can actually do it. Suggestions? :confused3:

 

[oldnslo]

On my 2400H they made it hand operated on the right side which is of little help if you also operating the FEL controls. Needs to be like older Deeres where it locked in place until you touched one of the brakes.

 

[Texasmark]

My 2400 and 6530 have a press to apply and release to release. It only locks while you hold the pedal down. I have had other tractors where you press to engage and press again to disengage by using the diff. locking pedal However, if the system is under compression, it may not release till you release the compression....like if you are on a hill or up against something, you would have to let go of the pedal or pull away from the obstacle, release the pedal and let the rpms go to idle. In worst case a little F to R rocking with the pedal released.

 

[navycryppie]

Well, I've put almost 10 hours on it, and so far fairly impressed with power and how it handles. And, near as I can tell, to use the diff lock requires some fancy footwork. I've tried using it a couple times now, and found the most comfortable (least contorted) way is to use my right heel for the diff pedal, while reaching over with my left foot on the drive pedals. Not ideal, but it does work.

Now, my next question for those of you with a hydro, why is there a 'link' setting for the PTO? There is no clutch pedal, therefore making 'ind' the only real option. Thoughts?

 

[coralhead]

Well, I've put almost 10 hours on it, and so far fairly impressed with power and how it handles. And, near as I can tell, to use the diff lock requires some fancy footwork. I've tried using it a couple times now, and found the most comfortable (least contorted) way is to use my right heel for the diff pedal, while reaching over with my left foot on the drive pedals. Not ideal, but it does work.

Now, my next question for those of you with a hydro, why is there a 'link' setting for the PTO? There is no clutch pedal, therefore making 'ind' the only real option. Thoughts?

The link setting on my 4520r is to shut the PTO off when the 3pt lift is moved to the up position.

 

[motownbrowne]

The link setting on my 4520r is to shut the PTO off when the 3pt lift is moved to the up position.

I've seen that feature on a few tractors. To me that seems like trouble waiting to happen. If I'm correct, the PTO shuts off when the 3 point is raised all the way and then turns back on when you lower it. I don't want the PTO coming on automatically under any circumstances. What if you had a medium duty bush hog on the tractor, running full throttle and forgot that that feature was engaged. You lower your three point and engage the PTO at full throttle instead of a nice low idle. Lots more stress on the drive components.

It just seems like engaging the PTO should be an intentional action undertaken carefully.

 

[Texasmark]

The Link may be similar to my 6530 which has "Live" and "Independent" functions. There is no second clutch like the Live PTOs of old....my Ford 3000 has that......half way down on the clutch pedal you control the implement and all the way down you control the tractor movement.

It has 24, I think I remember, little clutch discs in the PTO drive line that are electrically engaged (lots of discs to distribute the shock load of a spinning drive shaft and a quiescent implement.....like a brush hog energizing for example) and I think you are correct Mr. Motown that the 3 pt sensor also controls the energizing and deenergizing of the PTO solenoid.

Directions are in my manuals but I never use it so I'm not clear on it, but if necessary I can go out to the shop and get the information you need......assuming yours is identical...and why not....double clutches are the thing of the past.....I think.

 

[Texasmark]

The Link may be similar to my 6530 which has "Live" and "Independent" functions. There is no second clutch like the Live PTOs of old....my Ford 3000 has that......half way down on the clutch pedal you control the implement and all the way down you control the tractor movement.

It has 24, I think I remember, little clutch discs in the PTO drive line that are electrically engaged (lots of discs to distribute the shock load of a spinning drive shaft and a quiescent implement.....like a brush hog energizing for example) and I think you are correct Mr. Motown that the 3 pt sensor also controls the energizing and deenergizing of the PTO solenoid.

Directions are in my manuals but I never use it so I'm not clear on it, but if necessary I can go out to the shop and get the information you need......assuming yours is identical...and why not....double clutches are the thing of the past.....I think.

 

[TXWELDER]

So, about the diff lock? Today is day one on my 5220H and I could not figure how to actually use the diff lock and engage the F/R pedals.

 

[ericm979]

I use my left foot on the diff lock. Or sometimes operate the HST pedals with my left foot while the right is on the diff lock. Or disconnect the two brake pedals and brake the one wheel that's slipping.

 

[k0ua]

That is why properly designed tractors have the brake pedals on the left side of the tractor and the diffy lock is on the left side also. That way if you need to use the diffy lock OR the split brakes your left foot actuates those, and your right foot engages the hydro pedal of choice. My Kioti would be such an example. There is no clutch pedal on my Kioti, nor is there a need for one. The PTO is a dash mounted switch that actuates an electrical solenoid engaging a hydraulic valve.

The split brakes are particularly handy when pushing snow/ice on a sloped surface to maintain a straight line by using your brakes to steer the tractor as you front wheels will next to useless for steering because of the slippery and sloped surface. But your rear wheels with chains applied can easily steer the tractor because they can "bite" thru the ice and apply torque.

Split brakes are handy also for working dirt up against a wall to make small subtle changes in your directional line when again the front wheels are nearly useless becaus to turn them would hit the wall with the wheel/tire. But a simple touch of the split brake can shift the tractor in or out of the wall much like a skid steer machine.

All of these things become much more difficult when some lame brained tractor designer puts the diffy lock and split brakes on the same side as the hydro pedals. Been there, done that, and no longer have that tractor.

 

[Texb]

I just reach down and press it with my hand. It stays engaged as long as your on the pedal.
I致e only needed it 3-4 times.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I can't understand why Branson puts the diff lock pedal on the right (wrong) side of the floor in the open station tractors, but puts it on the left (correct) side of the floor on the cabbed tractors.

Makes no sense to me.

I feel for you guys with open stations and trying to manage with that pedal arrangement.

Mine has the diff lock and twin split brake pedals on the left side of the floor, and the twin directional pedals on the right side of the floor.

I sure hope they change it on the open station tractors going forward.

 

[LouNY]

I have always wondered why they put the go pedals on the right side,
the clutch was always on the left it would seem logical to me to put the forward reverse stop pedals there also.
Since the early 60's I can't recall an American or English tractor that didn't have both brakes on the right side.

 

[k0ua]

Well, brakes are not used very much on a hydro tractor. Not needed at all to stop the tractor even downhill, only needed to keep the tractor from "drifting" and to be set to park the tractor and for split brake usage to "slew" the tractor and can also be used to slow down a single spinning wheel to apply torque to the other wheel thru the normal differential action instead of using the differential lock. This is a more dynamic and smoother operation. But all that said, since all of the "go" pedal/pedals are on the right side, then the brakes need to be on the left side.

 

[LouNY]

Well, brakes are not used very much on a hydro tractor. Not needed at all to stop the tractor even downhill, only needed to keep the tractor from "drifting" and to be set to park the tractor and for split brake usage to "slew" the tractor and can also be used to slow down a single spinning wheel to apply torque to the other wheel thru the normal differential action instead of using the differential lock. This is a more dynamic and smoother operation. But all that said, since all of the "go" pedal/pedals are on the right side, then the brakes need to be on the left side.

See I believe that the brakes should be on the right side as all conventional tractors, and move the control pedals over to the left.
I very seldom run a tractor with a hydro but when I do when it gets wheel slip I use the brake pedals top control the slip more often then a diff lock.
The same as I do with a gear tractor. Hard pulls with a load behind me are easier to control using that method compared to using a diff lock.

Also to address the link and independent PTO operation, again with no knowledge of how the hydros do it on my power shuttle the linked and independent function with the "clutch" in the linked position with the PTO switched on it will engage and disengage with the clutch operation, it is a little bit more controlled that way with a load against a light slip clutch as we have on a tedder, using the link mode I can get the tedder in operation with minimal slip clutch chatter while when using it in the independent mode the slip clutch will chatter quite a bit.

 

[k0ua]

If your welding and fab skills were pretty good, I bet you could move things around.

 

[LouNY]

If your welding and fab skills were pretty good, I bet you could move things around.

Not my tractor fortunately I only use it once in a while for him, he is an older neighbor has even more trouble then I do using it.

 

[ptsg]

Also to address the link and independent PTO operation, again with no knowledge of how the hydros do it on my power shuttle the linked and independent function with the "clutch" in the linked position with the PTO switched on it will engage and disengage with the clutch operation, it is a little bit more controlled that way with a load against a light slip clutch as we have on a tedder, using the link mode I can get the tedder in operation with minimal slip clutch chatter while when using it in the independent mode the slip clutch will chatter quite a bit.

Interesting. Looks like they are using the modulating signal from the clutch pedal to feather the PTO clutch.

On the smaller geared tractors in linked mode, they just use the clutch safety switch signal. So it's only On or Off.

On the HST ones, it may only turn ON/OFF with the lift arms in the max height position.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Interesting. Looks like they are using the modulating signal from the clutch pedal to feather the PTO clutch.

On the smaller geared tractors in linked mode, they just use the clutch safety switch signal. So it's only On or Off.

On the HST ones, it may only turn ON/OFF with the lift arms in the max height position.

That is the way mine is set up, yes. On/Off when the 3 pt comes all the way up (in "linked" position).