Leave HST in gear with engine running???

Anonymous Poster · Feb 10, 2003

Hi everyone,

Here is a follow up question to the one I asked a couple days ago:

Previous thread on parking tractor on slopes with engine running is here

If one has a reason to park his HST tractor with the engine running, should the HST be left in gear or be put in neutral?

Here is what I see:

The HST, if it functions properly, would tend to hold the tractor in postion, and assist the tractor's brakes.

I know this because if I stop my HST tractor on a slope it will tend to hold positioni. If I lift my foot off the HST pedal when going down a slope the tractor will stop.

However, I also know any system can fail. If I leave my HST in gear, and something goes wrong, the fact that it is in gear could cause the tractor to move on its own!

So common sense tells me to put the thing in neutral and to rely totally on the brakes alone, to maximize my safety.

But common sense also tells me that a HST problem is probably just as likely to happen as a brake problem, on a day when they both seem to be working just fine. And therefore I should leave the HST in gear.

I know the right answer is "Just turn the tractor off every time, dummy!"

But it is the rare bird that does this every time. And there are times when you can't because you want to use the pto...

So, just for the sake of this question, even if I am doing something wrong by not turning the tractor off...

When parked with the engine running, which is the safer way, HST in gear or in neutral?

What do you HST owners tend to do?

ps...don't really mean to be beating a dead horse here...would really like to know what others are doing...

rdbrumfield · Feb 10, 2003

I don't believe I would ever leave a HST in gear. When getting off and on it would be too easy to bump the lever without controil of the machine and falling. Also having other people around it would be a liability.
I would treat it the same as any geared trans, Nuetral and parking brake with all emplements on the ground.

markie61 · Feb 10, 2003

My New Holland TC40D has a safety interlock that shuts off the engine if 1-the seat is empty, 2-the parking brake is not set, and 3- the drive selector is not in neutral.

The only way to keep the engine running without an operator is parking brake set while in neutral

Mark

PS And, yes, I already read the posts about defeating the seat sensor - I choose to ignore them /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif....

JDGREEN4ME · Feb 10, 2003

Ditto...I can't leave mine running with it in gear either, nor would I want to... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Casimir · Feb 10, 2003

OK, I will bite. I often get off my tractor for short periods and leave it running, usually with the HST in gear (Ford/NH 1520). I nearly always lower the FEL to the ground, with some down pressure, to make it more difficult for the tractor to move. Also, I only do it on level ground. I do it when warming up the tractor in cold weather, and I almost have to do it when hooking up 3-pt implements, since I usually have to Jockey the tractor back and forth a little to get things to line up. I do this by GENTLY operating the HST lever from the ground, making sure my feet are clear of the wheels and no loose clothing to get hung up. I also usually have to raise or lower the 3-pt hitch some to get things to line up properly, even with my Quick Hitch. I feel that I recognize the potential risks in doing this and do everything I can think of to avoid an accident. I actually feel safer doing this than having someone else operating the tractor while I am between it and an implement or trying to get the top link to line up - I can't control what they might do. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

As far as whether it is better to have it in gear or in neutral - I am not very confident in my parking brakes. I have driven off without releasing them and it took me awhile to notice that the brakes were still on. However, on level ground, when you don't have to jockey the tractor back and forth to line something up, neutral with the brakes set is my preferred modus operandi. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif On a slope: turn the tractor off, leave it in gear, set the parking brake, lower front and rear implements, chock the wheels and pray it doesn't move. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Casimir · Feb 10, 2003

Oh, yeah -- and I NEVER leave the tractor running while hooking up or unhooking a PTO shaft. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

herbenus · Feb 10, 2003

Now I don't have hst, only manual, but I guessed that you couldn't leave seat while in gear. That's how my manual is. I haven't much considered defeating it, especially with boys growing into an age where they can help me on tractor. Since this is a forum on safety, and the seat sensor is a safety device, this is almost like asking "Is it safe to operate without the safety devices?" Unless of course a model doesn't come with safety device. Still, I'm not preaching. I do my share of "Non-operating manual" procedures and you know your situation better then I.

On the non-preaching side: maybe you could make a lightweight pair of chocks, chained or roped together, that you could hang on tractor and shove around one tire when you jump off.

OkieG · Feb 10, 2003

There is no automatic engine shut-off on my "older" JD HST. The seat switch doesn't completely disable the HST, but the tractor will only crawl very, very, very slowly with pedal pressed and operator out of the seat. I kind of like this set-up. If I'm off the tractor and need to move it a foot or so, I can do it and feel safe. I just stand beside the tractor and press the pedal with my hand. I don't have to mount the tractor for small adjustments. I hope this activity isn't too shocking. As I recall, this feature was engineered into the tractor for this very purpose. The owner's manual is at the other end of the house. I'll review and post a big /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif if I am mistaken.

Anyway, now that I've gotten myself in trouble...I leave the HST in gear w/ engine running...usually with either parking brake set or implements down if I'm right by the tractor on level ground. Brakes + implements down if on sloped ground. If I have to crawl under the tractor, all the above + engine off. All the rules get broken occassionally, but ususally not frivilously. I try to think of safety.

OkieG

Anonymous Poster · Feb 11, 2003

Hi,

Frankly, I still don't know which practice I should follow!

Still have a couple months before I need to decide by the looks of things outside today /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

If I had more confidence in the latching ability of the tractors parking brakes [Kubota b2910] it would be an easier decision.

My gut tells me there is a greater probablility of the brakes releasing on their own, than there is of the HST malfunctioning!

I want to thank everyone for taking the time to give me some input. I highly value the opinions/experience of the folks here.

ScottAR · Feb 12, 2003

Lower the implements to the ground and do whichever above you like. Nothing like good ol' gravity... I do want to extend my vote of confidence(for whatever it's worth), these types of questions show that your thinking about safety and what *could* happen. Not many do that, until it bites them in the #@$!