No more 'treadle pedal'

[SDT]

I was looking at an new MX series with hydrostat drive and immediately noticed that Kubota got rid of the clunky 'treadle pedal' and replaced it with a much shorter 2 level cast aluminum pedal control that is 100% Drive by Wire. Never had a hydrostat but I've always not been impressed with the oversized 'treadle pedal'. Not there on the new MX series.

My L6060 has the small aluminum HST pedal. HST is servo assisted so little effort is needed.

I'm not fond of the pedal because, among other things, it is too far from the floorboard.

Yes, I've become somewhat used to it over time, but, in my opinion, the engineer that designed it, along with the one that designed the adjustable lift lever stop, should be looking for alternative employment.

SDT

 

[SDT]

I assume you mean cables when you say 'drive by wire?' Not like 'fly by wire' in an aircraft which means electronics. Interesting. I need to go look at one...

No.

It's electrical/servo assisted.

SDT

 

[true temper]

Yeah, there was one guy who did a bad a$$ conversion on here. He engineered a linkage and pedal mechanism to replace the treadle.

That would be me. For those that hate the treadle pedal on Kubota

 

[JWR]

No.

It's electrical/servo assisted.

SDT

That is daggone interesting SDT. I spent my career receiving/processing/displaying data from test aircraft and recall what we did testing fly-by-wire controls for the F-18 in the 1980's. I have to wonder if tech complexity is multiplying the things that "can go wrong" on our newer tractors.

 

[npalen]

If you don't like the treadle just cut the back half off and then you have a pedal. Push with your toe to go forward and pull up with your toe to reverse, very intuitive. That is how I use mine but the rear half remains.

 

[RalphVa]

If you don't like the treadle just cut the back half off and then you have a pedal. Push with your toe to go forward and pull up with your toe to reverse, very intuitive. That is how I use mine but the rear half remains.

My foot is small enough to fit inside the peddle on the B2601. Been trying lifting with the toe. May be the way to go.

 

[5030]

Last one I had was the 5030 HSTC, gone almost ten plus years ago, replaced by a gear shift, range selector and a power reverser (to coin a JD term) or a hydraulic shuttle selector. I still have a fuel pedal on both in case they need a 'nudge' and a hand throttle as well. My issue with the 'hydrostat' was always the parasitic power loss that the gear drives don't have. Don't miss the constant 'whine' either. Both of my zero turns whine. Must be an inherent part of the fluid drive mechanism.

 

[5030]

My L6060 has the small aluminum HST pedal. HST is servo assisted so little effort is needed.

I'm not fond of the pedal because, among other things, it is too far from the floorboard.

Yes, I've become somewhat used to it over time, but, in my opinion, the engineer that designed it, along with the one that designed the adjustable lift lever stop, should be looking for alternative employment.

SDT

The GS 850 side by side my wife purchased last spring also has a terrible fuel pedal (it's drive by cable to the EFI unit). The pedal is too high and in the wrong location to be comfortable to push plus the spring is way too light so modulation of it is always a chore.

It appears that Kubota puts little engineering thought into the placement or design of their fuel pedals.

 

[frogpond]

I like the treadle on my BX25D. Nobody has mentioned its big advantage: when you turn your body to look backwards for reverse, you don't have to contort your leg to pressing the reverse side of the treadle. Plus it's intuitive: front end to go forward, back end to go reverse.

 

[JethroB]

My L6060 has the small aluminum HST pedal. HST is servo assisted so little effort is needed.

I'm not fond of the pedal because, among other things, it is too far from the floorboard.

Yes, I've become somewhat used to it over time, but, in my opinion, the engineer that designed it, along with the one that designed the adjustable lift lever stop, should be looking for alternative employment.

SDT

STD, where have you been? Missed your postings.

I agree with the 3 point lever stop. I intend to get a cam lever to improve mine.

 

[5030]

STD, where have you been? Missed your postings.

I agree with the 3 point lever stop. I intend to get a cam lever to improve mine.

I was going to ask that as well. You've been absent lately.

 

[LFP57]

The newer style pedal is also available on the Grand L series as well, the L3560 has it, I read somewhere that it's fly by wire (solenoid controlled), not cable operated as mentioned

 

[npalen]

Fly-by-wire - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Solenoid would be on or off controlled by an on or off switch. The hydrostat control would probably be servo control where a potentiometer on the pedal controls a servo electronically in a linear manner. I don't know this for fact, just guessing.

 

[deezler]

I see a lot of people try to use the mechanical ones like a big rocker and then complain how terrible it is, but they are doing it wrong. Should be obvious in my opinion (it's longer than even Sasquatch shoe size), but apparently not. If able to correct them, you can see a light bulb go off and they are happy. But I wonder how many people write off this kind of treadle and/or the brand because they are working it wrong.

Thanks for the explanations on the various Kubota pedal offerings.

I bet you are right about the use of the rocker like you describe above for many people, BUT. I also think you are misunderstanding the opposition that many people have to a treadle pedal in the first place.

Even if you don't put your whole foot on top of it and try to rock back and forth, they still suck (in my opinion). Because you can't really just rest your heel on the floor and try to go forward. You do have to hover your foot above the forward arrow/pedal and use some toe pressure to get it pressed down, and thats what blows. After a couple hours of loader work, or anything really, your leg is sore and tire. And each time you want reverse, you have to pick your whole leg up in the air, and reposition it further back on the deck to hit the reverse pedal. It's fatiguing, and pointless effort.

A conventional two-pedal hydro lets you just keep your heel on the floor and use the whole weight of your leg to easily apply forward pressure, it's much less fatiguing and requires less concentration and awareness. Just like true temper's thread shows, converting to pedals up front lets you keep your heel on the floor and it's a vast improvement for most people. Hard to understand why Kubota is staying with this setup.

 

[JethroB]

I have a Kubota Grand L with the smaller all metal wired pedal (below). My heel stays on the floor at all times when going forward and with just light toe pressure on the right side to advance. Yes it does involve shifting the entire leg & foot backwards for me to ’toe‘ for reverse. No biggie. Placing your entire foot on top and rocking is doable but only for short periods of fine manevouring for me. Chevy vs. Ford. It’s likely what one gets used too. I like it.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/p1060492a-jpg.746075/

 

[jayhawk238]

They've been using that pedal for quite a while. The 2016 l6060 i used to run had it so I assume since the 60 series came out. I like it quite a bit despite usually hating everything that's electric over hydraulic. I'm really picky about control feel and response and haven't had any issue with it over about 3000 hours of use. I guess my leg feels slightly more extended than i'd want when going forward but thats being super nitpicky.

I have a 2004 Grand L5030 with the treadle and love it. Only took a few minutes to learn the best foot position that was comfortable for me.

 

[950deerehunter]

I have the large treadle peddle on my B20 and don't mind it a bit. What drives me crazy is the brake pedals on the same side forward of the treadle. How did they ever expect someone to operate both at the same time?

 

[amhicks21]

I have the large treadle peddle on my B20 and don't mind it a bit. What drives me crazy is the brake pedals on the same side forward of the treadle. How did they ever expect someone to operate both at the same time?

They finally sorted that out on the newer hst models that don't still have a clutch pedal. the l6060 and LX3310 that i run have the brakes on the left but the L3200 and b2920 have em on the right. I get the feeling that they didnt want to deal with reengineering the brakes to accommodate HST's when the standard and GST's brake setup was already established. Ive been in a few situations working on slopes when having the brakes on the right really put me in a bind.

 

[jonsstihl]

does that mean the new MX's are getting HST +
that is interesting I was under the impression the MX series was a little less "deluxe" than the Grand L series as well as being a step up in the size department.

 

[Surshot]

It is well worth doing a test drive at the dealer. Listen closely about the attachments and height compared to what you now own….may not fit the new tractors and the new machines are taller in their stance. Went to buy a new tractor and discovered I would need all new attachments, plus a new barn door with new opening, so decided to keep my L standard transmission. The changes would cost more than the new tractor.