steering brakes

[stockton]

Is there a reason why Kubota has there steering brakes on the same side as the hydro. peddles? How do you make tight turns, keep tractor in line when going up a wet muddy trailer? I consider this a big fault.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

9th Kubota purchase in 6 years and have never needed or tried steering brakes myself. Haven't came up with a single time that I felt I needed to use them.

 

[amigauser]

The only 'trick' I have seen mentioned here is using the cruise control to operate the hydro while using your feet on the brakes.

 

[kennyd]

One of the mysteries of Kubota's ownership that has been discussed/argued 100's of times here on TBN...

And Welcome

 

[Lyrch75]

It was the same way on my first New Holland.

Monkeyed around with the cruise control and hitting the brakes, then realized its 4wheel drive and those big front tires are not going to behave as I was used to on fullsized RWD tractors. After that I left them linked together and only play with steering brakes on 2wd tractors in a hay field or pulling a plow.

 

[MikeInEburg]

The few times that I've had to use brakes for steering, I simply swing my left foot over to use the brake, while using right foot for HST pedal. It happens so rarely that it's a non-issue for me. One could also engage the cruise control, leaving right foot available for brake duty.

Mike

 

[James Loehr]

Have a 03 L3130 and the brakes have been locked together from new. There are always better options to makeing a turn than using the brakes. It wears brakes out fast using them for turning. I would use them if there was no other option.

 

[ttstraw]

I asked this same question a couple few weeks ago, will admit its odd they have it set up that way. But I did give it a try one night mowing, swung the left foot over and mashed the left brake...she turned darn quick so it will work thats for sure....pretty much like a zero turn but I suspect its rough on brakes.

 

[Shantycoke]

Works on the same theory as my old '49 Farmall. Set the throttle (cruise) where you want it and you can steer with the brakes. Worked well on my old tractor and works just as well on my Kubota.
Pat

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Works on the same theory as my old '49 Farmall. Set the throttle (cruise) where you want it and you can steer with the brakes. Worked well on my old tractor and works just as well on my Kubota.
Pat

Accepting the fact that you can steer with your brakes, this works better than turning the steering wheel? If so, in what way? Are the brakes locking on both wheels on one side or just front or just rear wheel? I know I can shift my straight transmission car without pushing in the clutch but I prefer pushing in the clutch so I guess I'm really missing something with this brake steering option.

 

[Barneyhunts]

If you have the tractor in cruise and step on the brake it disengages the cruise???

 

[Shantycoke]

Stepping on a brake pedal when the brakes are split does not disengage the cruise, at least on my B7800 it doesn't. Just tapping the hydro pedal with your foot does disengage the cruise. The purpose of split brake steering is to give you the opportunity to make 180 deg. turns. For example, if you want to make an extremely sharp rt. turn, turn the steering wheel to the right and step on the rt. brake pedal. The rt. rear tire locks up and almost acts like a pivot and the left rear tire drives the tractor. There is almost no turning radius. This is also good for kind of "crabbing" the tractor if you're going across a hillside and you want to keep the front of the tractor kind of facing uphill, while the tractor is going across the slope. I've only tried steering with my brakes once with this tractor, just to see how well it works. It is hard on the tires, hard on the brakes, and really hard on your grass, but it does swing you around pretty quick.
Pat