Carver Equipment, Hwy 301 South, Dunn, NC  28334
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Little Value or Need for "turning brakes" on an HST tractor.

 A shopper recently wrote to us saying (edited just a touch):

 A Green Tractor Salesman said --> His selling point is that the brake pedals are on the opposite of tractor from HST controls, so that one can apply a brake while operating forward or reverse petal.  As an old farm boy, I know this is useful.  How does one make such maneuver with your Orange tractors with HST transmissions?" 

Steve's response:

The lady or gentleman that's mowing doesn't want tears and rips in field, pasture or lawn.
So my take my advice on this is -- " Save the brakes for parking, safe stops when your foot is off the trans. pedal.  You, your tractor, your implements and the lawn will be a lot better off for all the years to come. "

I, too, was  raised on the farm.
I, too,  used the turning brakes on the old farm  tractors because:
   1.  It seemed as if it took an acre to turn it around.
    2.  It had no power steering.
    3.  and I was plowing or cultivating at the "ends" of rows.  I  had to "pivot" the tractor around between the end of row and the ditch or woods at the edge of the fields. 

All this added up to having to use the TURN brakes to make the PIVOT -- POWERED TURNAROUNDS.

We did all this because we "didn't have hydrastatic transmissions. 

Back then, you would have had to stop -- clutch -- change gears forward to reverse three times to complete one turnaround.

Then the operator would have had to do scores of  "non power steering" wheel rounds  to have made the change of direction and turnaround. 

I remember that every time I did that -- I'd make big ruts and tears in the soil or grass because the "braked side tractor rear wheel/tires" were sliding and skidding.  

My memory is that an operator was not in "best and safe " control while doing the skidded turns.

The rear mounted implements often times were being very quickly and UN-safely swung around the rear of the tractor like a whip.  

One time, I found myself so interested in pressing brakes, jamming the steering wheel into locked "one way" position and keeping the engine revved up for a powered turn -- That I swung the old rotary cutter into my uncle fence and blasted down a post and gate and bending the housing of the cutter.

I glad no one was standing beside the gate. 

Today ... 40 years later.

Tractors with power steering and 4wd. (which makes the turns so much easier in soft and wet conditions) , hydrostatic transmission for easy direction and speed control... the turnarounds are so effortless that 85% of my farmer customers are switching over to the hydrostatic transmission for their cultivating, plowing, disking and most spraying chores.  

They are not buying the high percentage of GSTs and DT transmissions as before. 

Today ... for the same reasons 95% of my utility and residential customers are switching over to the hydrostatic transmission for all duties and task. 

Please, listen now, I'm am not being "trite nor simplistic here".

The "BOYS in GREEN" are having tough times these days with quality control issues.  Just read the message boards and see the news.  I'm sure it's temporary situation because they have a fine GREEN product backed by a fine GREEN company. 

But these days they are grasping at any feature they can find to "pick over the orange tractors" because ORANGE is eating their "cake." 

Here's the fact---- We sold and leased hundreds of tractors in the past three years with HST trans. with the brake pedals mounted directly up and forward of the HST foot controls. 

ZERO COMPLAINTS OR CONCERNS BY NOT EVEN ONE PURCHASER, LESSEE or DEMONSTRATION SHOPPER.

We have a GREEN dealership right next door to us and we have shoppers compare both brands everyday ....... we get a lions share of the deals on all tractors--22-46hp.  It's incredible.

 Thanks,

Steve

 PS ...You can put your heel on the forward part of the HST pedal and the top (toes and ball of foot) on the brake pedal and do the turns.

Yes, It's a little awkward at first, but in a few practices -- you can become "good at" making braked-turns.

Then -- you'll look at the mess you left on the ground and will probably decide-- "It's a non-issue."    

The lady or gentleman that's mowing doesn't want tears and rips in field, pasture or lawn.

So my take my advice on this is -- " Save the brakes for parking, safe stops when your foot is off the trans. pedal.

You, your tractor, your implements and the lawn will be a lot better off for all the years to come. "