Wearing out my brakes

37 chief · Jun 29, 2021

For some reason at the end of each mowing row I would use the brakes to turn. I have been doing this for years. Today Just thinking about things. I thought I would turn without using the brake. The tractor came right around. I only need the brake to make a tight turn. I was not only wearing out my brakes, but my knee also. I guess my JD industrial is heavy enough in the front to get traction to make a turn. Now the hard part. remembering this next time I'm mowing. This probably started using my MF 231. It turns so bad. I don't know why they even put brakes on this model. Stan

Fred Werring · Jun 29, 2021

Usually mow with a Ford 5000.

Got front wheel weights on it and a set of the small suitcase weights.

But it won't turn tight enough to square the corners unless I use the right brake.

Could make a loop on the corners, but that chews up time it seems.

Fred

showcrop · Jun 30, 2021

Is your mower a three point or drawbar type? I make it a point to not do that when mowing with my three point in order to not put stress on the hitch. A friend had a rental business and when I was there one day a tractor came back from a mowing job with the cast rear housing broken where the lift arm stay attached.

Determined · Jun 30, 2021

(quoted from post at 21:25:57 06/29/21) For some reason at the end of each mowing row I would use the brakes to turn. I have been doing this for years. Today Just thinking about things. I thought I would turn without using the brake. The tractor came right around. I only need the brake to make a tight turn. I was not only wearing out my brakes, but my knee also. I guess my JD industrial is heavy enough in the front to get traction to make a turn. Now the hard part. remembering this next time I'm mowing. This probably started using my MF 231. It turns so bad. I don't know why they even put brakes on this model. Stan

The 401's are quite nose heavy especially with a loader on to the point that they lack rear wheel traction.

But being that they were designed to have a backhoe, forklift, cement mixer etc hanging off the back it is to be expected.

Having used my brakes to steer quite a bit over the years when power steering valves went out one would think like you did that it would be wearing out the brakes.

Couple of years ago I had one axle housing off and surprisingly the friction material still looked like new.

Wish I could say the same for the design of our knees.

Tgrasher · Jun 30, 2021

Use 2-135 Whites for discing and planting and a Steiger for pulling a field cultivator. I find myself reaching for a brake in the Steiger when making turns and then realize there is none. It's so automatic for me to use the brakes for turns whether mowing hay or field work that I actually don't think about it.

MarkB_MI · Jun 30, 2021

Ya don't tear up the grass so much, either.

Wearing out my brakes

37 chief

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Fred Werring

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showcrop

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Determined

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Tgrasher

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MarkB_MI

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