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How Many Use Brakes Turning

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Dick L

03-06-2008 08:46:11

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In reading below about the different ribbed tires and it sounded to me as most don't automatically use the brakes when turning you tractors. I started working in the field when I was 8 and one thing my Dad insisted on was that I use the brakes (every) time I turned the tractor. It didn't matter if I was backing up or going forward, on the drive or in the field. It is just something I do. When I start to turn the steering wheel my foot goes to the brake.
There was some of the old tractors that had a cable that pulled on the brake when turning the steering wheel.
I never dreamed that any one would even think of not using the brake when turning. We only had narrow front tractors which might have been the difference but I also use the brakes turning my Oliver 1850's Light pressure on a slight turn and more pressure as the turn gets sharper.

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RodInNS

03-06-2008 21:09:53

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

Very seldom that I use the brakes for turning now.... Planting corn is about the only time when I want to spin the tractor on the inside wheel and go back in the same track. Sometimes in tight manuvering with wagons, but that's about it. There's flat out no need of them on a MFWD tractor that's been properly ballasted. Actually, they don't really help to steer much on those tractors if you did use them. Might flip you over if you get into the pedal enough.
I used to use the brakes all the time on the two wheel drives, but they're gone now and the brake pedals are locked together. Don't miss them either.

Rod

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John S-B

03-06-2008 16:21:56

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

I will when I get the @$^@ things fixed right!!

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Steven f/AZ

03-06-2008 16:12:20

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

Not very often. Our tractors are ballasted up front so they turn decent if you just cut the throttle back a bit. To do a 180 degree turn with a 2wd tractor just plain requires brakes.

We do our heavy tillage type field work with an articulated 4x4 tractor - the only tractor that should be used for that purpose, if you ask me. Better floatation, perfect turns, etc.

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Hugh MacKay

03-06-2008 18:05:12

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Steven f/AZ, 03-06-2008 16:12:20

Steven: Sounds like your getting some affection for your Deere. I operated 2 different Deeres and one New Holland. I went into thinking Deere, after a week switching operators, I have to say I like the New Holland best.

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farmer boy

03-06-2008 15:42:30

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

I never use the brakes on the Kubota to turn in a field. Just tears it up. I use the a bit when cleaning out a barn or when a sharp turn must be made. 2wd tractors are a whole different story. 2wd tractors are useless on ice and bad on the plows too.

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Bret4207

03-06-2008 14:58:32

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

I do a lot of woods work with an 800 Ford. Couldn't get along with out the brakes. Same when plowing. That land wheel slips a little and my toe just kisses the brake and away we go!

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Dennis Goesmann

03-06-2008 14:41:05

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

Try runing a tractor that you can not use the brakes to turn like one of the hydro compacs!

Dennis

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495man

03-06-2008 13:36:49

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Taxes biggest cost!, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

Only use brakes to turn if the front end is light(heavy 3pt mount) or need to turn sharper/90 degrees in tight quarters. Also use wheel brakes on tractor with out diff lock to equalize traction (stop spinning wheel and send power to stopped one)
To me using the brakes on every turn is excess wear and tear, especially dry brakes.....I guess if you can afford brakes all the time all the more power to you. wt brake brake might less of an issue, but something is still wearing....

If you have decent tri ribs on the front, and the tractor is ballasted right, the front end should not be sliding anyways. If you're cheap and running worn out car/truck tires, than of course the front end will slide all the time.

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Don-Wi

03-06-2008 13:21:04

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

I use them quite a bit when doing the tillage, and sometimes when cutting hay but other than that, not very much. OUr big 1855 has enough weight on the front where it digs in pretty good, and the 285 now that it has good tread on the front again I don't need the brakes much when cutting hay.

Our haybine is a Hesston 1014+2 Hydro-swing, 14' cut so you gotta make a 180 every time, but if you use the brakes on that you'll turn to sharp and catch the tire on the hitch pole. We've alos got a New Idea 290 9' haybine we use as a swamp cutter, and once the section I am cutting gets narrow enough I use the brakes but otherwise not at all.

Donovan from Wisconsin

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MNGreybeard

03-06-2008 13:16:33

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

A few years ago I bought a CIH FWA tractor. I liked the tractor, except when pulling a 13ft. disc chisel you had to really stand on the brakes to align on the previous pass. Then I bought a GPS guidence system,mainly fot fertilizer spreading. I found the GPS system worked great for tillage, instead of cranking tight to make the turn for the next pass, you make a wide turn and the unit guides you into a swath. No skips or overlaps.
Now if I can just get the hired man to use it.

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Andy Motteberg

03-06-2008 13:11:40

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

If I need to turn real sharp, I use the brakes. Some tractors like Farmall F-12, F-14, F-20 etc. have cable turning brakes so the turning brakes work by themselves.

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Hugh MacKay

03-06-2008 13:02:17

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

Dick: Buy an articulated tractor, no more brakes needed for turning. They'll turn on the same headland and just as short as any 150 hp two wheel drive tractor and do it at 6 mph and smooth.

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soundguy

03-06-2008 12:06:54

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

Depends on my terain.. and how fast i eed to turn. in soft terain.. the front wheels can plow.. so I use breaks to turn.. or if I have a rear wheel loosing traction.. i help out with a brake..

soundguy

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ScottyHOMEy

03-06-2008 11:57:15

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

I'e always used 'em more than most, mebbe cause I was taught a lot like you were. Always for 180s and other tight turns. In slippery or soft stuff, the turn doesn't even have to be that tight.

On a narrow front, almost always if starting up from a stop and turning.

I find I use it a lot more on my SuperC, which is a wide front. One is it doesn't turn as tight on the front wheels to begin with. Two is it's frequently lighter on the nose thatn I like it, so it will steer as if it's slippery. I've got just the one set of wheel weights up front, but also 170# pair of saddle weights. They help but don't completely offset the weight of either the sickle mower, or the three-point (especially with the back blade on) when I have them mounted up to the rear.

One caution to those readers to whom steering with the brakes is a new concept, this is NOT to be done when traveling in road gear! If your brakes are any good, you can dump the whole tractor in a heartbeat.

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KRUSS1

03-06-2008 12:38:28

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to ScottyHOMEy, 03-06-2008 11:57:15

Just shows one more of the advantages of FWA or articulated steering.

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sammy the RED

03-06-2008 11:53:28

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

I only use the brakes as needed. Very seldom are they needed to use when turning into a field or in the drive. Now, plowing is a differant matter ! 8)

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Dan-IA

03-06-2008 11:46:34

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

Brakes are gone on all the gas tractors here. I use brakes for turning in the field only when planting, 6 rows wide is awful short when you factor in the length of the tractor.

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37chief

03-06-2008 11:44:17

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

I use my brake every time when mowing. I can stomp the brake, raise the mower, and turn on a dime.Now with a crawler if you don't use the brake when turning you might as well forget about turning. stan

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Nancy Howell

03-06-2008 10:44:00

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

I rarely use the wheel brakes. It just depends on how sharp I need to turn. I really dislike using them hard because it tears up the ground and leaves a hump of dirt.

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JoeBob/IN

03-06-2008 10:30:45

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

I suppose it depends on the situation and tractor. I have to use the brakes to assist in turning my Case 2390. Even without something hitched on she wants to push with 20.8 radial duals. They really bite and don't want to skid so straight is where she goes. Only takes a wee bit "o" brake to whip her around. Has new tri-rib tires and all the front weights that will fit on the bracket. They are wet brakes so they should last another 6500 hours. Now when we are makin hay I rarely use them to turn unless it is rakin. We use a wheel rake and hit speeds of 10+ mph which means road gear and even at idle if you want to turn sharp it requires the brakes. Different tractors act differently. The 2390 and 1370 are pretty much identical tractors but steer way different!

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Eric in IL

03-06-2008 09:42:49

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

I have a feeling that independent brakes evolved during a time when many implements could not be raised out of the ground. At that time, using the brake for turning was the ONLY way.

Nowadays I seldom use them for assisting a turn. It is my opinion that separate brake pedals on todays' MFWD tractors is almost a waste of metal.

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cj3b_jeep

03-06-2008 09:39:00

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

I use mine when brush hogging and plowing and back blading. Depends on the ground conditions and such. On dry, hard ground they don't do much for you, but on nice wet fields and loose dirt, they're great. I'm like the others, I don't want to have to replace brakes that often.

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TomTex

03-06-2008 09:28:17

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

Agree with BuickandDeere. I maybe use the brakes to turn in 1 out of 500 turns. Usually just slow down a bit and keep good 3 rib tires on front of larger tractor. Smaller tractor has FWA and I never use brakes for turning. Tom

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CWL

03-06-2008 09:26:56

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. It just depends on how sharp I want to turn, soil conditions and what I'm using the tractor for.

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buickanddeere

03-06-2008 09:21:45

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

We just slowed down, kept enough ballast on the front to maintain stability/steering and used three rib front tires. Rare to use the brakes except for exceptionally tight turns, stopping or emergencies.

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Mike M

03-06-2008 09:25:40

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to buickanddeere, 03-06-2008 09:21:45

Same with me as I didn't want to be rebuilding brakes all the time. Slow down at the ends and the turns are easier.

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Dick L

03-06-2008 12:41:16

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Advise Probly Won't Work in reply to Mike M, 03-06-2008 09:25:40

I am 70 years old and have been operating tractors in the field since I was 8 years old.
Different world out there with all kinds of ideas of how to do things better than it was done in the past. They may be correct ideas but I am getting the answers that I expected after reading the ribed tire posts. Thanks.

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thurlow

03-06-2008 09:11:35

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

Preach on, brother..... ....started to say, "You're preaching to the choir", but that's no longer true.

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Allan In NE

03-06-2008 08:55:16

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Dick L, 03-06-2008 08:46:11

Can't improve on that. Exactly as you stated.

Allan

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Allan In NE

03-06-2008 09:01:03

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Allan In NE, 03-06-2008 08:55:16

Except to say, :>)

By their very nature tractors "demand" the use of the steering brakes.

Those big drivers kinda over-shadow those little steering tires and always wanna go in a straight line. :>)

Allan

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TGIN

03-06-2008 09:28:35

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Re: How Many Use Brakes Turning in reply to Allan In NE, 03-06-2008 09:01:03

Alot of the time in soft situations mud,snow,etc. it`s the only way you can turn !

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