How many customers does the treadle pedal cost Kubota?

[Yotekiller]

My nephew is tractor shopping and I was talking to him about Kubota. His dad has a newer Kubota too so he's familiar with them. His grandpa has a JD which he uses often as well. He said while he thinks Kubota makes an excellent product, he absolutely will not buy one due to the treadle pedal. It just had me thinking just how many customers does Kubota loose because of this. Is it that difficult for Kubota to make a twin pedal system like most other manufacturers?

I don't mind the pedal system at all and have gotten used to it.

 

[LFP57]

I thought that I could get used to the treadle pedal, but after three years, I just can't use it effectively. I'm older, a big man and I can't get use dto it. I did place a thick foam pad on the seat to raise my seat height and it helped. I would think that some smart guy with a machine could design something as a kit, think he'd do well to sell them.

 

[mcmxi]

I don't mind the pedal system at all and have gotten used to it.

I have quite a few hours on two MX6000s doing all manner of tasks, and don't have any problem with the pedal regardless of what I'm doing. The L60 tractors do have a nicer aluminum peddle and I've never heard or read any complaints about those variants.

 

[Yotekiller]

I have quite a few hours on two MX6000s doing all manner of tasks, and don't have any problem with the pedal regardless of what I'm doing. The L60 tractors do have a nicer aluminum peddle and I've never heard or read any complaints about those variants.

View attachment 140857

Those do have a nicer pedal. But I agree, I got used to mine quickly.

 

[airbiscuit]

My guess is 5% lost sales. I think they know customers don't like the

treadle, but are too stubborn to change it.

 

[jimh406]

I'm sure there are a few people who don't like the pedal at the start. The best explanation I heard was that you will get used to whatever pedals you have. That's been my experience.

There are people who say it's different than a car, but two pedals for front/reverse is different as well.

I agree 5% is about right ... they use the pedals for their excuse, but maybe they just don't like orange.

 

[Old Machinist]

There was a time I said I would never have one. I think the early style pedal is what soured most folks on them. The new style with offsets front and rear were a game changer.

I go back and forth between my twin pedal John Deere and the LX3310 Kubota without getting confused or having any issue with it.

 

[Sidekick]

That was one of my deciding factors. 2 pedals is much more comfortable for my aging ankle. My BX with winter boots is awful painful.

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

How many customers does the treadle pedal cost Kubota?

None. It's a feature.

 

[rc51stierhoff]

I love mine and prefer the style I have actually. I am not sure that would sway me from not buying a a Kubota if they change the treadle or not buying another brand because of it though. I would certainly want to try it first.

When we got the Mx, I wanted a L6060 and actually the thing I did not like about the L was the pedal. The MX is same style as my B and I wanted it to be common. Spousal unit preferred the Mx (visibility over the hood vs that on the L) so it worked out fine. (I brought my boots along for the ride to see how f they fit….my Haix chainsaw boots not so good match for the treadle though, mucks are fine)

I think it comes down to what you’re used to and what is comfortable. That’s also why I think it’s best to demo or drive one around the lot a bit and see what feels best.

YMMV, but I would not a machine of that price with out kicking the tires and lighting the fires.

 

[skeets]

I really dislike the way my B 2601 is set up

 

[Moose7060]

I would have preferred two pedals if given the choice. I generally just use the L for mowing so the treadle is fine and the upgrade to cruise control makes it even better allowing me to stretch the legs out and enjoy the ride.
I don't imagine there is a large loss of sales because of it. People are going to buy Kubota if they want Kubota or they are going to buy some other brand because they want that other brand, and I'm pretty sure the marketing dept is aware of features that help or hurt sales and pass that on to the designers.

 

[Poohbear]

No problem with the treadle. What I want is put the 2 brake pedals on the left moveing clutch to right so tghter turns could be made

 

[airbiscuit]

If a 2 pedal hydro was offered as a no cost option, how many buyers would choose the

treadle?

 

[whatsupdoc]

And if Kubota changed it to something else there would be a
thread "Why did Kubota change the treadle pedal".

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I prefer the treadle pedal to a 2 pedal setup. have a rider with big pedal fwd, small for reverse...PITF.
treadle is easy for the foot to understand, push forward, YOU got forward, push back down ,YOU go backwards.
Actually getting rid of the PITF rider soon. Saving the 24HP B&S, tires and rims, rest can go to China. Oh yeah, I'll keep the $200 battery too.

 

[Speed25]

The pedal worked great on my L2501 and did exactly what I wanted, it felt natural after a few minutes. On my BX however, the pedal just doesn't work well with the HST, it's not smooth, easy or natural. I'd say the poor implementation has probably cost more sales than the actual pedal design/location.

 

[Daren Todd]

No problem with the treadle. What I want is put the 2 brake pedals on the left moveing clutch to right so tghter turns could be made

What i found odd/ interesting and this jumped out as soon as I climbed on dad's l2501 hydrostatic.

His had a split brake pedal right next to the threadal pedal

I was quite confused how you were supposed to operate it

 

[S-G-R]

I had a JD mower with he two pedal setup and I wasn't a fan. To me they were backwards. The treddle in my LX works fine for me with my size 12 feet but the Grand L pedal look a lot nicer.

 

[NCL4701]

I’m not the most experienced operator and way far from the most expert operator, but I’ve operated enough equipment with controls in such a wide variety of places and types it’s kind of hard to imagine a treadle or twin pedals being a deal breaker on buying a piece of equipment, but I guess it is for some percentage of buyers.

My L was my first experience with a treadle. Awkward at first. About 4 hours into the first grading job I did with it, I’d forgotten about the treadle interaction with my foot. The tractor was going the direction and speed I wanted like it was an extension of me. Couldn’t really expect better than that. (The loader took a little longer. )

Whatever clueless engineer and feckless approving manager put the treadle and brakes on the same side clearly never operated a small tractor. That’s a deal breaker for me. Brake steering is a necessary part of operating a small tractor if there’s any sort of incline involved, even if it’s just mowing a ditch. I vaguely recall seeing a couple models set up that way when I bought my L and commenting to the salesman that was one of the dumbest things I’d ever seen on a piece of equipment, particularly an alleged top tier piece of equipment. On mine, brakes are on left, treadle on right. If all Kubotas had brakes and treadle clustered together on one side, I wouldn’t have bought a Kubota.