Treadle Pedal reverse

[RalphVa]

Wondering whether anyone has any tips on how to more easily work the treadle pedal for reverse.

I find that getting ones toe underneath the "forward" part and heel on the reverse end works the best but still not as easy to use as the JD/other separate reverse pedal. Need that leverage of the toe underneath because just pushing on the rear part of the treadle is too stiff. Think Kubota has overdone safety concerns about backing up, but this is often the way to run a bush hog and is needed A LOT when using the FEL on deep snow.

Wondering about getting a crutch and using it upside down with right hand on the crutch and left hand on steering to go backwards. With the crutch thus reversed, one could hook it underneath the "toe" part and use leverage to push on rear part. Sorta like hand controls for a person without use of feet.

Some L2501 users with HST had said they use a stick to work the brakes. Not much different.

 

[skeets]

The toe under the tram peddle works very well onthe BX but not so well on the B at least that is how I find it

 

[Elliott in GA]

FWIW, I simply rock my boot back and forth on top of the pedal. It takes a small amount of extra force for reverse, but it is hardly noticeable. The overall throw of the pedal for reverse is much less, but easy to manage. I will say that the force required for both forward and reverse have decreased with use; I am at 70+ hours since March 2021.

 

[NCL4701]

I tried the under the pedal thing initially and never got it to work well. I now either have my foot on top of the pedal and rock it back and forth for both forward and reverse; or have my heel on the floor, toe on pedal (forward), toe on floor, heel on pedal (reverse). I prefer the first method when doing a lot of directional change, second method when not doing much directional change. I also tend to do repetitive physical tasks at least two different ways if practical as that reduces fatigue and repetitive motion maladies such as joint pain, tendinitis, etc. (at least it does for me).

Have about 260 hrs on the machine at this point. It was a bit of an awkward learning curve at first. After about 20 hours I started thinking about it less and just doing it. After about 40 hours the tractor was just going the direction I wanted at the speed I wanted without thinking about the pedal or my foot.

Honestly, if I had to use a crutch or stick or something similar to reverse the machine and another manufacturer had a setup I could run properly, I’d trade it out for something I could run properly. Not talking about someone with a temporary or permanent disability who requires modification of controls; if you just hate the treadle, can’t get used to efficient use, or won’t mess with it long enough to get used to efficient use I would test drive other set ups and get a machine you’re comfortable operating.

 

[top gnome]

Not much experience but I am finding that moving the seat up a little does two things. I can press directly down on the reverse treadle petal using my leg straight down instead of using just my ankle. The second advantage is my leg is forward enough to miss the loader arm when reversing most of the time. The loader arm when looking over my right shoulder is easy to hit and drop the bucket. I have less than 7 hours on the tractor. I have to stop and think about it but it is getting more natural as I drive it more. Where you step on the reverse petal seems to matter also. I think you get more leverage on the round part of the petal. It is far different than a gear tractor where the clutch moves the tractor. I am also having some trouble getting used to it. But hopefully eventually it will become second nature.

 

[Mossy dell]

As I said, it's taken me time to get used to reverse in the B2601. Not sure if my chock therapy helped weaken that stiff spring. There's information on this board about switching out the spring too.

 

[B737]

B2601 is notoriously stiff in reverse. Just how it is, no 'stretching' is going to fix that. I wouldnt jam things or mod around the pedal either. I found the most effective technique was doing what @top gnome said, put heel on reverse, push leg straight down.

Wait till you back up, and your leg hits the loader joystick base without knowing, which is placed too close to the operator's foot, and you dump the loader onto the ground while looking behind going full reverse

 

[Rdrcr]

I’ve always hooked the treadle pedal with my toes to reverse (including the B2601). For me, it’s just as easy as having two separate pedals.

Mike

 

[Elliott in GA]

As I said, it's taken me time to get used to reverse in the B2601. Not sure if my chock therapy helped weaken that stiff spring. There's information on this board about switching out the spring too.
View attachment 74061

If the spring is made out of any steel that is resilient (it would have to be to work for years or even the life of the tractor), the constant compression will have nearly no impact. If the compression did work, you would probably need to replace the spring as it would have taken a set or otherwise be too weak - leading to inadvertent reversing.

 

[ken erickson]

I have a hand lever extension on both my L2501 and B7100. In this picture you can see the lever and the funky bend I needed to give me full travel forward and reverse and still not be in the way. I have a fair amount of other folks that drive my tractors and its amazing even with fully functional treadle pedal how many I see using the hand lever. It offers a lot of leverage with good feel for doing fine work.

 

[Mossy dell]

Ken, do you market that hand lever?

 

[ken erickson]

Ken, do you market that hand lever?

I appreciate you asking but I do not. I was able to fabricate these levers for my tractors but I find there are a lot of variables , not only in tractors but operators!

 

[OrangeKrush]

On my BX I have a hard time with an ailing hip lifting my heel while sitting in that position. I also find it easier to use my toe under the forward pedal, I wish it had separate pedals side x side.

 

[RalphVa]

B2601 is notoriously stiff in reverse. Just how it is, no 'stretching' is going to fix that. I wouldnt jam things or mod around the pedal either. I found the most effective technique was doing what @top gnome said, put heel on reverse, push leg straight down.

Wait till you back up, and your leg hits the loader joystick base without knowing, which is placed too close to the operator's foot, and you dump the loader onto the ground as your looking behind going full reverse!

I learned to lock the loader.

 

[B737]

On my BX I have a hard time with an ailing hip lifting my heel while sitting in that position. I also find it easier to use my toe under the forward pedal, I wish it had separate pedals side x side.

This works on the BX but not so well on B2601 because the pedal is physically different, esp if you have big feet

I learned to lock the loader.

Hard to lock the loader while doing loader work.

 

[OrangeKrush]

This works on the BX but not so well on B2601 because the pedal is physically different, esp if you have big feet.


Hard to lock the loader while doing loader work.

Yep I thought it might be different since the BX pedal above deck is separate. I was a little younger and really can't remember on my 05 B7510 but from what I remember.. it was not a problem! Anyone confirm if it was separate pedals or above deck rocker?

 

[mcfarmall]

I have a hand lever extension on both my L2501 and B7100. In this picture you can see the lever and the funky bend I needed to give me full travel forward and reverse and still not be in the way. I have a fair amount of other folks that drive my tractors and its amazing even with fully functional treadle pedal how many I see using the hand lever. It offers a lot of leverage with good feel for doing fine work. View attachment 74064

So you have a winch hooked up to the pedal? I can't correlate you picture with your text.

 

[lynnmor]

So you have a winch hooked up to the pedal? I can't correlate you picture with your text.

I see a lever with a funky bend at the right side of the photo. I think you will find it connects to the pedal so it can be operated with the right hand.

 

[mcfarmall]

Ok, I had to go back and look and found the funky lever. So what's the winch for?

 

[ken erickson]

Ok, I had to go back and look and found the funky lever. So what's the winch for?

I use a wheelchair full time and that is part of the contraption I built to get up and into the tractor seat. I call it a seat lift, also the reason I made the hand controls for the HST and clutch.