Do Hydrostatic Tractors Need a Clutch Pedal?

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Check out more of our tractor videos here: kzbin.info/aero/PLmYnhJtNUq7c2n8UTJASTf9qJQXQ_ngFP To interact with me personally, join the Rockhill farm Facebook group here: facebook.com/groups/1270496403596230/

[@kevinbrewer2141]

My cousin had his pto switch go out on his 2 series JD twice now. My Kioti CK25 is 16 years old and the clutch has worked every time I've used it. In my opinion electric components will always fail before direct linkage components will ever fail. I'm loving the education style videos.

[@tomahawkjo8574]

I have a Bobcat CT2025 hydrostatic. It of course has a clutch also. I just put in around 50 fence posts with a 3 point auger. The clutch was amazing because i could control the auger so well. Several times the auger would dig to fast or start to get stuck and i could push in the clutch pedal. It really helped with control. Im on my second Bobcat and so far no issues with either. They have been great around my hobby farm.

[@stevenbrown6493]

Hey Brock, I had a Kioti CK 20 before I got my bigger tractor, it had a clutch pedal too. One other function of the clutch is, if you look around there should be a way to lock the pedal down. What this does is keeps the clutch plates from sticking together during long storage periods. Also keep from freezing in cold wet weather. Love your videos keep it up.

[@drasus233]

That's because Kioti makes Bobcat tractors right now! Bobcat is working on designing their own...but for now...they are white kioti tractors with a Bobcat sticker

[@genewilliams7497]

I have 2004 TC33DA new holland hydro with the clutch pedal that I bought new just to get the clutch pedal feature and the small size machine for cutting out fence corners and fence lines with a 5’ cutter. I love it,for my intended use. I feel I can stop the PTO faster if needed than trying to find an electronic on off button.

[@timothywalker6320]

I have a Kubota B 7800 that is 21 years old and has hydrostatic transmission with the exact same set up as that, including the brake pedal on the right side and the clutch on the left

[@jstring]

Starting any PTO in full throttle is a great way to go thru shear pins.

[@peterkoster5053]

At my job we have 3 john deere tractors. 1 jd 4520 and 2 5300s. The 5300 tractors have a manual lever for the pto but you do not need to use the clutch. The pto on the 5300 also let's you ease into it gently and in the winter we use alot of 85 and 100 foot conveyor belts and in the winter when they freeze we use the 5300 to run the pto first because it's more gentle on the drive rollers.

[@matthewbennett4496]

My Kubota L2501 has a clutch and it’s hydrostat. I use it for starting machine and engaging/disengaging the pto

[@jamesminard1867]

My kubota l3240 hst has a clutch pedal It works great for engaging the pto

[@curtinfarmer1565]

Hey Rock Hill. That bobcat is made by Kioti Im pretty sure. A good use case for the pto clutch, when running a post hole digger and you hit a rock you can quickly disengage by stepping on the clutch. Can save pins that way. Also as other and you mentioned can use to slowly engage pto at a lower idle.

[@jamesharless5357]

Hey Brock, great explanation on the clutch pedal. Thanks!👍🏻

[@mattnicol8882]

Interesting..... I do prefer simple/mechanical designs for tractors (generally speaking). Thanks for sharing this, it gives me something to think about! I prefer the brake pedal on the left also.

[@jonmoulton3438]

My previous Kubota L3901 had a clutch pedal as well for engaging the PTO - Its more common than you think - Great video.

[@markbaker6760]

I have a Badboy 4025 and I love it. It doesn’t have all that stupid safety stuff. I can start my tractor without seating in the seat.

[@dalepete2854]

I have a badboy 1025h and I have to set on the seat I am a first time tractor owner wish I could find videos of 1025 h working

[@oakiewoodsman]

Thank you sharing this information. Certainly something to be aware of when tractor shopping. I truly do think that these machines can be a mystery to me.

[@ALWhiteAuthor]

When you say 'wet clutches are new technology' I'm assuming you mean in the world of tractors. Motorcycles have used them for decades and the first gear drum of an automatic transmission is a wet clutch pack. I'm really enjoying your videos. I'm going to be in the market for a tractor soon myself and the testing and reviews you and others do gives me a ton of information. Y'all are helping me to feel as though I can make an informed decision when the time comes.

[@stephenlehr6020]

If you can keep your tractor's RPM up at the speed necessary for the PTO to be at 540 RPM, then use the clutch to engage and disengage the PTO, allowing a"soft-start" for the PTO, I would think that would be great for any implement that you are often engaging and disengaging, like a tiller or something. Others opinion may vary of course, have a good one!! 👍

[@greeneviewfarm20]

Brock my Massey 1740E had a dry clutch that you used to engage the PTO with an over run clutch when you disengaged, they also claimed it helped shifting between ranges because they were non synchro hydro ranges. never used the clutch for that just always came to a stop. My 1835M had a electronic pto clutch like your Deere and most others, however it also had a button for soft start engagement where you could select it come on at current RPM immediately or it gradually came up to rpm so that you could turn it on and off at full tilt and not hurt the tractor or implement by shock loading the driveline. I prefer the latter over the former but the former is cheaper and simpler.. One other thing to remember is that a dry clutch is not oil bathed so typically not covered under drivetrain warranty as its a wear item as opposed to a wet clutch!

[@todd9453]

Great video and explanation Brock! Neil from Messicks Equipment did a video quite a while back and did a great job explaining how the different transmissions work (he does a lot of good equipment 'explanation' videos). I suppose how people feel about the different transmissions is an argument similar to the side by side hydro pedals vs. a treadle pedal. Again, great explanation!

[@ranmarks6739]

Brock I have a clutch pedal on my L3130 Kubota tractor yes it disengages the transmission for the PTO but also disengages the Hydrostatic drive and in the winter starting a diesel engine is hard enough but by disengaging the Hydrostatic drive less power on the engine needed to get it started and warmed up a little then releasing the clutch allows the rest of the Hydraulic pumps to warm up the oil.. it will bough the moter releasing the clutch wondering why all Hydrostatic drives don't have a clutch on it !

[@stevestock2439]

Learned something new today, makes complete sense.

[@ididiesel1]

My dad's old deutz 5215 is this same setup.

[@curtanderson8655]

I looked at only tractors that had a dealership that was less than 10 miles away from us. We had a choice of 2, the 3 dealer was one that I did not trust. My choice was John Deere or Kubota. We got a Kubota. If there was a Kioti dealer that was close I might have gone with them, but dealerships are the big factor.

[@platinumjeweler]

On some tractors with hydrostat the clutch petal is a hydraulic oil dump. So the tractor will stop if the clutch petal is pushed.

[@andrewanderson1436]

My kubota l3130 has a clutch, brakes and the treadel pedal. My Mahindra max24 was the same way. I always used the clutch to engage my pto implements and shift between 2wd and 4wd. On my kubota i can change ranges without using the clutch as long as im stopped.

[@roberthale8407]

The main reason why a hydrostat tractor with a clutch is because the PTO gears need to stop turning to engage the PTO, but also it was cheaper to make because the hydrostat models and the manual models shared the same clutch pack. The difference was the pump section instead of a gearbox (like on my Cub Cadet 7305). With newer tractors with the electro-hydraulic PTO clutch is that it uses hydraulic pressure to engage the PTO, and the dry clutch is gone, just a flexplate with damper springs (L2502H).

[@danielniquette5187]

My old 2008 Kubota L3540 HST has a clutch pedal that works exactly like what you described here. I guess that it's more common than poeple think on hyrdo stat compact tractors.

[@ronkilpela3417]

The clutch isn’t needed to change ranges, it’s used for starting and PTO engagement. Same setup as my Kioti Ck.

[@tcmits3699]

Probably should've had a motorcycle type hand clutch lever mounted on PTO engagement arm. So you pull in clutch lever then engage PTO arm, then smoothly rease clutch lever 😊

[@JCWren]

I imagine the Bobcat has a seat sensor that will kill the engine if the PTO is engaged if you're thrown clear, but an electric PTO switch allows for a faster disconnect in that situation. And for the people that say the mechanical system is "simpler", I say prove it. It may be or it may not be, but a solenoid is a simple device with a pair of wires, compared to at least two more holes in the transmission case with bushings for rods to go through. Just because something is electric does not necessarily make it more complicated.

[@markziegler3551]

You are correct in that the switch is very simple. What is not simple is the clutch inside the transmission that turns the pto on and off. It uses oil to pressurize a piston inside so there are a lot of things inside the transmission that can go wrong and cost big money to fix if something does happen.

[@projectswithjw]

I had a Kubota L3400 hydrostatic for awhile and I didn't know what the clutch was for until i turned on the PTO for the first time. It made an awful noise. Even with a lot of years tractor experience, I still don't know enough.

[@donaldstrishock3923]

I Suspect that you Never Read or Understood the OPERATORS MANUALS.

[@frankwrogg2515]

Owners manual is in the back of the seat or should be. Nice job explaining this and why it is there.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

It tells you when to push the pedal… I was able to just guess that by sitting on it the first time This video was about whether I think it’s a good feature or a pain in the rear

[@oefveteran09]

Layout aside, I much prefer the clutch and mechanical PTO on my Kioti. With that said, certainly there must be a way to swap the side, and then give us split brakes on the left. Well, no machine is perfect.

[@larrytichenor7099]

The pedal on a hydrostatic transmission allows the operator use the pto as semi live transmission. This allows the operator to depress the pedal stopping the forward motion but allowing the pto implement to still operate.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

That is not correct. When you press the clutch it stops the PTO

[@larrytichenor7099]

I love your video content. You did state that in your video depressing, the pedal stops the pto I stand corrected . I didn't explain myself very well. That design obviously gives you live pto with the electric pto. The pedal is a safety feature, for example, if the operator is tillng and you see an obstacle you don't want to run through the machine, it allows you to stop the driveline. I have this system on my Ford 1620 but without electric pto.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

@larrytichenor7099 thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts on it

[@fordmanfisher]

great video Brock. thanks for explaining that.

[@TheRustyGarageandHomestead]

Brock great video. Got me thinking. You mentioned something I've always done. "Enguage" the pto at a slower rpm because it's easier on the machine and implemented. My thought is alot of those smaller tractor like that have a "manual & auto" on the pto switch. So in auto it stops the pto when you raise the 3pt arms and starts it back up when you lower the 3pt. "Thats easier on the U joints stopping them before they get to much of an angle" So are people coming to a stop and idling down before lowering there attachment like brush hog or tiller? Or are they still traveling at speed and lowering there cutter so it engages when the rpms are up? Maybe a conversation worth having

[@bob5817]

This is very similar to the old fashioned way pto worked on my 45 year old tractor

[@sancoffsr]

My Kubota doesn’t have one but my last tractor had a clutch and I miss it I believe it’s just older technology

[@davidmays2161]

Odd concept of a hydrostat with clutch, im sure it works great. Get ready for that rain next week, we need it.

[@northernhumidor5615]

In the kioti SE ( not sure what that is in the bobcat line) the clutch is eliminated due to having an electronic pto

[@steven8735]

kioti and I own a kioti CK 2610 the new one is a 2620 which is the same thing as the bobcat the clutch pedal is for the PTO and starting the tractor

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Mostly true. I just recorded a video on the topic. The clutch is really more useful for the pto

[@ProductiveRecreation]

Many early hydrostatic tractors were set up that way with a clutch for engaging the PTO. The wet clutch system with an electric switch is more $ and has potentially more to go wrong than a simple dry clutch controlled directly by the operator. I ran an early 2000s Kubota B series and as I recall the clutch even stopped the hydro transmission. The downside to the brake on the right with a hydro is you can’t use the split turning brake feature. No split brakes on that Bobcat so I don’t see a problem with the brake on the right. If you want to stop its foot off the hydro pedal anyway! Personally, I wouldn’t buy a machine without split brakes. So no Kioti CK or that Bobcat for me. I think it’s silly Daedong doesn’t put split brakes in that size tractor.

[@ricksanchez7459]

Is it a manual hydrostat? If so thats a real winner in my opinion. Real simple open station tractor.

[@kdegraa]

Newer Kubota hydro static tractors do not have clutch pedals. The brake pedals are then placed on the left side and operated by the operator’s left foot.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

From what I’ve seen, that is what 90% of all Hydro stats are across all brands There are a few examples from a couple different brands that have this type of clutch

[@kdegraa]

@@RockhillfarmYT my Kubota MX5200 hydrostatic drive tractor, being a cheaper build and older design has a clutch pedal. It’s not a big deal and to be honest I rarely use the brakes even though my farm is quite hilly.

[@holland3g1]

can't imagine using my pto for mowing without a clutch.

[@ericgebhart5775]

Brock. I thought the John Deere from the garden tractors up to the 4000 series had a hydraulic pro that engages the pro slower than the electric ones on smaller tractors n zero turns.

[@LittleCabin]

I assume having the brake on the right also means it can't be a split pedal? Not that I use my split brakes for tight turns, but I would think that could be a disadvantage (or at least a limitation) of that design for folks that do that.

[@dustdevl1043]

I run older equipment and everything has a clutch, so no biggie to me!

[@Mike-hb4pc]

IDK, but do automatic transmissions need a clutch pedal?

[@OldIronAcres]

My JD 5055e has the clutch on the left, and double brake on the right, with a throttle peddle. (It's not a hydro)

[@1958johndeere620]

Its much cheaper to manufacture a single shaft transmission. Its not a live PTO, made much cheaper.

[@stevehudson4151]

Are those tractors not just rebranded Kioti Tractors made by Daedong Industries?

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Yes, they are. Bobcat put a different loader on them

[@jaceski5806]

You should do something with the teactor while you go through this rant

[@tommywise1702]

Well, seems like a bad design to me. My JD has the electric PTO. Not a fan of the break peddle position.

[@larrytichenor7099]

Technically, a tractor that has a hydrostatic transmission with a pedal is called a foot and inch pedal.

[@robwelniak3765]

My Branson 4820 has no clutch, electric PTO engage, and it soft starts. No need for a clutch

[@jefffrancis6824]

[@kahvac]

That's a Kioti.

[@oefveteran09]

Oh, thank you for getting this information out in a timely manner.

[@nlynch55]

I never heard of a “wet clutch” on a hydrostatic transmission. Maybe to need to do some research.

[@markziegler3551]

The wet clutch is for the PTO not propulsion. And yes, he is right.

[@nlynch55]

@@markziegler3551 thanks that makes sense now.

[@wildbill23c]

The wet clutch is hydraulically operated, at least it is in my Kubota, and the only thing its there for is to engage/disengage the PTO...and all I do is move a lever and the clutch engages the PTO, even so, I prefer to engage and disengage the PTO at low RPM, its still much easier on the whole system, and the implement.

[@666bruv]

So you bought a tractor with fuck all research?

[@Jtwizzle]

A demo review unit.

[@oefveteran09]

Someone doesn't pay any fucking attention, eh? It's a dealer demo, Brock is just speed dating a bunch of machines.

[@LIFEISHARDSTUPID]

​@oefveteran09 you know in advance what they're sending you. If not Google search is your friend and yes read the phucking instruction/owners manual.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

@scottcolsonfellfromgrace6936 neither of those things will tell you why it’s designed that way. Try googling the answer and you won’t get anything about why. They did not bring me an owners manual. I asked the bobcat rep and he had no idea.

[@projectswithjw]

So you made this comment without researching the previous 20 Rockhill Farms videos?