I have a 1920 with 4WD and a FEL and a 5ft. bushhog type mower. I have a slope(I am not good at judging how many degrees it is). It looks to be about as steep or steeper than jinmans signature picture except about 300 feet from top to bottom. It is about 1 acre to mow and it is about 4 feet tall grass(weeds) and I can't see the ground so I can't see if there are rocks or holes. It is flat at the bottom and at the top of the slope so I know I will mow from top to bottom. Once I am at the bottom I can drive around the slope back to the top and take one swipe at a time. I already know that I need to be in the slowest speed and in 4WD. My question is should I have weight in the loader to aid in traction or would that make it worse? If not, should I have loader bucket turned toward the ground so if I should start to slide I could lower the bucket to help in stopping? I already have figured that once I start down the hill there will be no stopping with the brakes as they will probably lock up which will cause it to slide.
Need advice on mowing a slope.
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whistlepig
Elite Member
I would mow it by backing up the hill the first time. I would also take the loader off. A loader makes a tractor top heavy.
Need advice on mowing a slope
I have a Ford 1920 with 4WD and a FEL and a 5ft. bushhog type mower. I have a slope(I am not good at judging how many degrees it is). It is about 300 feet from top to bottom. It is about 1 acre to mow and it is about 4 feet tall grass(weeds) and I can't see the ground so I can't see if there are rocks or holes. It is flat at the bottom and at the top of the slope so I know I will mow from top to bottom. Once I am at the bottom I can drive around the slope back to the top and take one swipe at a time. I already know that I need to be in the slowest speed and in 4WD. My question is should I have weight in the loader to aid in traction or would that make it worse? If not, should I have loader bucket turned toward the ground so if I should start to slide I could lower the bucket to help in stopping? I already have figured that once I start down the hill there will be no stopping with the brakes as they will probably lock up which will cause it to slide.
I have a Ford 1920 with 4WD and a FEL and a 5ft. bushhog type mower. I have a slope(I am not good at judging how many degrees it is). It is about 300 feet from top to bottom. It is about 1 acre to mow and it is about 4 feet tall grass(weeds) and I can't see the ground so I can't see if there are rocks or holes. It is flat at the bottom and at the top of the slope so I know I will mow from top to bottom. Once I am at the bottom I can drive around the slope back to the top and take one swipe at a time. I already know that I need to be in the slowest speed and in 4WD. My question is should I have weight in the loader to aid in traction or would that make it worse? If not, should I have loader bucket turned toward the ground so if I should start to slide I could lower the bucket to help in stopping? I already have figured that once I start down the hill there will be no stopping with the brakes as they will probably lock up which will cause it to slide.
rekees4300
Elite Member
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
FEL's and slopes are a dangerous combination, suggest removing the FEL before mowing. It will cause less traction and stability problems.
FEL's and slopes are a dangerous combination, suggest removing the FEL before mowing. It will cause less traction and stability problems.
Rustyiron
Super Member
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
I've been on some steep slopes that are only up and down, that is drive down & back up (mowing) but if it is so steep that you are thinking about digging in the bucket to stop the tractor, It sounds way to steep for a tractor, find another way. Rent a tracked skid steer with a mower. 'bout the only thing that I can think of.:thumbsup:
I've been on some steep slopes that are only up and down, that is drive down & back up (mowing) but if it is so steep that you are thinking about digging in the bucket to stop the tractor, It sounds way to steep for a tractor, find another way. Rent a tracked skid steer with a mower. 'bout the only thing that I can think of.:thumbsup:
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
I don't think I would really need to use the bucket I just thought it might could double as an emergency brake. The slope is no steeper than what I have seen mowed on the side of the interstate but their tractors are rigged up for that. One of those guys would probably mow this slope going across it. But they do that kind of thing all the time.
I had never thought of backing up the hill while mowing. Is that safer than mowing while going down?
I don't think I would really need to use the bucket I just thought it might could double as an emergency brake. The slope is no steeper than what I have seen mowed on the side of the interstate but their tractors are rigged up for that. One of those guys would probably mow this slope going across it. But they do that kind of thing all the time.
I had never thought of backing up the hill while mowing. Is that safer than mowing while going down?
whistlepig
Elite Member
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
The loader will get you in more trouble than it will get you out of. If you consider the hill unsafe then it is unsafe. You are the sole judge of this. I would mow by backing up the hill until I got the "feel" of the hill. Once you start sliding on a hill there is nothing you can do to stop this.
The loader will get you in more trouble than it will get you out of. If you consider the hill unsafe then it is unsafe. You are the sole judge of this. I would mow by backing up the hill until I got the "feel" of the hill. Once you start sliding on a hill there is nothing you can do to stop this.
Rustyiron
Super Member
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
PS keep in mind that a long slope (like your 300 footer) looks steeper than a short slope. Do you know if this been tractor "mowed" before? Stand back and (if the slope is at a continous angle) look at a small portion just in front of you. Looking out level (into the slope) how far away is eye level, 15' or so? thats not a bad slope really, just long! Now if you're at 10' or so that's steep. I never worried about the FEL on hills as long as I was going up and down. The tractor doesn't care and it's allways nice to use it a a early detection device for big rocks. Stability with a FEL only comes into play when side sloping. And if some one else has mowed this before, chances are you'll be fine, just use your head.
PS keep in mind that a long slope (like your 300 footer) looks steeper than a short slope. Do you know if this been tractor "mowed" before? Stand back and (if the slope is at a continous angle) look at a small portion just in front of you. Looking out level (into the slope) how far away is eye level, 15' or so? thats not a bad slope really, just long! Now if you're at 10' or so that's steep. I never worried about the FEL on hills as long as I was going up and down. The tractor doesn't care and it's allways nice to use it a a early detection device for big rocks. Stability with a FEL only comes into play when side sloping. And if some one else has mowed this before, chances are you'll be fine, just use your head.
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
I have seen aerial pictures of the land before and it looks like it has been mowed. I am probably making it out to be worse than it is but since I have never mowed it before I just don't want to take any chances. And if I can use the equipment on the tractor (and the advise of this forum on the best way to do it) to my advantage I want to do that.
When I am looking at the slope should I be standing at the base of it looking at the slope? So if I am 6 ft. tall and I am looking straight ahead into the slope and my eye level at the slope is about 15 feet away then that should be okay?
I have seen aerial pictures of the land before and it looks like it has been mowed. I am probably making it out to be worse than it is but since I have never mowed it before I just don't want to take any chances. And if I can use the equipment on the tractor (and the advise of this forum on the best way to do it) to my advantage I want to do that.
When I am looking at the slope should I be standing at the base of it looking at the slope? So if I am 6 ft. tall and I am looking straight ahead into the slope and my eye level at the slope is about 15 feet away then that should be okay?
Rustyiron
Super Member
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
I wouldn't say that it was "safer" but generally, if you backed - up hill, and got into a traction situation, chances are that you will safely be able to drive back down to the comforting safety of flat ground:laughing:
I wouldn't say that it was "safer" but generally, if you backed - up hill, and got into a traction situation, chances are that you will safely be able to drive back down to the comforting safety of flat ground:laughing: