How Far is Too Far??

[ShaneW]

So how many degree's of lean do you guys consider too many?? As in at what point, on a level incline, does a tractor begin to approach unstable, and eventually turn over?? I saw a gentleman mowing the overpass near my house yesterday on a ford 2wd tractor, around 65-75 hp I would say, and he was using a fairly large batwing mower. He was chugging along the slope in a transverse manner (sideways) and acted like it was no big deal, even went on to turn around going both uphill and downhill, and I would say this slope is in the neighborhood of being 30-35 degrees easy, if not more. It was certainly steep enough that walking up it wouldn't have been very fun, and walking across it would have definitely had your ankles mad. I only have two inclines on my property, both near a fence, and when I mow them, I have to go across them in a transverse fashion, and the lugs on the outside tire on the rear are tapping on the ground, on the sidewall portion of the tire, on the downhill side. Tractor is a branson 3820i, 4wd, with 72" landpride rotary cutter, and it doesn't feel unstable, but I have no desire to turn it over. I would say that I am at no more than 20-25 degrees, and no holes or bumps around. Am I being overly cautious, (my butt is puckered while doing this ) or will I be reading about Mr. Overpass Mower in the paper in the future??

Thanks
Shane

[dooleysm]

My land is pretty hilly and it takes me forever to mow it because I'm always trying to go up and down the slopes. This makes for long stretches when I'm just maneuvering the tractor and not mowing. I'm nervous on at least 50% of what I mow. I'd love to see someone else come out and mow and see how they feel on the same slopes. I have no idea what kind of number to put on the slopes though. I just know they're all more than I like.

[Soundguy]

How far is to far will depend of the height, and center of gravity of the tractor, and 'cheek' strenght.. ahem.. pucker factor of the individual.

The person mowing with the batwing probably felt 'less' pucker factor than had it been a 3pt mower.. as that batwing was alot of weight way down low.. etc..

soundguy

[BlacknTan]

Originally Posted by dooleysm

My land is pretty hilly and it takes me forever to mow it because I'm always trying to go up and down the slopes. This makes for long stretches when I'm just maneuvering the tractor and not mowing. I'm nervous on at least 50% of what I mow. I'd love to see someone else come out and mow and see how they feel on the same slopes. I have no idea what kind of number to put on the slopes though. I just know they're all more than I like.

That's exactly how I feel! I'm sure an experienced guy could come out and eat my place for breakfast..
I measure the worst slope I have to run across at 9" inb 48". I trigged it out at just about 10 degrees. There are a few places where a wheel drops in a depression though on the downhill side. I'm sure it's not more than an extra couple of degrees, but, I'm not yet comfortable..
I do feel better about it though after actually measuring the angle...

I'm still gonna' take it slow though............

[horse7]

Originally Posted by ShaneW

So how many degree's of lean do you guys consider too many?? .....
Tractor is a branson 3820i, 4wd, with 72" landpride rotary cutter, and it doesn't feel unstable, but I have no desire to turn it over. I would say that I am at no more than 20-25 degrees, and no holes or bumps around. Am I being overly cautious, (my butt is puckered while doing this ) or will I be reading about Mr. Overpass Mower in the paper in the future??

Thanks
Shane

I try to stay below 10* (measured, lateral) so that ground hog mounds don't become unduly alarming. The hog holes usually aren't too much of a problem since the tires are a lot larger than the hole so they only cause a few degrees of roll. Some of the bigger mounds can be 7-8* of roll for an 80" track-- FEL usually hits the really big ones first.

Slopes I have up to 20* I shuttle back and forth (definitely nicer than the old geared Massey!). I have steeper slopes but they are still too overgrown or too unsafe to do anything with a regular tractor.

Every tractor setup is a little different, and so is every operator. The Fat Lady on a small tractor will have a higher CG than the Thin Man would on the same tractor. I don't think I'd ever try 25* lateral with either of my tractors.... even with the Fat Lady clinging to the bottom of the engine pan!

[IslandTractor]

I have an inclinometer on my tractor. Under 10 degrees is no sweat but keep an eye out for holes on the down side and bumps on the up side of the hill to avoid. Between 10-15 degrees I am watching very carefully and moving very slowly with bucket down etc. 15-18degrees I am creeping and just manuvering to get out of that situation. Anything above 18 degrees and I would definitely need a change of shorts.

[toolaholic]

This is This Mans Craft. He's proving this is safe for Him,Not You, necessarily!

I imagine He Has Vast experience doing this ,and has instincts at this ,most of us don't.

[JerryG]

I really don't know about some of the places that the highway guys mow. There is one place where I have seen them two different times that if I ever have another chance I am going to stop and take pictures. Both times, they were using a 70-75 hp NH with a batwing. The tractors rear axle was down hill about 30* with the front wheels and the mower pointing straight across the hill. All the time, the rear wheels are sliding. I mow some really steep stuff but nothing like that.

[3RRL]

Shees, that would make a good video.
Sounds like describing a flat track motorcycle race.

[workinallthetime]

2 things around here in oklahoma
1st i heard a rumor that the state decided to let private contractors mow the roads due to so many state guys dying in the line of duty. I dont know if its true or not but i have not seen the state mowing in years.
2nd the rigs they use around here have a balast mounted on one side, or at least thats what it looks like