Anonymous Poster
New member
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2005
- Messages
- 0
I had a "fun" ride on my TC29D last weekend. Actually, it wasn't any fun at all and I learned a lesson! I was mowing with my 6' Land Pride finish mower, which weighs about 650 lbs. I started down a steep hill, which I've mowed before, and wasn't paying close enough attention to my driving (mistake #1) because I was busy holding tree branches out of my face. This hill is steep and when I crested over the top and started down, the mower came off the ground, so all of the weight of the mower shifted to the tractor. I was in low range and the ground was dry, so I was in 2WD (mistake #2). The tractor started to speed up, so I let off the hydro pedal, but it was too late - the weight of the tractor and mower had already taken over (I didn't realize that the rear wheels were already starting to skid, even though I hadn't hit the brakes yet, I guess it's because I was in low range and the wheels weren't turning as fast as the tractor wanted to go and then I hit a bare spot where there was some loose dirt). I was caught off guard and of hit the brakes too hard (mistake #3) and locked up the rear wheels. I ended up skidding down the hill and was fortunate to keep it going straight down. This hill is close to 45 degrees and I definately don't want to ever get sideways on it. When I looked back up the hill I could see 2 skid marks in the grass. I put it in 4WD and went back up and down the hill with no problem after that. If I would have been in 4WD to start with, I would have had better control, since a lot of the weight shifted from the rear tires to the front tires. I've done enough four wheeling in my CJ-5 that I should have known better! I guess I just didn't realize how steep this hill is, but I walked down it later and nearly had my feet go out from under me!