Mowing Almost rolled it- dumb, stupie, smart

[TripleR]

Another lesson to learn: Before mowing unfamiliar ground, walk it on foot to see what's there.

Very good advice. I can't walk very well, so I will often check a questionable area out with my Yamaha Rhino.

I also often back my rotary cutter into an area a little at a time then drive out and check it again.

I have also learned that if you have real concerns about an area, ask yourself, "does this really 'need' to be mowed and is it wort the risk?"

There will always be the unforeseen as I was bush hogging at a farm we have owned for over twenty-five years and mowed many times, but since the last time I mowed it a section had washed out and weeds grew in; scared the snot out of me, but was going very slow and was able to back out.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
I think one of the things we could/should encourage all the "I just got my new tractor" posters is strongly encourage them to master this skill. All these new guys are so geeked to have their FEL, but it just has to come off from time to time, for safety and for practicality.

I agree - I muscled my boxblade off and on about three times right after I got my ride, I must have spent three hours (1 per day) mounting and dismounting my backhoe till I got it down to a reasonable time.
I haven't taken my FEL off yet, because I don't envision needing to take it off, but given a nice afternoon it would probably be worthwhile.
It's better to get familiar with your equipment at YOUR leisure.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Very good advice. I can't walk very well, so I will often check a questionable area out with my Yamaha Rhino.

I also often back my rotary cutter into an area a little at a time then drive out and check it again.

I have also learned that if you have real concerns about an area, ask yourself, "does this really 'need' to be mowed and is it wort the risk?"

There will always be the unforeseen as I was bush hogging at a farm we have owned for over twenty-five years and mowed many times, but since the last time I mowed it a section had washed out and weeds grew in; scared the snot out of me, but was going very slow and was able to back out.

I have used my FEL before to search out the area in front of me. I drop the bucket and tilt back to use the bottom as a probe, wide probe but a probe.

 

[daveshoot]

I got back on yesterday and mowed a bunch more. I avoided hazards and edges of all kinds, except for trees. It is an interesting property, much larger than mine, with much more elevation changes and trees.

It was way too much to walk ahead of time so I kinda liked the FEL as a feeler gauge. I don't exactly tear through strange brush but I still liked having it in front of me. No maneuverability issues out there- around the house would be different.

Funny how much more attention you pay, when the belief that everything will always turn out alright is shaken!

I want to tackle removing the FEL and getting good at it, but for now I have way too many "real" projects to add any more. I still didn't finish the neighbor's because of these other commitments around the place and unfortunately, very few of them involve tractors. I am grateful for the time I got to spend on it... and for all the helpful comments posted here.

 

[AchingBack]

I don't know what in man's mind compels him to mow every blade of grass or leaf of weed. Leave the unsafe fringe areas alone, or use a weedeater.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I don't know what in man's mind compels him to mow every blade of grass or leaf of weed. Leave the unsafe fringe areas alone, or use a weedeater.

It isn't the fact of mowing the grass. It's the male conquerer gene comes out and we swear that the unconquered area is calling out to us "You can't mow me, your a sissy, a girlie girl, a woosie, chicken heart, baby and to scared to own a piece of land conquering equipment". I've heard that siren call me many times over the years and can swear that it exists. Maybe even the old "Your mother, dad, brother and/or sister would have cleaned me up". "What's a tractor for, BOY, if your not going to use me". I've heard em all.:laughing: I even have surface rocks that chide my mowing deck that "You can mow over me this time without me hitting the blades, remember you did it a couple of times, come on, mow over me, don't lift the deck or mow around me, come on, mow over me".:thumbsup:
This could go on forever, I have these voices all over my 5 acres of treed, overgrown, rocky, gullied, hillside.

 

[BrierPatch]

John left out the voices in between all those voices saying "You know, I bet a new tractor will do this better" :laughing:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

John left out the voices in between all those voices saying "You know, I bet a new tractor will do this better" :laughing:

Oops! That's right, that one used to talk to me alot but I think it has left the property when my new F3080 4wd 72" Mowing deck arrives.

 

[DavidAubke]

Seems to me that a FEL set to a few inches off the ground should help lower your center of gravity. That's a substantial chunk of mass that certainly moves your C.O.G. down lower than it otherwise would be.

Maybe moving your gravity forward does more harm than good.

 

[rdsaustintx]

Funny how much more attention you pay, when the belief that everything will always turn out alright is shaken!

Profoundly true. On so many levels it makes one's head spin.