Wheel spacers or weights for slopes?

[AxleHub]

AxleHub, while I am with you in spirit... I am having a hard time believing that the slow speeds we are talking about while mowing are going to significantly affect (counteract) the effect of gravity. Your argument while theoretically correct is not realistic for the case at hand in my opinion. The math can be done but your motorcycle analogy is flawed. The rider leaning over to the side is 'fighting' angular momentum not linear momentum. I don't care how fast you are going in a straight line, you can't 'lean' over such that the C of G of the combined weight of you and the vehicle are outside the footprint for long and remain upright... I take that back, you could be flying.

Greetings Dragon. I believewe are talking about two different examplesas if they are the same thing. One is about centrifical force (leaning in when speed allows centrifical force) . . . the other example is momentum in a straight line even at very low speeds that allows continuing operation.

 

[AxleHub]

I wouldn't ever want to be in a position or on a slope where I could not come to a stop or change directions without tipping over.

Vts. Some people are comfortable with hills and some aren't. In a 5 mile drive yesterday . . . I saw three different people at three different locations mowing their lawns in places where they could not have come to a complete stop or safely changed directions. In my own small neighborhood there are numerous lawns that have at least one or two areas in each could say the same.

Its not dangerous . . its just normal cautious 15 and 20+ degree lawn mowing. You don't cut those areas wet or with dew on them.

 

[AxleHub]

Try leaning a motorcycle over to turn while traveling under 5 mph and let us know how much dynamic stability you experience.

Tractors at typical hillside mowing speed depend primarily on COG. The only significant "dynamic" forces of importance are bumps and holes that raise uphill or downhill wheels suddenly.

Greetings Island, you don't do much "leaning " on a bike at 5 mph. But you also don't do alot of manual pushing of an 800 or 1000 pound bike either. At 5 mph an experienced rider can keep a motorcycle upright and moving pretty well. I specifically used the couple of motorcycle examples because there are only 2 wheels so everyone can envision center of gravity issues.

And I agree with much of your statement when you said " Tractors at typical hillside mowing speed depend PRIMARILY on COG." I believe that is a logical and reasonable statement anf I capitalized the important variable.

But some make sweeping statements of absolutes. And COG . . while important . . Is only one part of the story. Issues like ground traction, tire style/kinds/pressures and tractor momentum or reduction of lateral forces are other issues all effect keeping a tractor properly upright on hills. I read too often in threads . . where posters say a low fel or a rear brush hog helps benefit COG stability on hills and those types of statements may lead others to do unsafe actions. Fels and tow behinds are used on hills in spite of COG.

My personal operating style on hills changes greatly when I have my fel on front or something on my 3pt or pulling something . . its a night and day difference in speed and pitch that I'll work on.

 

[vtsnowedin]

With 44 Vermont winters behind me while driving every type of car or truck there are I've used momentum a lot to make it to the top of the hill and have been careful to not have too much when the icy curve would send you off into the snow bank or brook. So I understand what your saying just don't think it matters much at mowing speeds of 2 to 4 mph. And yes some people have sections of lawn they mow by climbing up a side grade then straight down the steep part the mower can 't come back up . All right if there is a good clear area to stop in at the bottom. I leave such areas as woods.

 

[Brown Dog]

I just mow strait up, then back down both in 4wd, and I can't do that if grass is wet LoL

Takes a Lot of traction & power to drag the 1,450lb RFM up steep banks at my Poultry Farm.

 

[RaydaKub]

I read too often in threads . . where posters say a low fel or a rear brush hog helps benefit COG stability on hills and those types of statements may lead others to do unsafe actions.

I can see where a bush hog could lower COG and be beneficial, so I won't dispute this claim one way or another. But I don't think I have ever seen a tractor where the FEL would be beneficial on a hillside for any reason. The COG is almost irrelevant in this case because even on a scut like a BX you have transferred a few hundred pounds off the stable rear axle to the tippy front axle. If the bucket is full of rock and an inch off the ground you have certainly lowered the COG but you have moved several hundred or even thousands of pounds forward to the rocking front end. Yes you should ballast to compensate for this, but the mere presence of the FEL is never going to be helpful for stability.

 

[IslandTractor]

The FEL certainly doesn't add stability but sometimes you just need it. If all you do is mow well cared for fields then it probably should be taken off but some of us mow/bush hog in areas where the FEL is used to feel ahead of the tractor and to remove obstacles. I mowed for four hours today and had to move half a dozen fallen trees and numerous big branches as well as a new spring crop of good sized rocks. Could not have gotten the job done without a grapple.

 

[AxleHub]

The FEL certainly doesn't add stability but sometimes you just need it. If all you do is mow well cared for fields then it probably should be taken off but some of us mow/bush hog in areas where the FEL is used to feel ahead of the tractor and to remove obstacles. I mowed for four hours today and had to move half a dozen fallen trees and numerous big branches as well as a new spring crop of good sized rocks. Could not have gotten the job done without a grapple.

I think that makes a lot of sense . . especially if the land is relatively flat . But how do you do this if you're on a steep hill?

 

[vtsnowedin]

I can see where a bush hog could lower COG and be beneficial, so I won't dispute this claim one way or another. But I don't think I have ever seen a tractor where the FEL would be beneficial on a hillside for any reason. The COG is almost irrelevant in this case because even on a scut like a BX you have transferred a few hundred pounds off the stable rear axle to the tippy front axle. If the bucket is full of rock and an inch off the ground you have certainly lowered the COG but you have moved several hundred or even thousands of pounds forward to the rocking front end. Yes you should ballast to compensate for this, but the mere presence of the FEL is never going to be helpful for stability.

Tippy front axle? Well I suppose having the FEL on does move the COG forward and front axles are somewhat or in my case a lot narrower then my rears so the COG is then closer to one of the side roll over tipping lines. but when you consider end for end flips the FEL is an advantage greatly reducing the tractors tendency to pop a wheely or go completely over backwards and making a front end for end flip almost impossible if the bucket is held low.
I've never taken my loaded off and probably never will.

 

[IslandTractor]

I think that makes a lot of sense . . especially if the land is relatively flat . But how do you do this if you're on a steep hill?

You simply don't traverse steep hills in a CUT. Up and down. Hopefully with a flat area on top to let you turn around. I sometimes make ten point turns if necessary on slopes as guided by my sphincter.