driving down steep incline in gear

[SPYDERLK]

My B-I-L was going down a wet hill with two full hay wagons behind him. Large 2wd late 70's JD (one of his newer tractors). Rear end stepped out and both hay wagons came around and one of them smashed into the side of the tractor. He said he thought he was done for. Not long after that he bought a late model JD.........with 4wd.

He must have started sliding with the lightened rears and got out of line. Other than the reduced chance of sliding theres nothing inherent in 4wd that will keep the rear from stepping out. Probably even more likely due eng braking force present at the downhill fronts contributing to rear unloading. Easy to be pushed sideways by too heavy a load. ... If you start to slide floor it.

 

[N80]

Nothing inherent in 4wd will keep the rear from stepping out. Probably even more likely due eng braking force present at the downhill fronts contributing to rear unloading.

The fronts sliding are what caused the rear to step out.

 

[SPYDERLK]

The fronts sliding are what caused the rear to step out.

I thought it was a 2wd.

 

[k0ua]

As noted, you can often regain traction in a slide by increasing engine speed to match ground speed through the gearing.. In other words, do the thing you don't instinctively want to do with is give it "all she's got" and get the rear wheels turning again to regain traction with the ground.

In the case of the poster that knocked his tractor out of gear and into Neutral, of course increasing engine speed won't help a bit. Only thing that is going to save you is drop anchor either on the rear or front or both and be thinking about your forward path and whether you can steer out of it and survive. Oh, you can pray too, won't hurt. But your chances of ending up arse over teakettle at the bottom of a ravine are pretty good.

 

[N80]

I thought it was a 2wd.

It was. Going downhill. Turn steering wheel slightly. Front wheels begin to slide, more steering input (wrong move but natural response) then front wheels catch. Rear end steps out. Driven front tires (which are almost always slightly overdriven of 4wd tractors) are less likely to lose traction and slip, especially r-4s. His fronts were ribbed............but probably worn down to nothing.

 

[DieselBound]

As noted, you can often regain traction in a slide by increasing engine speed to match ground speed through the gearing.. In other words, do the thing you don't instinctively want to do with is give it "all she's got" and get the rear wheels turning again to regain traction with the ground.

In the case of the poster that knocked his tractor out of gear and into Neutral, of course increasing engine speed won't help a bit. Only thing that is going to save you is drop anchor either on the rear or front or both and be thinking about your forward path and whether you can steer out of it and survive. Oh, you can pray too, won't hurt. But your chances of ending up arse over teakettle at the bottom of a ravine are pretty good.

Actually, instinctively it makes perfect sense- OUTRUN THAT HUGE MASS THAT IS RACING TOWARD YOU!

[as someone else mentioned] Regarding loading the FEL bucket, a problem here is that this might tend to make the tractor more nose heavy and the rear (where you really need the holding bite) light: note, however, that it is recommended that carrying a load in the bucket up hill that one goes in reverse. I know that if I've got load in my bucket that the front tends to sink in (and I generally don't like that), creating your tractor's front as more of a pivot. Perhaps it was my sailing days that gave me the bias, but the last way I'd want to tumble is tail-over-head: in sailing it's called "pitchpoling" and tends to be certain death- best way to rip a mast out; side rolls tend to be less problematic, though still not something that you'll look forward to doing.

 

[Egon]

Actually, instinctively it makes perfect sense- OUTRUN THAT HUGE MASS THAT IS RACING TOWARD YOU!

[as someone else mentioned] Regarding loading the FEL bucket, a problem here is that this might tend to make the tractor more nose heavy and the rear (where you really need the holding bite) light: note, however, that it is recommended that carrying a load in the bucket up hill that one goes in reverse. I know that if I've got load in my bucket that the front tends to sink in (and I generally don't like that), creating your tractor's front as more of a pivot. Perhaps it was my sailing days that gave me the bias, but the last way I'd want to tumble is tail-over-head: in sailing it's called "pitchpoling" and tends to be certain death- best way to rip a mast out; side rolls tend to be less problematic, though still not something that you'll look forward to doing.

You are sliding the bucket or almost sliding it. When it's curled down it should reduce the load on the front of the tractor.

Ever watch cats working side hill on new road construction?? In difficult circumstances they do go downhill at odd times. The expierienced operator will have the cat pointed downhill with the blade buried and pushing. The inexperienced goes looking for a new job.

Of course if the ground turns fluid like water a pitchpole could happen and the operators only wear life jackets on thin ice crossings.

 

[Egon]

Actually, instinctively it makes perfect sense- OUTRUN THAT HUGE MASS THAT IS RACING TOWARD YOU!

[as someone else mentioned] Regarding loading the FEL bucket, a problem here is that this might tend to make the tractor more nose heavy and the rear (where you really need the holding bite) light: note, however, that it is recommended that carrying a load in the bucket up hill that one goes in reverse. I know that if I've got load in my bucket that the front tends to sink in (and I generally don't like that), creating your tractor's front as more of a pivot. Perhaps it was my sailing days that gave me the bias, but the last way I'd want to tumble is tail-over-head: in sailing it's called "pitchpoling" and tends to be certain death- best way to rip a mast out; side rolls tend to be less problematic, though still not something that you'll look forward to doing.

You are sliding the bucket or almost sliding it. When it's ruled down it should reduce the load on the front of the tractor.

Ever watch cats working side hill on new road construction?? In difficult circumstances they do go downhill at odd times. The expierienced operator will have the cat pointed downhill with the blade buried and pushing. The inexperienced goes looking for a new job if he was wearing the seat belt.

Of course if the ground turns fluid like water a pitchpole could happen.

 

[DieselBound]

You are sliding the bucket or almost sliding it. When it's ruled down it should reduce the load on the front of the tractor.

Ever watch cats working side hill on new road construction?? In difficult circumstances they do go downhill at odd times. The expierienced operator will have the cat pointed downhill with the blade buried and pushing. The inexperienced goes looking for a new job if he was wearing the seat belt.

Of course if the ground turns fluid like water a pitchpole could happen.

I can understand the physics with the CATs, but what happens when you have a separate load (trailer) pushing and you're on a wheeled tractor? (with tracks, I'm thinking, you've got a lot more resistive surface area) And, a wide blade is likely going to present more friction against turning: I think that once the rear end starts getting pushed to the side one is nearing the point of losing any control.

I'm a big fan of brakes on trailers.

 

[Egon]

If the trailer is pushing the tractor around it's too big for the tractor.

Start slow and keep it slow with the bucket.