Traction My Tractor Slips Going Down Hill While Mowing

[RickB]

And while we're on the topic, check the rear tire pressure. Could be another situation where the tires are spinning on the rim.

I’m more of a mind that his turfs are overinflated if anything. Post #11.

 

[Egon]

How about the pedal adjustment for neutral ?

 

[k0ua]

If he had all the answers he would not need to ask the question. Clearly he is less than happy with the responses. That happens.

If someone can explain how a hydrostatic transmission can freewheel in 2wd but not in 4wd on the same slope and conditions I am willing to learn.

Please add me to that list of eager learners.

 

[ruffdog]

Hey, it is cold and rainy here....what else am I to do? Just throwing out some ideas for the OP. It's all good! :drink:

 

[k0ua]

+1. And this is why I disagree if the OP thinks it's an internal issue. Internal issues would exist in 2WD or 4WD and affect both equally. If it goes away in 4WD then it's a traction issue and not an internal issue. These "4WD" tractors are really like having an extra FWD assist driven off the RWD. If the front driveline is not slipping internally then that means the rear is not slipping internally.

Yep, it is simple logic.

I have seen many cases where people ask for help, and then discount that help because they did not believe it was valid. And that is fine by me, but I still know it is rear tire slippage because of weight transfer because the front wheels are going downhill and now carry more weight and the rear tires which are uphill now do not carry as much weight. A simple vector sum problem. Oh well. It is absolutely silly and potentially dangerous to go down any steep hill in 2wd, that is just asking for trouble, and the OP proved to HIMSELF that putting the tractor in 4wd solves the problem. The OP described problem is a very common one that has occurred to almost all of us that live in hilly country. It has happened to me when I forget to have it in 4wd going down a couple of my steep hills. Think of the tiny contact patch of the rear wheels, think of the loss of weight on the rears from going downhill nose first. To the OP, leave it in 2wd and go down the same exact place as before in the exact same conditions it slipped before only now go down in reverse with your rear wheels downhill, and it won't slip because the weight transfer is now helping you instead of hurting you.

 

[dadiehl]

I had a JD 3320 hydrostatic tractor. Going down any steep slope it always was a toboggan ride if I had it out of 4 wheel drive. Every so often I would forget and down we went.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have never had a slippage (loss of adhesion) incident where there wasn't quite clear evidence of that on the terrain.

 

[bill18163]

Thanks guys for all the input. I can guarantee you that the tires are inflated correctly. I am a very precise person by nature and I even get mad at myself if I make a stupid mistake. Just recently as the weather cools I reminded myself to check tire pressure on both our cars since cooler weather will lower the tire pressure. Yep, I had to add air to both car's tires. One thing I am going to do is try to pay close attention to how this happens. I am going to try to get it to do it while I am watching closely to see if I can pick up the cause. I'll try it on not too steep a hill to be safe. I also will check that transmission fluid just to be sure.

 

[RickB]

I have never had a slippage (loss of adhesion) incident where there wasn't quite clear evidence of that on the terrain.

So what is happening to the OPs tractor? Got any constructive input?

 

[SDT]

I have a B2710 with hydrostatic trans with 800+ hours on it. If I go down a hill on my property while mowing, the tractor will slip internally and get going too fast. It will not hold back and go down the hill slowly under control. It will "take off" so to speak. Now if I run the tractor in four wheel drive it will not do that. It only does it in two wheel drive. I have two other Kubota tractors and they will not do this sort of thing. In either two or four wheel drive they will creep down a hill under full control. This happens while coasting with my foot off the accelerator just using the weight of the tractor to coast down the hill. It will break loose and not hold back like my other tractors. Anybody have any ideas what could cause this?

It's not slipping internally. One or both rear tires is/are slipping.

This is why things are as they should be when in FWD.

SDT