Almost Rolled the New Holland Yesterday

[KubotaSteve]

It's amazing how many times I have read where someone was up on 3 wheels and going over, or in your case having the back end come up, and everyone states they immediately dropped the bucket to save their shorts. I have had this situation a handful of times where quickly lowering the bucket saved the day. However, I have read in my manual that it states the FEL should be removed for mowing. My dealer also suggested I remove the FEL for mowing. I explained to the dealer that the FEL would stay where it was because it saved me from disaster several times. As hard as we all try to be safe it's so easy to find yourself in a bad situation.

I almost always take my FEL to mow. The tractor is much more stable without the loader on it. I did an experiment once by seeing how the tractor felt when mowing with and without FEL. I could go on the side of a bank and the tractor felt more stable without the FEL then with it on. It is much smoother mowing without the FEL plus the time I save makes up for the few minutes taking the FEL off. Now if I'm using rotary cutter, I leave the FEL on. You should try mowing without the FEL on once.

 

[hazmat]

... Luckily the swift minded operator slammed the loader stick all the way forward as he launched himself off of the uphill side of the tractor in fear for his life. Bucket dropped, tractor leveled out and stopped. ...
Mike

First off, glad you are OK.

Well I know I'm going to get lip for saying it, but why didn't you have your seatbelt on? (and ROPS up if folding model). I'm pretty sure that I'm not spry enough to clear the machine if it's really going over.

A couple threads discussing the relevant physics regarding counterweight on the rear for heavy loader work

free body diagrams

Tractor Ballasting 101

 

[WeedHopper]

What you need is a skid loader for working that MC track. Low center of gravity and lots of weight.

 

[Haneyrm]

A skid steer would be nice but I was actually thinking that one of these would do the trick.

Mike

 

[Doc_Bob]

I always mow with my FEL on.
Bob

 

[Haneyrm]

I mow with the loader on as well. As a matter of fact, my loader has never been off of my tractor.

Mike

 

[have_blue]

I took my FEL off to mow once, but my front wheels kept coming off the ground.

I guess mowing with the FEL on is hard on the FEL. I run pretty fast while mowing, and the FEL bounces up and down for 3-4 hours. That can't be good for the bushings.

 

[Chuck_Lind]

Had a bit of a scare yesterday evening. I was working on our motocross track on the farm and was carrying a full bucket of clay down a steep hill. Front end dipped into a hole, back wheels came off of the ground what felt like about 3 feet. Rear of tractor began to swing around and got sideways on the hill. Luckily the swift minded operator slammed the loader stick all the way forward as he launched himself off of the uphill side of the tractor in fear for his life. Bucket dropped, tractor leveled out and stopped. Luckily I did not have the cruise set or the tractor would have went through my fence and into the woods. I'm really surprised the rear end popped up the way it did. I had my 6' box blade on and usually that is enough. I guess I had enough momentum to make it jump up. I thought I had the bucket pretty close to the ground as well. Live and learn. Luckily, I get to continue doing such.

Mike

I remember the days of flying my Piper Cherokee. Got myself into trouble - I mean DEEP trouble and get really scared - then I learned to respect the airplane..then the vehicle/motorcycle/ATV/tractor I was operating.

Been there, done that!!! "Nothing like a good scary experience". Good because you live to tell about it. Keeps you on the ball, that's for sure.

 

[brickMan]

Speaking of rolling the tractor ... check these research nuts out!

http://www.mne.psu.edu/sommer/projects/

The boys have remote-control blues they just can't keep rubber side down on...

LOL

 

[JonL]

Mike, I am glad you made it without getting hurt. Safety is one of the hats I wear at work. When a near miss happens, it is good to learn from it. Often, a major injury or death has had warnings before it happens.

Please guys, always wear your seat belt and NEVER jump from a rolling tractor that has a properly fitted ROP. It is not folded down when you are working, right? The chances of walking away from a roll over while properly belted are much better than trying to jump from a rolling tractor.

Ballasting a tractor has a lot of variables and depends on conditions, weight, wheelbase, how far the wheels are apart, and many other conditions. Going down a hill with a loader is one of the most difficult tasks we do with a lot of things that can potentially happen. Would backing down slowly with the load on the uphill side make more sense? Help me out here, guys. Also, on any hill take less in your loader than you think or can normally take.

If we are training our wives and teenage kids to operate the tractor, be sure they understand the hazards of running a tractor with a full loader. I remember when my wife first got her tractor (yes, we have his and her NH tractors) she took a quick turn on her tractor with a full loader.

I hope that I have not gone on too long, but roll-over is one of the most serious risks we all face. If anyone has operated a tractor long enough, they have lifted a wheel or two.