Anybody Ever Use a Tilt Meter? Reviews Please

GreenAcres · Mar 28, 2004

Have any of you installed a Tilt Meter on your tractor?

If so, what is your experience with it?

Does it do the job?

How difficult is it to install?

Thanks in advance for your insights.

Henro · Mar 28, 2004

Greenacres,

I don't have one but in the past there were several threads on tiltmeters.

If you do a search of "all posts" you should find a lot of info.

Perhaps someone will also jump in here too and give you a first hand report... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I think most who have them like them, especially for unknown territory.

RoyJackson · Mar 28, 2004

Very easy to install. First thing you'll need is a level spot to park the tractor while you install the tiltmeter.
The kit has doubled sided tape, or you can drill two holes for the mounting brackets. Since my tractor was an older model, I drilled the holes.
Install it somewhere you can easily see it.

As far as usage... I installed this shortly after getting my 670. What really helped me is knowing how small an angle some of the areas I mow were. A big help in acclimating myself to operating the tractor (my first...not the first I've operated though).
Initially, you'll look at the meter all the time. Once you've used it for a while, an occasional glance when you operating on known areas is all you'll need.

They aren't expensive...$35 or so...and definitely a value-added item for the novice tractor operator.

Just remember they're an aid..but no replacement for common sense!

Bird · Mar 28, 2004

GreenAcres, there are several different ways they can be mounted and locations in which they can be mounted. I mounted mine on my canopy; had two, one for side to side (most important one) and one for front to rear.

avorancher · Mar 28, 2004

Very easy to install if you have a flat area available. I put mine up near the grill on a Kubota... a little far away, but my eyesight is still good enough. (might have to move it closer later)

I don't watch it all the time, but I find it extremely useful when feeling a little tippy (tractor... not me). Due to my land, I spend a lot of time in the red zone, and I do believe that there have been times when I may have pushed the tractor further than I did if it had not been for the gauge telling me "no no, you shouldn't do that".

When I first got the tractor, I was much more timid, now I take it places I wouldn't have dreamed of taking it. That is where I find the tilt meter useful... it keeps me on the good side of that edge between brave and stupid.

Highly recommend it as an auxiliary piece of equipment... not as a replacement for common sense.

BB_TX · Mar 29, 2004

I used the double sided foam tape and mounted mine on the cowling just in front of my steering wheel. Easy to see. My ditches have some pretty good slopes in places. The meter pretty much verified my pucker factor calibration.
My meter has both the side to side and front to back indicators in one assembly.

BobCorazza · Mar 29, 2004

I installed the one advertised on this site. The install was very simple, but required a good location. There are plently of locations - just pick a spot where you can see it easily. If nothing else it's a reminder that tractors can roll! I get the pucker factor well before I'm in real trouble, but I won't rely on pucker factor alone... I want to see the numbers also. I have personally seen several people crushed by various types of machinery and it's not pretty.

dmccarty · Mar 29, 2004

GreenAcres,

I have to two Tiltmeters, one to measure the left/right angle and
another to measure my fore/aft angle. I also bought one of the
new ones but have not installed it yet.

I have them mounted with the double tape. My tractor has
been sitting in the weather for years and the tape is still
holding up. I cover up the tractor with a tarp, sometimes,
but the Tiltmeter is pretty much exposed especially the one
mounted on the ROPS.

After awhile your rear end becomes educated on the angle
of the tractor and the Tiltmeter becomes insurance on your
opinion on the angle. Where the Tiltmeter really helps me is
on gradually increasing slopes. I have a ditch that I have to
mow. The ditch starts out with very little angle but as I mow
the angle increases very gradually. It helps to watch the
Tiltmeter to know when enough is enough and its time to get
out. Without the Tiltmeter I would not know when it really was
time to get out of the area I 'm mowing.

Later,
Dan McCarty

JerryT · Mar 29, 2004

I do a lot of mowing on hills and I would not be without one. Probably the best $35 investment I have made. The group that sells them on TBN thinks and practices that the customer is #1.