B2910 on slopes

Anonymous Poster · Mar 18, 2003

Need to know if anyone has had the B 2910 on a steep slope??
We have a need to bushog on a slope and was wondering if fluid in the back tires would help? We will be using a 5 ft bushog that is 3 point hitch. Also how steep would a B 2910 take safely? Thinking about a tilt meter but the 15 degree don't seem very steep. Thanks ducky

Bird · Mar 18, 2003

( 15 degree don't seem very steep )

It'll seem a lot steeper when you're sitting on a tractor sideways on it. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif To answer your question, yes, fluid in the back tires will help. How much I don't know. I put my B2710 sideways on an 18 degree slope, stopped, and got off to see if I could push it over by hand enough to lift the tires on the high side. I didn't, but I sure didn't like getting sideways on 15 degree slopes, although I'm confident it would not roll over on a 20 degree slope unless you happen to hit a low or soft spot with the low side tires or a bump, stick, etc. with the high side tires. Then it might ruin your whole day. Go ahead an get a tiltmeter; you'll like it. I had one for side to side and another for front to rear.

chrisjbell · Mar 19, 2003

Bird is sure right about the way the tractor will feel on a slope. I've done the same experiment that he has with my tractor (a little B7300 - don't know if it would be more or less stable than your bigger tractor), on a 20 degree slope and I couldn't budge it.

I've hit as much as 30 degrees as indicated by my tilt meter, and that scares the pants off me. But whenever I'm sideways on a hill, I always take it *real slow*. The bumps can really get you. And another thing to remember is if you do start to go over, *drop your implements* to lower your COG. I've saved myself a couple of times (the worst is carrying weight in your FEL on a slope - very dangerous).

I highly recommend the tilt meters. I have one on my Kubota and I also put one on my JD lawn tractor (which can handle 30 degrees without too much fear). They're cheap, and they sure don't hurt.

Anonymous Poster · Mar 19, 2003

15 to 20 degrees can be plenty steep under the right conditions. A few days ago, I was grading the slope leading to a ditch along side the road. I was doing ok until I hit a muddy stretch, and the 2910 began a slow motion slide sideways. The R4's had loaded up with mud, and the tractor slid into the ditch with the right side wheels in the air, and me looking silly..luckily I had my seat belt on, and kept my hands/feet inside the tractor. The only damage was to my pride. However, I don't think I'll work another slope unless its bone-dry. I would say that 15 degrees is the safe limit, and go slow..and keep the seat belt on!

Egon · Mar 20, 2003

There are times when working on a slope you may become disorientated to the degree of slope. This may happen if the area is large or there is no flat land to reference to. The operator starts to consider the slope as level and act as such is the case.

On highway work the finishing grader operators may have this type of problem on long side hill grades. They end up with a very nice road but one side is higher than the other and then its back to restakeing and and refinishing. Makes the asphalt crew following kinda antsy as they start catching up.

Egon

chrisjbell · Mar 20, 2003

15 to 20 degrees can be plenty steep under the right conditions. 

It sure can, especially when you are grading! I didn't mention that I only hit the steeper sections when mowing - I wouldn't dream of trying to dig in to anything or carry a load in the bucket on a steeper slope than maybe 15 degrees.

My driveway is about 10 degrees and that is where I've come closest to tipping when I was digging out one of the slopes on the side of the driveway. Scared me to death /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif. Fortunately, dropped the FEL fast enough, but I had both uphill wheels off the ground. I've even pulled the wheels up on nearly level ground when I've been using the ripper.

Seat belt is Good. It is my friend /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

frank_f15 · Mar 21, 2003

as bird mentioned, you can be crusing along a slope tha seems fine, but let the down hill whell drop into a depression or the up hill ride over a high spot and the whole picture changes real quick. always bes to leave yourself some leeway and not push the envelope.

Taz · Mar 21, 2003

I've had the B2910 on the slopes of the mountain here (with tires filled). I found that the inner ear was very accurate at telling me when things were getting 'iffy'. I ended upsizing to one of the Grand L's specifically for stability though. Listening to what your head tells you, going slow and keeping a hand on the loader valve has served me well.