Braking on hills

[Maestro71]

I have a hill behind the house that I travel up and own quite a bit , usually in 4wd, and I inadvertently went down in 2wd and basically was on top of a runaway tractor. Is it normal for hydro to freewheel in 2wd? I used the "loader" brake on the front by pressing it abruptly against a tree. For the record I don't recommend this method for braking

 

[wmonroe]

Sounds like you lost traction to the back tires and they were just sliding/skidding. Yeah I've done it, lol, the loader stopped me too.

 

[Maestro71]

My wife said I screamed like a girl. I about s**t myself. Why doesn't the ht slow the tractor as abruptly in 2wd?

 

[wmonroe]

It does slow the same in 2wd or 4wd but the problem in 2wd is going down hill with a loader on most of your weight is on the front axel and your back tires are skidding on the ground. Put 1000 lbs on the 3 pt and you will be fine in 2wd. Are your rear tires loaded or any counterweight on the back?

 

[k0ua]

My wife said I screamed like a girl. I about s**t myself. Why doesn't the ht slow the tractor as abruptly in 2wd?

You misunderstand what is going on. The hydro has nothing to do with it. It works the same in 2wd or 4wd.. it is holding the tractor back from going downhill. BUT in 2wd, you only have 2 wheels the rear ones hooked to the driveline, and if they start to slide, all the holding back or braking with the service brake in the world will not help you. The tires are slipping on the surface of the ground/grass/gravel whatever.. you need the 4 wheel driveline engages so that the extra contact patch of the front tires will "grab" onto the ground also and prevent the breaking loose of the back tires in the first place. We have all done it. I have never hit anything, thank God. Keep the thing in 4wheel when descending a hill.

James K0UA

 

[k0ua]

What is really bad is when the back tires are sliding like that and you swerve a little to miss something, whoops the rear end can start to come around then catch , and tip over the tractor real easy.. There have been more than one guy turned over his shiny new toy that way. You need lots of weight on the 3p and loaded tires too if you have anything in the bucket when you go down steep and/or slippery hills in 2wd, because even the "nose down attitude" puts a lot of weight on the front axle, and that means even less weight on the rear axle. and when you put a big load in the loader, it just gets worse.. to the point that the rear tires are carrying very little weight at the time when you need them the most! Everything is working against you. And stomping the brakes to the floor won't help a bit.

James K0UA

 

[Maestro71]

Makes perfect sense, a lesson I won't forget

 

[chim]

I was hauling some heavy material in the bucket of the B7500 years back. I went down the hill backwards with the load in the bucket and it was very controllable.

 

[Green Guy]

Great safety tips here guys... The first time I did any work on various terrain was with a Kubota B26 (with loaded tires) which is pretty heavy and super stable setup, but I could see how easily a machine that isn't well balanced for the working conditions could easily get out of shape. A couple times I had to jab the brakes going down a decline (with a full and heavy bucket) to cross the street (bringing fill to my neighbor) and I could feel the weight shift and if that heavy backhoe wasn't there, it might have gotten dicey.

 

[strum456]

A quick lesson on braking on hills: Don't Do It!

I think you already learned to keep your tractor in 4x4, but that isn't an option on a 2wd machine. The mistake I see most people making is they TOUCH THE BRAKE. By attempting to brake, you will inevitably unequalize the torque on the differential which usually results in a lost of traction. As a result, the tractor will go careening down the hill, often with one tire spinning backwards and the other spinning forwards.

"But I have my brakes locked together". This might help, if the brakes are adjusted exactly the same. I still try not to use the brakes on hills when pulling a heavy load such as a baler and wagon, for example. Inadvertently running one tire on the windrow is another thing to avoid. Hay is slippery; straw is even more slippery!

 

[TripleR]

Great advice given by James and others, even when properly ballasted, loaded tires and 1000+ on my L5740, I can slid down a hill on our farm if I don't engage 4WD; done it with a BX too.

As mentioned by another member, I have a couple of hills I will back down with a full bucket, it helps keep from spilling the load and doesn't tear the ground up as bad.

Here is an old thread by missourithunder: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/173747-pucker-factor-10th-degree.html

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I to learned to not go down hill in 2wd and most of my residential property is hillside. I also learned to not go down hill on wet grass in any drive. Actually snow is better than wet grass for some traction or has been from my experience.

 

[CanuckPT]

My wife said I screamed like a girl. I about s**t myself. Why doesn't the ht slow the tractor as abruptly in 2wd?

Thanks for the chuckle - I could imagine myself doing the same which is why your comment made me laugh. I have loaded rears & a backhoe so I think my traction is pretty good!

 

[wmonroe]

Thanks for the chuckle - I could imagine myself doing the same which is why your comment made me laugh. I have loaded rears & a backhoe so I think my traction is pretty good!

The backhoe makes a huge difference in traction on my machine.

 

[Bob77064]

Our yard is a steep hill, I have learned to go slow down the hill with over 900 lbs on the box blade.