Compact / mid or agri for sloping lang?

stig · Jan 21, 2010

Hi all,

I've currently got a trusty B7100 with front loader and flail to take care of our 2 acre garden in France. Thing is, the land is on a slope and angles of 15-20+ degrees are not uncommon when mowing it - where it feels decidely 'tippy' even with the loader almost on the deck and the flail keeping the CofG down low. I've event put the wheels on so the track is at it's widest and of course, have a ROPs bar on it.

I'm thinking that something larger/more capable would be more suited - but the question is... what?

Do I need to go mid-size, or to full on agricultural to get something that's 'safe'?

Any suggestions in terms of upgrading my trusty Kub?

To give you an idea of the land, here's a couple of shots (not that great at showing the slope it has to be said!)

KU Gator · Jan 21, 2010

My guess would be that going bigger would tend to exagerate the feeling of instability if for no other reason than you are sitting higher. I know nothing about flail mowers, but that looks like a lot of weight on the back of your tractor and even keeping it relatively low, it swinging around back there is probably contributing. My thought would be add a belly mower to your tractor which would reduce your center of gravity would be better. Even leaving it on when doing work with the loader might help. Also loading the tires.

stig · Jan 21, 2010

I'm thinking you're right about the bigger/more unstable thing.

Obviously the best way of increasing the feeling of stability is to lower the CofG as much as possible.

The flail is a heavy old beast, but I run it on the deck and it helps immensely in this regard. I don't think having the FEL fitted has helped - maybe I'm better off removing it again and putting the front weights back on.

Belly mower would help - but as it's our holiday home (and therefore the grass only gets cut infrequently), I'm not convinced it would be up to the job of cutting it.

Another option is to widen the track. The rims are already flipped in this regard, but is it possible to add spacers or even double up on the rears? That would definitely help!!!

dodge man · Jan 21, 2010

Can you mow up and down the slopes instead of sideways? My tractor feels less stable on side slopes with the FEL, but more stable going up and down the slopes with the FEL on. I'm not sure a bigger tractor is going to be any better, plus you have to look at the cost. They make some tractors that are really low to the ground and designed for hills, but I can't think of the name of them off the top of my head.

Nice pictures also. I enjoy seeing pictures from other part of the U.S. and the world.

KU Gator · Jan 21, 2010

The belly mowers will handle a lot. We have some other recreational property and once I cut it a few times with the rough cut mower, I started using the belly mower. There are some rocks in your pictures and those aren't good on the finish mowers, so you would have to gather them. But the grass would have to be pretty out of control before that would be a problem. I would agree that removing the loader would probably help. On my tractor that is very easy, but don't know about your series. But the tire loading to just the axels may help. Because I trailer my tractor to my other property, I don't have mine loaded.

JOHNTHOMAS · Jan 21, 2010

My property is sloping. I had a B7800 for 3 years and traded it to a L3240 which felt less stable on hillsides so traded the L3240 to a B3200. Now I also have BX's for mowing. The BX is quite comfortable on the slopes and some I will go across on the BX that I won't with the B. I try and stay up and down with the B and did for sure with the L. Guess the sitting higher gives the sensation of discomfort on the hill and when driving one wheel over a limb or in a hole.

MarkV · Jan 21, 2010

Stig do you have your rear tires filled with a liquid ballast? We generally refer to it as "loading the tires" here. A number of different liquids are used depending on how cold it gets in your area. On a small tractor it makes a big difference in stability and traction.

Pretty country in the photos. I alway enjoy the French country side.

MarkV

TripleR · Jan 21, 2010

JOHNTHOMAS said:
My property is sloping. I had a B7800 for 3 years and traded it to a L3240 which felt less stable on hillsides so traded the L3240 to a B3200. Now I also have BX's for mowing. The BX is quite comfortable on the slopes and some I will go across on the BX that I won't with the B. I try and stay up and down with the B and did for sure with the L. Guess the sitting higher gives the sensation of discomfort on the hill and when driving one wheel over a limb or in a hole.

I use a cabbed 80 HP Case pulling a 10'6" rotary cutter on our pond levies and hillsides and I know what you mean about sitting higher amplifying the "feel" of instability. This is a very stable platform and has never so much as lifted a wheel, but I still grab the hand rails and lean to the uphill side. Two hundred pounds moving around in there isn't going to affect 9000+ pounds of machinery, but it sure makes me feel better.

As to the OP, weighted tires and maybe spacers would be my recommendation in addition to removing the FEL, but that's been mentioned.

JGShooter · Jan 24, 2010

How much of a Hill are we talking? I have a Hill in my back yard that I have used a Bob Cat on but a little worried about the Small Tractor. We are talking about a 100 yard long strip that looses about 160 ft of elevation.