Oil & Fuel Fuel cut off on slope?

[Trouser Bark]

Well, I know I'm a rookie and with a question like this I'm opening myself up for comment critical of what I'm doing ...but I'll ask anyway. Throttle me if you insist (ahhh a pun) /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I have a TC24D / 12LA combo and a very steep property with lots of snow to be moved. I have no blower yet and have been using the FEL. Time consuming but it does a beautiful job. The problem is that the little tractor seems mighty tippy and I've had it on three wheels several times during each plowing session. I've got no weights yet which I'm hoping will be a big part of the solution to the inherent tipping problem.

What bugs me quite a bit though is that when the tractor is on 3 wheels or for that matter in any steep or precarious position, reliable throttle response is mighty important yet the 24D seems to cut out just at the wrong time. Sometimes it'll cough and you can save it but about 1/2 the time it completely shuts off and the engine must be restarted.

Is there something wrong w/ my tractor or is this an intentional shut off designed into the product?

I have bought a dual axis tilt meter but due to time constraints haven't been able to mount it yet so I can't say objectively what these slopes are but can say that they're compound angles that seem to be the worst for both stability and fuel shutoff.

I'm on that property to stay so the tip hazard is something I'll learn to deal with. The unreliable fuel flow is not something I can ignore though. Any suggestions?

 

[KrisHansen]

Are you coming off of the seat at all? Don't forget that there is a cutoff switch there. It gives you 2 seconds to sit back down, or else it shuts off.. I have some pretty steep hills too, though I have never had mine on 3 wheels, and have not had a problem with fuel delivery.

Get some weights. Once you get your blower, that will be a good counterweight, but you really might consider wheel weights, or getting your tires loaded.

 

[jinman]

If you have water in your fuel filter bowl, it might be getting fed to the engine when the tractor is not level. Other than the seat switch that Kris mentioned, that's the only thing I'd think could stop your engine that quickly. You aren't running your tractor near empty are you? The fact that the tractor will restart is also baffling. Hmm... Does it spit and sputter when it restarts? I know, I know...more questions than answers. Sorry. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[LAGEORGE]

Legion
I had the same problem with the engine shutting down on my TC 24D when on steep slopes. There is an adjustment the dealer can make to the seat switch that is cutting your engine off. Before the dealer fixed it I made a jumper to bypass the switch since it was more dangerous to have the engine shutdown than the safety issue the switch was installed to deal with. After that I never had any more problems with the engine cutting out. Dealer told me he could fix that and did, also no more problems.
Funny no one noticed just how sensitive the switch was until you go it on a slope. The weight of the operator would shift to a point that not much weight remained on the seat thus the switch would activate. Oh one last thing my wife who weighs in at about 100 lbs. was not even able to get it started but that may have been a good thing. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

George

 

[Trouser Bark]

It doesn't sputter, Jinman. You get one cough and then save it or she shuts down dead. I'll temporarily bypass that seat switch and see if that's where the kink is.

In retrospect these movements are far from smooth and I wouldn't be suprised if I'm either unweighting the seat too much or coming completely out of it. That sudden sense of urgency makes me focus fairly tightly and right quick. Any thoughts of seat contact go right out the window.

That seats a prime suspect. I'll check for moisture if that doesn't do the trick.

Thanks for the comments, gentlemen.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I'd bet your are lifting off the seat and that is causing the engine to cut out. You might want to tighten your seatbelt to hold you in. You do not want to fly off the tractor if you roll.

ALSO, seriously look at wheel weights or loading tires. I put weights on my front wheels of my TC24D to offest the weight of a large finish mower and the difference in traction & stability is amazing. I have a 60" blower on the back now and I would not even consider taking the weights off the fronts.

 

[Trouser Bark]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( You do not want to fly off the tractor if you roll. )</font>
I've thought about this quite a bit while teetering around lately and have been wondering if this is universally true. I can see an obvious advantage to the ROPS and seatbelt in situations where the ground is flat and has no obstructions.

My land is steep and has a lot of trees. It has occured to me that if the tractor rolled I might be better off parting company than becoming the padding between tractor and tree. I realize that this is a polarizing subject and I haven't noticed any here that preached an alternative to wearing the belt. I'm not convinced that leaving it off is a better solution but it is a risk I've been considering lately ...particularly when on three wheels.

Yes, it's true that I wasn't belted to the seat in the previous scenario. Have any of you considered the belt to be a hinderence and if so under what circumstances?

 

[PineRidge]

<font color="blue"> Yes, it's true that I wasn't belted to the seat in the previous scenario. Have any of you considered the belt to be a hinderence and if so under what circumstances?
</font>

Legion while seatbelts may slow you down a bit mounting and dismounting your tractor they really do save lives. There are numerous posts made here at the TBN site documenting people that were either killed or very badly injured because they didn't feel the need to use the ROPS or a seatbelt.

We don't want to lose you to a senseless accident. Please don't hesitate to use your seatbelt and let the ROPS do its job as well.

 

[AndyMA]

I read a number on some government site that said that 70% of tractor rollovers without seatbelts are fatal. I have to admit that I always buckle up in my car , but only do it in my tractors when I'm on hills or uneven ground. BTW, I've rolled 3 tractors in my 40 plus years of operating so I guess my numbers are up. I haven't had an accident in over 25 years now, knock on wood! Even though I managed to jump 3 times, I wouldn't want to count on doing it again. BTW, none of the machines I took over had either ROPS or seatbelts. One of the machines I took over was a small (about 25hp) Kubota with a half full bucket about 36 inches off the ground (way too high to travel with). A front tire dropped into about a 3" deep hole while turning and over I went... very quick /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Andy

 

[Trouser Bark]

Thank you, Pine. I appreciate the sentiment and am a safety freak by many people's standards.

I honestly don't mind sacrificing a few seconds for safety but am honestly concerned that the rops and belt in the woods could easily do a heck of a lot of harm themselves. On a flat surface the combination should work perfectly but w/ obstructions like trees and on steep topography I wonder if I should at least consider alternatives? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Or maybe a little more of a cage would be good?

Weight, weight, weight. I've got to get some weight. That might help eliminate so much of my stability concern.