Hair raising experience...

[TCBoomer]

..on the 2120 I have as a loaner while my TC21D is in for repairs. It gave me one >wild, hair raising, nerve frying< free wheeling ride down hill, in reverse!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Yep, it sure got my attention real quick. I was back blading and stopped just short of the descent on the steep slope. Next thing I knew... a free wheel roll downhill begins. I mashed the brakes and yet still moving. Somehow, I overcame the instant panic/freeze I was in, and dropped the bucket. It dug in pretty quick...good thing I was using the blade edge...and stopped. Freewheeled about 20-30' down a 25* slope! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Turns out it popped out of gear. It did this several times during the day, but after realizing what happened the first time, I was prepared in case it happened again.

Sure miss my HST.

It also left me kinda wondering if the 33 is the right choice. I realize this 2120 is larger than a TC33DA, yet I thought the loaded turfs...the're huge, like 2' wide...would help me feel safe. Sitting up that high is a little freaky when looking down the hill. On my 21, I could do figure 8's and not even flinch. But on this rig...not if my life depended on it. After that free wheel ride, I was not in any frame of mind to try even an up/down hill trip, never mind a horizontal trip.

 

[thcri]

TC,

That is interesting that you made that comment of the 21 versus the 33. I had a 21 and being on the sidehills scared the living **** out of me. Same hill sideways my 29 seems so much more stabil. My 21 even had wheel weights on it to help. It would be interesting how the 33 compares to your 21??


murph

 

[Phred]

This is why I am a bilever in tilt meters.
I can run a dozer or a mini-excavator across a 25 degree slope or worse without even a yawn.
While a 20 degree slope in my cab tractor with unfilled tires sets off the pucker meter.
A skidsteer is even worse.

The point is its hard to tell by feel.

Fred

 

[TCBoomer]

Equally interesting is the fact that you say your 29 feels safer than the 21. When I bought the 21, I did seriously consider the TC25D first, but was intimidated by the steep hill I mow. It took no time at all to realize that the 21 wasn't going to roll. Probably the hardest thing to do was learn how to stay in the seat. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I'm not so sure about the 33 now...the $$ they quoted me today kinda left me dissappointed /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. I may just settle on the 24.

 

[TCBoomer]

Yes I agree, track machines make a big difference on slopes compared to rubber tire rigs.

 

[joes_427_vette]

TC;
Do you think not being real familiar with the 2120 and the gearshift situation has anything to do with your confidence in the machine? I can't help but think the spread of those massive turf tires can do anything but stabalize the machine on a slope. I have a AC D-15 and a TC 45D to use for field and woods work. I have more hours on the 15 ( which has a higher center of gravity) and feel it is equal to the 45 on hills and slopes. The 45 is lower to the ground with wider tires. I guess what I am saying is when my proficiency level increases the trust and confidence will make the operation more desireable. The sticky hydro pedal doesn't help matters either. I am glad your quick thinking and good operator skills prevailed. We can look back at an experience rather than a catastrophe.

 

[TCBoomer]

>>Do you think not being real familiar with the 2120 and the gearshift situation has anything to do with your confidence in the machine?<<

Absolutely! I've already put 14 hrs on it and feel much more comfortable operating it. But one fear I still have is when approaching the slope to descend, I am very reluctant. Something inside me says this thing is going to break loose(loose traction) and slide down the hill. Trust me, I've been there!! So I still haven't got the nerve to operate it on the slope...up/down or across.

>>We can look back at an experience rather than a catastrophe. <<

I'll say!! I've had plenty of situations that left me with that "FEELING"!! However, never gone over(almost though) or injured.

 

[Soundguy]

That 2120 is in the order of a TC45.. a much bigger machine. My ex-1920 was closer to the tc33/tc40.

I'm surprised the brakes didn't stop you. While It is easy to drive thru locked brakes.. in a free wheel situation the brakes should be able to lock up. Sounds like that loner tractors is used and abused.. bad brakes and a worn tranny. The amount of wear on that tranny.. if equated to a realt worn ot HST.. might have been no better.. might have not had enough umph to stop you.. either way.. glad you were ok.

Wheel stance on my 1920 made me feel high up.. i guess due to wheel width. On my 7610s.. I know I am even higher.. but with 7' wide outside measurements on the tires.. it doesn't feel so bad on slight hills.

Soundguy

 

[have_blue]

I had a TC29, which IIRC is almost identical to the TC33. My 29 was very stable. I built and mowed some really steep levees, and although I got tossed around, never raised a wheel. The seat will fool you. Park it on a slope and wakk away and look at the tractor from a distance. Sometimes it isn't nearly as bad as it seems.

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Park it on a slope and wakk away and look at the tractor from a distance. )</font>

That's terrific advice, have_blue. I recently had my TC45D slip off a trail and I was sure I was on the edge of teetering over. I shut down the tractor and got off to decide how I was going to attach my pickup to pull it out. As I looked at it, it suddenly dawned on me that the tractor didn't really look like it was going over. I climbed back aboard, turned the front wheels slightly, used differential braking on the high side, and slowly backed that sucker right up the slope and onto the road. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Granted, if you are going fast, a small bump can easily launch you over on a slope, but creeping slowly is almost the same as static weight and I could easily size up the situation after standing back and looking at it. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif