How Far is Too Far??

[Spiveyman]

...I don't know how anyone could really calculate the maximum slope for the effects of momentum, changing terrain, and a bushhog hanging off the back of the tractor....

Precisely my point there. Well said. My 49° calculation is only valid in a perfect world, but since we live in this one, you need some serious safety factors in there. I think the 15% grade is a reasonable limit for the average operator. Anything beyond that you'd better know your terrain pretty daggone well and be very good. My uncle mows the steepest hills you can imagine with a Ford 7740 and a huge batwing. Every now and then the thing lets go. He's told me about having to just ride it to the bottom several times. He always says as long as you have a place to land and you can keep your foot of the brake you'll be fine. He's mowed those fields since he was a kid and he still gets nervous every time he has to mow. That's what's kept him alive this long.

Respect it like it can kill you, and you'll likely live to tell about it. Don't and you won't.

 

[dberry]

Land that my truck goes over easily makes me nervous on the tractor based on all the tipped tractor stories I've read.

 

[Spiveyman]

Land that my truck goes over easily makes me nervous on the tractor based on all the tipped tractor stories I've read.

Yeah, no kidding. Too bad you can put a 3ph and a pto on a corvette. You'd never have to worry about turning that thing over. I got close last night. I was spreading out some dirt from where we cleaned out the pond. My left rear slid down into a hole and I was sitting at a very precarious angle. My left was just spinning, but luckily I have a lever to lock the differential and was able to back my way out of the hole. Should have gotten a picture of the tractor like that, but I was too anxious to just get it out of there.

 

[tony123]

I'm new here and to tractors. Here's a few photos of some of what I've got to mow. I do them straight up and down. What are some of your opinions?

 

[Spiveyman]

If it works and you feel safe, then I'd say you have a plan. Are you not satisfied with it?

You might want to check out a thread by dieselfuelonly, he has a rig that looks a lot like yours.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/106658-started-learn-use-my-tractor.html

Long lost brothers or something.

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm new here and to tractors. Here's a few photos of some of what I've got to mow. I do them straight up and down. What are some of your opinions?

Up and down looks like the safest way to go. Your slopes are pretty steep and just as important, they appear to have quite a few "bumps" on them (especially in the first picture).
It also appears you've got a nice turn around area, at least at the bottom (can't see the top).
This is definitely not an area to mow if that lawn is the least bit wet! You'll either have an exciting ride down or you'll tear the lawn up.

 

[Trac-Tech]

Just to add a little of my experience to this from over the years.
The first time I had anything to do with this was complaints from operators of Massey Ferguson 8100 series tractors, we were dealing with two models, 160hp & 200hp. The complaint was that the steering and hyd would stop on steep slopes and due to the hyd press loaded clutch, it would also loose drive.
I rigged up a device on the inside of the cabin window to measure the angle for & aft as well as another for side to side.
I then drove the tractor until it stopped on a steep slope, I then read the angles both ways to be 26 degrees, this was very steep and had me twitching I can tell you. I did not feel safe at all at this point and when i tried to walk up the hill I had jsut parked on, it was too steep to walk comfortably and I had to climb more than walk.
Other times I have had to check parking brakes and the OECD (I think) standard for tractors is 17 degrees (maybe someone can correct me) for and aft. This is steeper than it sounds.
On other occasions when we have needed to try to fix gearbox problems that only become evident on slopes, they have been around the 20 degrees and once again, this is a lot steeper than it sounds!!! So always be comfortable and if you are not, dont go there.
To help with stability, you can always adjsut your rear wheel track out. This does help, but be careful when adjustin the front as it only gives you a false sens of security. It does not make any difference having the fornt adjusted for stability.
I hope this is of help to every one.

 

[tony123]

Spiveyman, I have read that thread several times. Enjoyed it.

Roy, thanks for the tip. Wet=Bad Just at the top is my level driveway, so I do have good turnaround at top.
It is a little bumpy, but boxblade will help that.

 

[madpogue]

...be careful when adjustin the front as it only gives you a false sens of security. It does not make any difference having the fornt adjusted for stability.

Say what??!? If that were true, we'd still all be on tricycle / tripods. We set both the front and rear wheels out on our 790 just after we bought it, and yeah, the rears are the major players, but when you're tip-toeing into an area of increasing tilt, having the low-side front wheel set out several inches definitely improves your footing.

 

[RobJ]

You have to remember those road crews mow on these thngs all day evry day. They learn/know/understand the limits of what they can do. Plus the wheels are usually pretty far out.

I posted these pictures a while back, some said it was beyond their pucker factor. But after a couple weeks of mowing I don't give it a second thought. I just hold on and mow.

BTW, in the second pic you can see the first time I stuck my tractor. See the dirt in the road. I was going down the bank towards the road, the BB got hung up on the bank. 4wd ATV left the black marks. Had to get the truck, that's why the chain is on the brush guard.