How Far is Too Far??

[ShaneW]

So how many degree's of lean do you guys consider too many?? As in at what point, on a level incline, does a tractor begin to approach unstable, and eventually turn over?? I saw a gentleman mowing the overpass near my house yesterday on a ford 2wd tractor, around 65-75 hp I would say, and he was using a fairly large batwing mower. He was chugging along the slope in a transverse manner (sideways) and acted like it was no big deal, even went on to turn around going both uphill and downhill, and I would say this slope is in the neighborhood of being 30-35 degrees easy, if not more. It was certainly steep enough that walking up it wouldn't have been very fun, and walking across it would have definitely had your ankles mad. I only have two inclines on my property, both near a fence, and when I mow them, I have to go across them in a transverse fashion, and the lugs on the outside tire on the rear are tapping on the ground, on the sidewall portion of the tire, on the downhill side. Tractor is a branson 3820i, 4wd, with 72" landpride rotary cutter, and it doesn't feel unstable, but I have no desire to turn it over. I would say that I am at no more than 20-25 degrees, and no holes or bumps around. Am I being overly cautious, (my butt is puckered while doing this ) or will I be reading about Mr. Overpass Mower in the paper in the future??

Thanks
Shane

 

[dooleysm]

My land is pretty hilly and it takes me forever to mow it because I'm always trying to go up and down the slopes. This makes for long stretches when I'm just maneuvering the tractor and not mowing. I'm nervous on at least 50% of what I mow. I'd love to see someone else come out and mow and see how they feel on the same slopes. I have no idea what kind of number to put on the slopes though. I just know they're all more than I like.

 

[Soundguy]

How far is to far will depend of the height, and center of gravity of the tractor, and 'cheek' strenght.. ahem.. pucker factor of the individual.

The person mowing with the batwing probably felt 'less' pucker factor than had it been a 3pt mower.. as that batwing was alot of weight way down low.. etc..

soundguy

 

[BlacknTan]

My land is pretty hilly and it takes me forever to mow it because I'm always trying to go up and down the slopes. This makes for long stretches when I'm just maneuvering the tractor and not mowing. I'm nervous on at least 50% of what I mow. I'd love to see someone else come out and mow and see how they feel on the same slopes. I have no idea what kind of number to put on the slopes though. I just know they're all more than I like.

That's exactly how I feel! I'm sure an experienced guy could come out and eat my place for breakfast..
I measure the worst slope I have to run across at 9" inb 48". I trigged it out at just about 10 degrees. There are a few places where a wheel drops in a depression though on the downhill side. I'm sure it's not more than an extra couple of degrees, but, I'm not yet comfortable..
I do feel better about it though after actually measuring the angle...

I'm still gonna' take it slow though............

 

[horse7]

So how many degree's of lean do you guys consider too many?? .....
Tractor is a branson 3820i, 4wd, with 72" landpride rotary cutter, and it doesn't feel unstable, but I have no desire to turn it over. I would say that I am at no more than 20-25 degrees, and no holes or bumps around. Am I being overly cautious, (my butt is puckered while doing this ) or will I be reading about Mr. Overpass Mower in the paper in the future??

Thanks
Shane

I try to stay below 10* (measured, lateral) so that ground hog mounds don't become unduly alarming. The hog holes usually aren't too much of a problem since the tires are a lot larger than the hole so they only cause a few degrees of roll. Some of the bigger mounds can be 7-8* of roll for an 80" track-- FEL usually hits the really big ones first.

Slopes I have up to 20* I shuttle back and forth (definitely nicer than the old geared Massey!). I have steeper slopes but they are still too overgrown or too unsafe to do anything with a regular tractor.

Every tractor setup is a little different, and so is every operator. The Fat Lady on a small tractor will have a higher CG than the Thin Man would on the same tractor. I don't think I'd ever try 25* lateral with either of my tractors.... even with the Fat Lady clinging to the bottom of the engine pan!

 

[IslandTractor]

I have an inclinometer on my tractor. Under 10 degrees is no sweat but keep an eye out for holes on the down side and bumps on the up side of the hill to avoid. Between 10-15 degrees I am watching very carefully and moving very slowly with bucket down etc. 15-18degrees I am creeping and just manuvering to get out of that situation. Anything above 18 degrees and I would definitely need a change of shorts.

 

[toolaholic]

This is This Mans Craft. He's proving this is safe for Him,Not You, necessarily!

I imagine He Has Vast experience doing this ,and has instincts at this ,most of us don't.

 

[JerryG]

I really don't know about some of the places that the highway guys mow. There is one place where I have seen them two different times that if I ever have another chance I am going to stop and take pictures. Both times, they were using a 70-75 hp NH with a batwing. The tractors rear axle was down hill about 30* with the front wheels and the mower pointing straight across the hill. All the time, the rear wheels are sliding. I mow some really steep stuff but nothing like that.

 

[3RRL]

Shees, that would make a good video.
Sounds like describing a flat track motorcycle race.

 

[workinallthetime]

2 things around here in oklahoma
1st i heard a rumor that the state decided to let private contractors mow the roads due to so many state guys dying in the line of duty. I dont know if its true or not but i have not seen the state mowing in years.
2nd the rigs they use around here have a balast mounted on one side, or at least thats what it looks like

 

[JoeinTX]

I've never used an incline meter but I can only judge angles by gut. If I'm being forced around the seat to the point that I can't control the machine, then it's too steep.

As for the highway mowers, I see tractor tire marks along the concrete skirts of underpasses all of the time and sit back in stunned incredulity. Obviously, rubber doesn't make a mark on concrete unless its under stress so when I see the marks of tractor tires around a steep embankment I have to wonder about the driver and the trip. I haven't seen a tractor turned over on one of these yet, but, the angles are far more than I'd ever be comfortable with driving.

"This is This Mans Craft. He's proving this is safe for Him,Not You, necessarily!

I imagine He Has Vast experience doing this ,and has instincts at this ,most of us don't."

Not so much. Here, at least, so many of the road cutting crews look like young kids or illegals who are more accustomed to an ox cart. Some of the things they do seem more out of stupidity or pure ignorance of the dangers involved......almost as if "it's a tractor, it can do anything, what can go wrong?" attitude. I did see a Massey on a 15' rig laying to its starboard years ago on a part of I-20 that was being cut and it was in a relatively moderately sloped grassy cut to have it happen. The mower seemed to have prevented its total roll-over but it was still on an uncomfortable plane though I'm not sure how it happened.

 

[JayDavis]

I do a lot of shredder work when I am putting in overtime in a different department where I work. About 60 hours worth in the past 30 days. A lot of it is on slopes and I am using a JD7800 or 7810 with dual rears and a 15ft batwing shredder. I've mowed slopes where I could barely stay on the seat and that the steering wheel was useless. You had to use the split brakes and ride the uphill side brakes to keep the tractor angled uphill enough to counter the slide downhill gravity was causing.

Most of the time when you see people mowing slopes sideways instead of up and down is because they are mowing on contour to reduce erosion. When you go straight up or down sometimes you make ruts that water will flow down in a rain and cause washes to form. This is how it was explained to me at work...and they always tell me that if I am uncomfortable on a slope or in a certain situation just to leave it be and they'll get someone with more experience to get that spot later.

Slopes are tricky things sometimes I feel safer on a steep slope with solid uniform ground then I do on a moderate slope with loose pitted ground with wash outs. If your gut says it isn't safe, don't do it. No job whether it be for money or around the house that is so important it is worth risking your safety for

 

[DrainPondDesign]

Just for fun check out the manufacturer's video of this slope mower.

ATM 72LC

I saw one cutting cross slope on an overpass & make a 180 without slowing down, the inline 2 wheel tractor (motorcycle?) stayed vertical.

Can't imagine what it must cost.

 

[JoeinTX]

It looks very interesting and impressive but not something a commercial cutter might invest in. Maybe more something a pro grounds-keeper or municipality would buy for special and serious needs as opposed to someone looking to cut as many acres as possible per pass on a contract.

I dunno.....?

Any of our pro cutters think this is the machine they need?

 

[Soundguy]

Sliding wheels is where i draw the line.. it mars the grass.

Maybee those drivers saw those race car movies about 'drifting' cars??

Soundguy

I really don't know about some of the places that the highway guys mow. There is one place where I have seen them two different times that if I ever have another chance I am going to stop and take pictures. Both times, they were using a 70-75 hp NH with a batwing. The tractors rear axle was down hill about 30* with the front wheels and the mower pointing straight across the hill. All the time, the rear wheels are sliding. I mow some really steep stuff but nothing like that.

 

[Larry3228]

Everyone says to mow up and down steep hills. How do you safely turn around at the top and bottom?

 

[RoyJackson]

Everyone says to mow up and down steep hills. How do you safely turn around at the top and bottom?

I drive up and reverse down if there isn't a decent turn around area. That works if it's a short slope.

 

[SkunkWerX]

I drive up and reverse down if there isn't a decent turn around area. That works if it's a short slope.

Roy,

That is exactly how I do a short/steep hill at my place.
Low range, 4wd, and put FEL down as low as it will go, without gouging the ground, for forward weight.


And now that we are getting a little rain, I'll be getting back into the mowing frame of mind. MD and VA have been in a drought since spring-time.
The only mowing I've done is to cut the tops of the weeds every 3 to 4 weeks.
It's been so dry, a front came through a few days ago with some wind, looked like it was November with the dead dry leaves falling from the trees.

 

[RoyJackson]

Roy,

That is exactly how I do a short/steep hill at my place.
Low range, 4wd, and put FEL down as low as it will go, without gouging the ground, for forward weight.
And now that we are getting a little rain, I'll be getting back into the mowing frame of mind. MD and VA have been in a drought since spring-time.
The only mowing I've done is to cut the tops of the weeds every 3 to 4 weeks.
It's been so dry, a front came through a few days ago with some wind, looked like it was November with the dead dry leaves falling from the trees.

Yeah, got that rain here too.
Wet grass is pretty slick...don't get stuck.

 

[horse7]

Everyone says to mow up and down steep hills. How do you safely turn around at the top and bottom?

I go up steep hills backwards since usually there is something at the top or before the top that stops me from going all the way to the top of the hill (could be trees, property line, stone wall, whatever). Going frontwards there would be a tractor length uncut.

Maybe it's me, but the tractor feels more stable going backwards uphill too.