How Many Degrees of Tilt Before You're Spilt?

HoggyB · Mar 4, 2004

How Many Degrees of Tilt Before You\'re Spilt?

I was just on the phone with a company that manufactures tilt meters and was told that ANSI standards require a tractor to be able to tilt up to 20 degrees sideways without tipping.

He also mentioned 30 degrees for tipping forwards or backwards. I'm not sure if those are called for by ANSI or not.

Does Kubota publish these figures for their tractors? I'm looking thru my BX-23 manual and don't see anything...

Also, just out of curiosity, has anyone here ever saved their bacon using a stabilizer?

Hog

Bird · Mar 4, 2004

Re: How Many Degrees of Tilt Before You\'re Spilt?

Hog, he probably told you right about the standards, and he also probably told you that is for a tractor alone. The addition of implements and attachments may affect the maximum possible slope either negatively or positively.

And to the best of my knowledge, Kubota does not (or did not when I bought my tractors) publish such data.

HoggyB · Mar 4, 2004

Re: How Many Degrees of Tilt Before You\'re Spilt?

( Hog, he probably told you right about the standards, and he also probably told you that is for a tractor alone. The addition of implements and attachments may affect the maximum possible slope either negatively or positively.

And to the best of my knowledge, Kubota does not (or did not when I bought my tractors) publish such data. )

Are there any 'rules of thumb' or is it all a matter of trial and error? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Hog

chrisjbell · Mar 5, 2004

Re: How Many Degrees of Tilt Before You\'re Spilt?

 Are there any 'rules of thumb' or is it all a matter of trial and error? 

Be careful about the "trial and error" technique /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif...

My rule of thumb, for what it is worth, is to get nervous at about 15-20 degrees. Once you are there, hitting a high or low spot can turn it into a much steeper tilt in a hurry. Going SLOW is the key here, and remember that if you start to tilt too far that you should back out of where you're going (figuring that if you got in without tipping that following the same course in reverse is probably safe - although that isn't always true /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif).

Forward and backwards tilt, as opposed to side to side, is much more forgiving. Generally speaking, a tractor will tend to flip towards the rear, which means that you should usually have the back end facing up the hill. I've done pretty steep slopes with the back end facing up (maybe as much as 35 degrees? Don't have a front to back tilt meter - probably should). But I'm not sure I'd call that "safe" /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif.

There have been times that I've gotten into a situation where I was just too nervous to be on the tractor and have gone to the uphill side and steered and used the HST pedals while walking beside the machine (mines pretty small and I can operate both from the side). Probably not something that should be considered "safe", but I figure that if it did start to go that at least I wouldn't be going with it. But it sure would stink to watch it fall over /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif.

Best thing to remember is to use your seatbelt and keep the ROPS in place. And if it doesn't feel safe, don't do it!

riptides · Mar 5, 2004

Re: How Many Degrees of Tilt Before You\'re Spilt?

( Best thing to remember is to use your seatbelt and keep the ROPS in place. And if it doesn't feel safe, don't do it! )

And if I might add,

If it doesn't look safe don't do it.

-Mike Z.

Egon · Mar 5, 2004

Re: How Many Degrees of Tilt Before You\'re Spilt?

If you're starting a sidways tilt best turn into it and drop all impliments as fast as you can. Whatever you do don't stop till its facing down hill.

Egon

Junkman · Mar 5, 2004

Re: How Many Degrees of Tilt Before You\'re Spilt?

Think of it this way...... when you reach those standards that your tractor is supposed to meet, you will need to go into the house, take a shower, and change underwear. 20 degrees doesn't seem like much, but it can be mighty steep when you are sitting on the seat of the tractor looking to the right and everything is downhill and on the left everything is uphill. Trust me and everyone else, you don't want to go there deliberately, and if by accident, you will have another accident to clean up even if the trip is successful. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

bebster · Mar 5, 2004

Re: How Many Degrees of Tilt Before You\'re Spilt?

I'm sure the lawyers wouldn't let them publish those degrees, for obvious reasons. The real issue is less the constant tilt and more the "instantaneous" tilt caused by uneven ground. When you are going sideways on a hill and then the downhill tire falls into a small depression you quickly go from safe to unsafe. As much as I like having a tiltmeter, it's little comfort when that happens, especially if you're not going really slow. Reaction time is what counts then to stop and back out!

Egon · Mar 5, 2004

Re: How Many Degrees of Tilt Before You\'re Spilt?

If you stop you're going over.

Egon

chrisjbell · Mar 5, 2004

Re: How Many Degrees of Tilt Before You\'re Spilt?

If the tilt has already begun, that is true. But the nice thing about a meter is that you can see a sudden increase in your angle ('cause when you're pushing it, as mentioned, the tractor already feels pretty "tilt-y") before a wheel leaves the ground. Hopefully. But you're right - once you've started the tilt, the only chance is to head downhill. And pray.