Inclinometer for $12.95

[Superduper]

Saw this on ebay and ordered one. If you were looking to get one on the cheap, this might be for you...

Ebay link:

 

[RonMar]

Yo can also find some made by level-o-gauge at West Marine for similar prices. I have the 45-0-45 model for $11.99 on a bracket out on my tractor hood.

West Marine: Lev-O-Gage Clinometers Product Display

 

[jbrumberg]

RonMar:

I was able to mount my 45-O-45 Lev-O-Gage on my FEL's vertical mount upright as I do not intend to take my FEL off very often. Jay

 

[texasjohn]

Be aware that there is no single "safe" angle. Just Thursday I had 2800 lbs on the front end, loaded tires, 600lbs of 3ph carry all, was backing into and out of a shallow ditch (needed to set the concrete in bottom of the ditch).

At less than a 4% incline I got one rear wheel 1' off the ground. I set things down, repositioned things, picked up culvert again and placed it where I needed it. The only solution is to go slow, carry weight low, be ready to drop it.

I've learned it all depends on where the Center of Gravity is... and that depends on weight front, rear, height, angles of vehicle and all attachments, and whether CG is above or below axles. When backing straight out of the ditch, the engine went down, rear up, FEL down, CG moved above front axle and almost in front of it.... carrying FEL low was critical, load hit the ground and all stabalized. It happens very fast, even when moving very slow.

 

[mrutkaus]

I'm not inclined to get this, but I might be some day.

 

[jbrumberg]

texasjohn:
I agree with you. I've seen slow motion rollovers ! Jay

 

[Superduper]

Be aware that there is no single "safe" angle. Just Thursday I had 2800 lbs on the front end, loaded tires, 600lbs of 3ph carry all, was backing into and out of a shallow ditch.

Just out of curiosity, isn't 600lbs of 3ph weight grossly underballasting the tractor when carrying 2800 lbs on the front end? On my tractor, the factory manual calls for almost 2000 lbs of rear ballast (weight, tires and 3ph) on a loader with a capacity of 1650 lbs. With 2800 lbs on the front end, it would seem that you would need over 3000 lbs of rear ballast to compensate.... Just curioius.

 

[IslandTractor]

I have an inclinometer that I check occasionally but I have yet to run into a situation where my pucker factor device had not already warned me of a potentially dangerous slope. Like others, my closest calls are in dynamic situations where some combination of load, load height, movement and unanticipated or unseen bumps or dips combine to raise a wheel or give a scary sideways lurch. I leave my inclinometer on the tractor but really don't find it that useful.

 

[Defective]

I'm starting to wonder if strain guages on axle mounting points and 3ph might be the better way to go...