Keep from tipping

rickmacheske · Jun 18, 2006

I'm moving a lot of dirt on a sloped area of my lot. What is the best way to keep the tractor from tipping over sideways. I haven't done it yet but I've been really worried a couple times. Is there any way to move the rear wheels out any on a Kubota L3400? I'd rather not fill the tires since I use the tractor to mow around my house amoung other things.
Thanks!

Doc_Bob · Jun 18, 2006

Can you approach from 90 degrees? More info needed. post some pics.
Bob

rickmacheske · Jun 18, 2006

I try to approach it from downhill or uphill. I've also done my best to drive very slowly. It gets a little scary when one of the back wheels lifts off the ground. I've been keeping my box blade just barely off the ground. That helps some. I've been keeping the FEL as close to the ground as possible. That helps. I am going to do a partial fill on the tires if I can't set them further out.

Bird · Jun 18, 2006

Sounds to me as if you're doing all that can be done other than filling the tires and/or adding more weight to the 3-point hitch, either by a heavier implement or attaching weights to the box blade.

RoyJackson · Jun 18, 2006

What are you using for ballast on the 3PH? You'll want 500-600 pounds back there.

The other thing I'd do would be to drive up and back down the slope....keep the bucket on the uphill end of the tractor...loaded or empty.

I understand not wanting to fill the tires...but you'll need some kind of ballast (heaviest implement or a ballast box) to counter weight the tractor.

Doc_Bob · Jun 18, 2006

rickmacheske said:
I try to approach it from downhill or uphill. I've also done my best to drive very slowly. It gets a little scary when one of the back wheels lifts off the ground. I've been keeping my box blade just barely off the ground. That helps some. I've been keeping the FEL as close to the ground as possible. That helps. I am going to do a partial fill on the tires if I can't set them further out.

Rick, sometimes you just don't do the work. If you cannot do it safely, don't do it. Ego should never over rule common sense. Hire someone for a day with a bull dozer or whatever to get it done.
Bob

rox · Jun 18, 2006

Doc_Bob said:
Rick, sometimes you just don't do the work. If you cannot do it safely, don't do it. Ego should never over rule common sense. Hire someone for a day with a bull dozer or whatever to get it done.
Bob

Doc Bob,

Yu are right. My hsuband will not take the tractor where he doesn't feel safe.
So we have to do a lot of work by hand sometimes, throwing branches and debris on a tarp and hand pulling the tarp. But that is what we do. We ahve some really steep hills here and are in the process of cementing them. They are getting really erroded and with the erosion the tractor leans. Our niegbor was over last night and i asked him if we had to lay down gravel first and he said no. We can jsut mix cement and pour it right on top of the soil. Only need to make it a few inches thick. After all it is jsut tractor paths up the hills. He said we should jsut put in rebarb and we happen to have rebarb in our misc inventory that came with the farm.

My husband and I did one small hill jsut to try it out and to see how much work it would be. We didn't even put in rebarb. After that test project we figure we can handle the work physically. Today we started picking almonds so it is going to be a month before we proceed but that is our plan.

Tog et back tot he original question, if it doens't feel safe then don't do it. For us we are ameliorating the problem so that it will fel safe.

rickmacheske · Jun 18, 2006

Guys....my hills are not that steep. Driving up and down and sideways across them is not a problem normally. It's only when I have a full load in the FEL and it's raised that the CG of the tractor is too high for the width and it's unstable. I was hoping that someone had experience in somehow increasing the distance between the rear tires. Otherwise, I have to lower the CG by adding weight to the part closest to the ground (the tires).

Doc_Bob · Jun 18, 2006

rickmacheske said:
Guys....my hills are not that steep. Driving up and down and sideways across them is not a problem normally. It's only when I have a full load in the FEL and it's raised that the CG of the tractor is too high for the width and it's unstable. I was hoping that someone had experience in somehow increasing the distance between the rear tires. Otherwise, I have to lower the CG by adding weight to the part closest to the ground (the tires).

I have my wheels widened. NH have that option. Six different positions. Was done for me. I have minimal hills. Have you tried half a load in the FEL?
Bob