Mowing Maximum Hillside Mowing

[ovrszd]

I've read several threads in the past regarding how steep of sideslope a tractor can be operated on. This past weekend I was mowing the roadbank and these discussions came to mind. I went to the house and got my camera. My Kubota B2910 has a Tiltmeter on the dash so I parked it on one of my slopes for pictures. The Tiltmeter just goes to 25 degrees so I picked a spot with that angle. I have spots that are steeper and I mow them regularly but when I do the little silver ball in the tiltmeter disappears off the window and I didn't want everyone saying there was something wrong with my gauge so I picked a spot where the ball is visible. I also tied a rope on my ROPS bar with a weight hanging from it creating a "plumb bob" for those that might question the accuracy of my tiltmeter.

My B2910 has filled rear tires and factory wheel spacing, front tires set in. It mows these areas with no indication of being anywhere close to tipping over.

My disclaimer here, so everyone don't get all crazy, is that you should always use your own judgement when doing anything that might cause injury on your tractor. For me and my tractor, 25 degrees is a cakewalk and I do it as fast as it will run in mid range. Now fire away!!!

 

[zzvyb6]

Although my tractor has ag tires (R1), I tested it under actual mowing conditions on a much steeper bank. It will just slide down the hill, nose first. If you need some data, I can get it for you because the hill, grass and path is still there. Most tractor + tire combinations are designed to slide before rolling. The lawyers have seen to that.

In my case, I release the linked brake pedals so i can use left or right brake steer to keep me aligned with the original path when mowing.

My hill is considerably more inclined than the one you show.

If you ever get a chance to check the sidepull ratio of your tractor, do it: Use a tilt bed trailer or other mechanism (another tractor with a loader) to set up your tractor on an inclined table and measure the angle of 2 wheel lift. Use some weight on the seat to simulate your butt.

Its actually pretty steep angle. It will have a tendency to reveal the 4 wheel slide angle to you. Having weighted rear tires and spread way out is the only way to go. That ensures that the fronts give up first on grass and down the hill you will safely go. Keep some paper towels handy.

Now let's hear back from the National ***-ocean of product liability lawyers...

 

[KeithInSpace]

Funny about this thread. I was planning on starting a similar thread showing how daring I was and how crazy-steep the slope was that I regularly mow on the side of my house.

Then I took these pictures. Looking at them, I feel like a granny. Not that the tractor is really close to tipping over, but it is angle enough that I only attack the slope "clockwise" so the weight of the OEM Bagger Impeller is on the uphill side of the slope. If the thing starts going over, it's not like you're sticking your leg out to right the thing like a Craftsman in a ditch. If you get off the tractor, you still can't lift the uphill rear tire by pushing on the ROPS (a test I did before mowing this area), but you can tell there isn't much weight on it, either.

In my configuration, I have bolt-on weights in the back wheels (~80# each side) and do not have filled tires.

I cannot (or will not) attack this slope with the FEL/BH attached. Just feels like the COG is way too high. Again, maybe I'm a granny, but there is only so much risk I'll take with life and limb (and expensive tractor) at stake.

And regarding getting any closer to "the edge", all it takes is LITERALLY a clump of dirt, a big stick, or some other seemingly innocuous object to shove you right over. Or a small hole on the downhill wheel. Anything. It can happen just too fast to risk.

Thanks for sharing, Mr. Ovrszd.

Keith

 

[lp333]

All of my kubotas have worked up and down the large hill found my backyard. I find the HST and 4WD to be a real asset here. The incline varies from 27 to 31 degrees, and the hill rises above the roofline of my two story house. I must confess that it can be a bit scary at times, when I am operating the Kubota, and suddenly find myself peering over the top of the roofline.

 

[Grrrr]

I think that tractor drivers in in England must be a lot more daring that those in the US

I never really think about some of the slopes that I work on and know people who make my slopes look silly.

But, loooking at your pictures some of my slopes look a lot steeper than that

Next time I will take some pics.

I have never seen a tilt meter for sale in England but I would like to have one some time to find out how steep my slopes really are.

There was a tractor rollover not so long ago near us with a tractor hay bobbing on a really steep slope (too steep to go up and down)

The tractor was set to narrow for it and was top heavy and on one really steep bit just fell over. 2 hours later, with the help of a bigger tractor it was hay bobbing the same slope again.

 

[KeithInSpace]

More than anything else, I want to live in a country where I can say "hay boobing" in a sentance and have those around me know what the heck I'm talking about.

 

[Grrrr]

Oops

 

[DAP]

I...
My disclaimer here, so everyone don't get all crazy, is that you should always use your own judgement when doing anything that might cause injury on your tractor. For me and my tractor, 25 degrees is a cakewalk and I do it as fast as it will run in mid range. Now fire away!!!

Cakewalk? Truth be told, Junkman and SKurka have goaded me into asking why you obtained and installed the tiltmeter in this case?

 

[Volfandt]

I took a few pics awhile back showing some slopes my BX23 mows on without problems. The bank out front has way too much slope so I mow it with a different machine

 

[Grrrr]

I took a few pics awhile back showing some slopes my BX23 mows on without problems. The bank out front has way too much slope so I mow it with a different machine

I like the look of that little mower with the sickle bar mower. Could you tell me more about it please?

 

[DiezNutz]

More than anything else, I want to live in a country where I can say "hay boobing" in a sentance and have those around me know what the heck I'm talking about.

Heck, I just want to know what this other thing is, and when & where it's happening!

The basic premise is that, looking at the tractor squarely from the front or rear, if you strike a perfectly vertical line from the bottom edge of the tire (contact point w/ground), the tractor cannot tip as long as its CoG doesn't cross that line. Figuring out where the CoG is is the tricky part, but there are a few easy observations you can make, like... the MMM certainly lowers it, as does filled tires. Shifting your butt to the opposite side of the seat and leaning helps move it away from the line too. Looking at a few of you guys' pics, you're not quite there yet (especially not Granny Keith ).

However, the biggest risk is, CoG isn't static... holes, bumps, big sticks, neighbor's cats, etc. that you run over all cause it to shift dynamically... that seems to be how most rollovers occur. And once it crosses that line, if there isn't something to quickly shift it back, bye-bye. Simply put, you can go at some pretty pucker-ish angles provided you go SLOW and try to keep the CoG as low & away from the line as possible.

Speaking of dynamic CoG shift...
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/104499-bx-vs-42-x-30-a.html

 

[Volfandt]

I like the look of that little mower with the sickle bar mower. Could you tell me more about it please?

Sure
It's a 1966 Wheel Horse 876 I picked up from the original owner last winter.
After replaceing the carb, fuel pump, sparkplug & lead, fuel lines and a couple seals in the HST, it's a very mechanically sound little tractor now. The sicklebar mower came off of my 856. This winter it's going to get refinished. I expect it'll outlast me.

 

[ore540]

I think that tractor drivers in in England must be a lot more daring that those in the US
...
I have never seen a tilt meter for sale in England but I would like to have one some time to find out how steep my slopes really are.
...

If nothing else, there are lots of sailors in the UK who want to know how much they're heeling so there must be something like this around

-- Larry

 

[Cap-n-Cray]

I have a digital level which can measure in degrees. I checked my slopes and the one I mow across is 20 degrees max and I go up and down a 30 degree slope. The 20 degree slope does not seem as steep as ovrsvd photo show. I still lean in to it and go slow. I have a tilt meter on order.

It would be interesting to make a tilt stand and measure what is the standard (BX24, full tank, FEL, MMM) roll over angle with a safety strap. I know there are a lot of variables, but a base line would be helpful. Just thinking out loud.

Cary

 

[ovrszd]

Funny about this thread. I was planning on starting a similar thread showing how daring I was and how crazy-steep the slope was that I regularly mow on the side of my house.

Then I took these pictures. Looking at them, I feel like a granny. Not that the tractor is really close to tipping over, but it is angle enough that I only attack the slope "clockwise" so the weight of the OEM Bagger Impeller is on the uphill side of the slope. If the thing starts going over, it's not like you're sticking your leg out to right the thing like a Craftsman in a ditch. If you get off the tractor, you still can't lift the uphill rear tire by pushing on the ROPS (a test I did before mowing this area), but you can tell there isn't much weight on it, either.

In my configuration, I have bolt-on weights in the back wheels (~80# each side) and do not have filled tires.

I cannot (or will not) attack this slope with the FEL/BH attached. Just feels like the COG is way too high. Again, maybe I'm a granny, but there is only so much risk I'll take with life and limb (and expensive tractor) at stake.

And regarding getting any closer to "the edge", all it takes is LITERALLY a clump of dirt, a big stick, or some other seemingly innocuous object to shove you right over. Or a small hole on the downhill wheel. Anything. It can happen just too fast to risk.

Thanks for sharing, Mr. Ovrszd.

Keith

It's a shame you didn't do the "Plumb Bob" trick for an indicator. I'm guessing by how you don't even leave a track that you aren't much past 15 degrees. To stay on a 25 degree slope you have to use 4wd and sometimes the high side brake.

I agree with you about different implements changing COG. I won't try anything like this with my 5' brush hog on the back, too much swinging around.

 

[ovrszd]

Cakewalk? Truth be told, Junkman and SKurka have goaded me into asking why you obtained and installed the tiltmeter in this case?

I have a perfectly female explaination for that...... We bought the Kubota while I was in Iraq. Terry picked it up, hauled it home and started mowing with it. I had no idea what angle it would function at having never been around a B2910. I told her to stay off the steep stuff and use the JD455 which she is familiar with. One day I saw the add for Tiltmeters. I ordered one and she installed it. Then I asked around on this sight about how steep that particular tractor would run. I was generally told to not exceed 18 degrees. So that's the standard I told Terry to use.

When I got home I quickly realized the tractor was capable of more than that. Now, for me, the Tiltmeter isn't necessary. Actually I use it for entertainment when I get it leaning so steep that the air bubble inside it switches sides!!!

So if you guys want to make fun of Terry for using a Tiltmeter, I'll go get her and let her respond!!!

 

[Mith]

I think that tractor drivers in in England must be a lot more daring that those in the US

Jake, I reckon its because we have hills, rather than 'slopes'

 

[MDM]

I would think that the belly mower helps lower the COG significantly. I you had a RFM, the pucker factor would probably go up.

 

[jesseb3@att.net]

After reading this thread and looking at the photos, I thought "Wow, no one is really pushing their Kubotas as hard as I am on hills". So, I made a plumb bob, attached it to the ROPS, parked it on the bank I regularly mow, and snapped a picture.

Funny thing is, it didn't look any worse than the other photos posted. It didn't even look that bad while standing there looking at it in person. Not what I expected. I guess you can't really judge a hill very easily unless it's your arse in the seat, at least I can't.

 

[ovrszd]

After reading this thread and looking at the photos, I thought "Wow, no one is really pushing their Kubotas as hard as I am on hills". So, I made a plumb bob, attached it to the ROPS, parked it on the bank I regularly mow, and snapped a picture.

Funny thing is, it didn't look any worse than the other photos posted. It didn't even look that bad while standing there looking at it in person. Not what I expected. I guess you can't really judge a hill very easily unless it's your arse in the seat, at least I can't.

That is very true!!! Pictures without any kind of factual evidence don't give a true picture. I Jeep a lot. Always looking at Jeeps offroading. I've learned to look at the background for reference. What angle is the Jeep in relationship to people standing around watching or in relationship to nearby trees.

That's why I included pictures of the Tiltmeter and included a Plumb Bob for reference.

For example, look at these two Jeep pictures. The first picture doesn't look like much. But the second picture better displays the angles involved because there is a person involved to reference to.