Mowing Mowing on complex hills --- HELP!!!

Henro · Aug 25, 2004

Rise over run (or drop over run) gives the tangent of the angle if my memory is still good... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

A while back I made a little spread sheet to calculate the angle...I think it works right...

Plugging your numbers in gives an slope of 14.7 degrees...I think I got it right, and that seems like a reasonable angle...maybe someone can confirm it.

If you have a calculator with math functions all you do is take the arc tan of the rise over run, and the calculator should display the angle. (unless it is set up to work with radians,that is...in which case you need to do a further conversion from radians to angle).

MikeFromVA · Aug 25, 2004

I think you're close Henro - thanks - here's a page I found that tells me my slope is 16.26 degrees based on the measurements I had...

Cottonhawk · Aug 25, 2004

I'd start to watch the tilt meter carefully once it's over 15 degrees. You can get in trouble if you hit a rut or something. If you go slow in 4 wheel drive, 16 degrees should not be a problem.

Boondox · Aug 25, 2004

I agree with Cotton and routinely mow traversely on 18 degrees. Plenty of pucker and I go slow as can be watching for rocks or ruts that might increase the angle...but in five years I've never had an issue. On the other hand, one of the previous posters mentioned sideways slippage. Not an issue with my aggies, but slipping at an acute angle could be a heart stopper! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Pete

Bob_Skurka · Aug 25, 2004

Mike: Bear in mind, most tractors are NOT rated for crossing a 20 degree slope. Many do, and you have to take each circumstance as an individual circumstance that may or may not relate to your situation because of actual ground conditions, tractor configuration, tires, ruts, etc etc etc.

My recommendation is to be very mindful of pucker factor.

I respect my slopes because they scare the bejezzuz out of me. But the closest I ever came to flipping a tractor was when I was using the Kubota B2910 on SMOOTH ASPHALT that was NEARLY FLAT. I had large rocks in the loader shift and the left side of the tractor came off the ground while I was turning the tractor. I got lucky, the tractor came back down as I slammed against the loader to drop the bucket while turning the wheel and depressing the clutch. And that is the day I learned to wear my seatbelt ALL the time, because up until then I often did not.

If you are worried, then you are paying attention. If you are confident, then you probably should begin to worry!!!

beenthere · Aug 25, 2004

Bob
Where do you find information about tractors rated for slopes?

I'd be curious what those numbers are.
Thanks

Bob_Skurka · Aug 25, 2004

Ventrac provides the information as does Steiner. I asked my Kubota/Cub Cadet dealer and he dug up information for me. My Cub was not rated as a tractor, but the engine was "rated" to 20 degrees. I asked about the B2910 when we got that, he told me it was 15 to 20 degrees, but I don't know if that is his judgement or a rated factory judgement. I never bothered to ask about the NH because I knew I wasn't taking that on the slopes!!!

I would suggest you go to your dealer and have him look it up. I know with the Cub, he opened the book and showed me. He didn't do that with the B2910 and it was the same dealer.

MikeFromVA · Aug 26, 2004

I removed the FEL and mowed yesterday afternoon (ie - after the dew was gone). I felt much more at ease (not too comfortable though). The tiltmeter has not arrived yet, but measuring one of the steeper spots at 16.25 degrees made me feel better. I don't have the guts to try to be sideways at that part of the slope, but knowing that it should be doable makes me feel better about the places I do have to traverse sideways.

I will still feel better when the tiltmeter arrives. And I'm sure my pucker factor will decrease with more seat time. I will be sure to always have a healthy respect for those slopes though.

Henro · Aug 26, 2004

Mike,

One thing I have noticed is that when I start to feel uncomfortable on my tractor, for some reason looking down at the floor seems to give me a better idea of what the actual angle is. The operator's platform always seems to tilt a lot less than I feel like the tractor is tilting from the perspective of my seat.

I think it has something to do with sitting high on the tractor, as compared to say how you would sit in a car. When I first got my tractor I remember feeling tipsy on an almost flat place...5 degrees slope max, and probably less. When turning things just felt wrong. Probably because I was not used to sitting up that high, with respect to tire width.

Next time you are on a side slope crosswise and feel worried, take a look down at the operator's platform if yours is flat, and see what you think. This could just be me...be curious if you or anyone else feels/has noticed the same thing...

MikeFromVA · Aug 27, 2004

I think that you are probably right henro. I'm sure that some of my discomfort is from the fact that I am new to this. That is why I am really looking forward to getting my tiltmeter - I think that it will help me to know the actual tilt. I'm pretty sure that I still won't feel very good about being sideways on a 15 degree slope though /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif