Ballast mowing side hills

[DemcoEd]

I have a TC40DA with a LandPride 2584 (7') mower that I mow my open areas of my lawn. I also use this to mow the ditch along the place. In some areas the ditch is so steep that the tractor will actually slide side ways. (not a good feeling) In those areas I now mow up and down the hill which is very time consuming. My TC is now set at 60" centers which I would like to stay at if possible. Here's my question, would rear weights help? I am also thinking about fluid (rimgaurd) in the tires thinking this would give me a lower center of gravity than wheel weights I think.

What do you guys do and would reccommend I do? TIA

 

[brin]

I have a TC40DA with a LandPride 2584 (7') mower that I mow my open areas of my lawn. I also use this to mow the ditch along the place. In some areas the ditch is so steep that the tractor will actually slide side ways. (not a good feeling) In those areas I now mow up and down the hill which is very time consuming. My TC is now set at 60" centers which I would like to stay at if possible. Here's my question, would rear weights help? I am also thinking about fluid (rimgaurd) in the tires thinking this would give me a lower center of gravity than wheel weights I think.

What do you guys do and would reccommend I do? TIA

I would keep mowing it up an down !!!! When you say it slides sideways that is a message to you...stop and think if there was a rock that was partially embedded in the soil and as your tractor was sliding the back wheel on the downside hit that rock ....You and your tractor would tip over...Not Good. Don't take those kind of chances and loading your tires or any other ballast or weights will not change it..It is flat dangerous..Stop now going sideways on the steep part.

 

[sweettractors]

Stay off those hills. Life is too short to take chances like that. If it is scooting now, a small rock or gopher mound on the upper side is all it would take to flip you. Ken Sweet

 

[maybar]

I have a TC40DA with a LandPride 2584 (7') mower that I mow my open areas of my lawn. I also use this to mow the ditch along the place. In some areas the ditch is so steep that the tractor will actually slide side ways. (not a good feeling) In those areas I now mow up and down the hill which is very time consuming. My TC is now set at 60" centers which I would like to stay at if possible. Here's my question, would rear weights help? I am also thinking about fluid (rimgaurd) in the tires thinking this would give me a lower center of gravity than wheel weights I think.

What do you guys do and would reccommend I do? TIA

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A tractor sliding side ways is a good indication you need to find an alternate way to maintain that area. A tire filled half full will benefit in the center of gravity department but as it is filled further some of that advantage is lost.

Here is something else to ponder.

Lets say we're running along just on the verge of being too steep and all seems OK at the moment, but because of the side pressure on the tire and wheel, the tire bead is suddenly broken from the rim on the down hill side rear wheel.



I've always wondered how many roll overs that killed the operator had a rear tire flat and when investigated it was thought the roll over caused the flat tire while that wasn't the case at all.

I personally would find a different and safer way. I wanna draw my SS check a few more years.:thumbsup:

 

[MikeInEburg]

We had the exact situation until last year - when I finally realized how really stupid it was to risk life and limb for grass. So we sprayed all of the grass on those dangerous slopes with Roundup, put down landscape cloth, mulch and a bunch of shrubs. And haven't looked back...

Mike

 

[TripleR]

I sure can't improve on the advice already given and I mow on hillsides, but if it gets close to too steep, I go up and down or leave it alone.

 

[rekees4300]

What do you guys do

I mow downhill only in 4wd, low gear, no FEL, and dry grass. Go back up the hill at the same low scope location every cycle. That way don't have to worry about rollovers or front end flipping backwards. This method is time consuming but not as much as dying would be.

 

[Redneck in training]

We had the exact situation until last year - when I finally realized how really stupid it was to risk life and limb for grass. So we sprayed all of the grass on those dangerous slopes with Roundup, put down landscape cloth, mulch and a bunch of shrubs. And haven't looked back...

Mike

I am in a process to do the same on our pond dam. I am planting cotoneaster shrubs.

 

[VitaBene]

I am in a process to do the same on our pond dam. I am planting cotoneaster shrubs.

As a former landscape contractor, we came to quickly rename Cotoneasters to "Painintheasstahs" for their ability to trap and hold leaves! It was a 2 person job to clean them out, a rake man working with a backpack blower guy.

I would look at some other types of low spreading evergreens like blue rug junipers.

 

[Redneck in training]

As a former landscape contractor, we came to quickly rename Cotoneasters to "Painintheasstahs" for their ability to trap and hold leaves! It was a 2 person job to clean them out, a rake man working with a backpack blower guy.

I would look at some other types of low spreading evergreens like blue rug junipers.

That might be true what you are saying but it is a farm pond with no trees too close to it. Some traped leaves will not be an issue. I use cotoneaster because I need several hundred bushes and it is easy to propagate.