Mowing Mowing with loader mounted on Tractor.

[krazykioti]

Hi ,
I was wondering if mowing with my Bush Hog and having the loader mounted on my Tractor will place to much stress on my tractor because of the weight at each end. I would like to keep the loader on it if possible because of mowing a hill. I am careful about mowing uphill & downhill and not mowing sideways on the hill. With my previous tractor a Ford NAA Jubilee the front end lifted and turned the tractor 90 degrees when going up the hill on one occasion. That was the last time that I mowed with that tractor ! The Ford had no 4x4 or Fel like my Kioti. The Kioti DK45 has a Woods 1012 Fel and the Bush Hog is 5 feet wide.

Thanks,
Charlie

 

[Bird]

Charlie, mowing with the front end loader wouldn't cause me any worry about stress on the tractor at all. When you're using the front end loader, "ballast" in the forum of a ballast box or another implement is recommended; i.e., weght on both ends to counter balance the tractor. When I had a tractor with a front end loader that was not a quick attach, the front end loader was never off the tractor, regardless of what implement I had on the back. And when I got a tractor with a quick attach front end loader, I always took the loader off to mow, but that was only to increase visibility and maneuverability, and especially to get a smoother ride; not because of any concern about damage to the tractor.

 

[rmorgan]

Bird hit the nail, Charlie. The loader makes a big mowing machine huge and clunky with a mid-mount, and turns a tractor with an RFM into a semi, and creams visibility; watch out, trees and houses!! As to hills, I mow some beasts--I finally checked our dam, and it averages about 33 degrees--up and down, but I never have the front of the tractor pointed up the hill; I back up and drive down. Years ago I heard about Doc Watson's son Merle getting killed by a tractor with frozen wheels rotating up and over the axle, a mishap which ROPS prevents, but I always have that image in my mind when I'm going forward up a steep hill--so I try not to do that, although I do have suitcase weights for the front of the tractor whch add some stability and security.

 

[KiotiJohn]

I have to agree with the others, the tractor is better off with the loader or front end weights when you have the heavy mower on the back. I keep my loader on all the time. John

 

[krazykioti]

Thanks for the info guys ! It is greatly appreciated. Safety is the #1 issue with me.

Thanks Again,
Charlie

 

[KiotiJohn]

Charlie, the safest way to do it is to keep the loader down at travel height, just a few inches off the ground to keep your center of gravity low. Of course, keep it high enough so that it doesn't hit things! John

 

[milkman]

KiotiJohn,

you forgot to add-- keep the loader bucket to the right of objects on the left, and keep it to the left of objects on the right.. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[EastTexFrank]

I mow the yard with the FEL off ... I learned that after one of the wife's pecan trees and a section of board fence bit the dust. When I mow the pasture with its steep slopes, the FEL goes on and I have been known to throw a couple of bags of sand or mulch into the bucket. I mow up and down the slopes in 4WD with the bucket low and I think it helps to have that extra weight sitting out there in front. Anyhow, I feel a lot more comfortable with it out there and that's what matters. A tilt meter also helps.

 

[rodneyn]

Spending the last 1200 hours bushogging the loader has saved my tail many times from either breaking the front axle on a stump or falling into a sizeable hole. Keep the loader on and at least 12 inches from the ground.