Need advice on mowing a slope.

[LD1]

STEEP hills are dangerous. That said, everyones opinion of steep is different.

How about some pics at least. And if you could, hold a level in front of the camera so we know the camera isnt tilted.


I just mowed a steep pond bank the other day. ~50ft to the top.

Personally, I like leaving the loader ON, and going forward up the hill, and then backing down for the next path. But that is just how I do it. If you do decide to use reverse and back up the hill, I would take the FEL off.

 

[jinman]

He probably doesn't know it, but edrobyn has broken TBN rules and posted the same thing in two separate forums. As a result, it's confusing and exactly what the TBN rule is trying to prevent. To help clarify this, I'll post a copy of the photo he posted to the other thread here. The hill in question is the one on the other side of the truck.

edrobyn's hill is below:

 

[JoeL4330]

Re: Need advice on mowing a slope

Well, of course! The OP said his brakes wouldn't hold on the slope.



If your brakes are locked, you have no steering.

I would think that would be true if you had front-wheel brakes, which most tractors don't. ...no?

 

[JoeL4330]

Re: Need advice on mowing a slope

Gary, if you have a 4WD tractor with 4WD engaged and the back wheels are locked, at least one of the front wheels will also be locked. ... but would still recommend backing up the first time he mows it.

if the rears are locked (because of brakes applied) on my tractor in 4wd the fronts are unaffected ...the fronts still have engine braking (if engine is running and tractor is in gear) which is why 4wd is a life-saver on steep slopes when the rears are "unweighted".

as for backing up the first time in 2wd, I suppose if it is steep enough to unweight the rears then he will have no traction and won't ascend ...if he can (then) back up in 4wd he would know that engine braking can control his downhill speed, I suppose ...and, if he can't back up at all 2wd or 4wd, it's time for a new plan.

 

[edrobyn]

That's why I was trying to let this thread die because I had posted it here then realized it would be a better fit at the General Operating /Owning section.

Sorry TBN.

 

[North Country]

Re: Need advice on mowing a slope

I have not seen anywhere in this post where the OP said his brakes wouldnt hold on this slope in fact he hasnt even had his tractor on the slope.

He said "I already have figured that once I start down the hill there will be no stopping with the brakes as they will probably lock up which will cause it to slide"

With regards to being unable to steer if your wheels are sliding, who in the tractor world has brakes on the front wheels. I dont know about you, but I steer with the front wheels, not the rear. If the rear wheels are locked up, you can still steer your tractor with the steering wheel like you normally do.

I don't have brakes on the front, but when I'm in 4WD my front transaxle is locked to the rear - so if I lock the rear wheels, the front wheels lock. Better braking, but no steering. I now understand your statement - every now and then I have a brain fart and end up going down my steepest section in 2WD. Unless it's a dry August, if I touch the brakes my rears lock and I steer to the bottom. It's annoying for two reasons - one, I just dragged two new ruts, and two, I don't stop until the bottom but I want to be up at the top. If I'm in 4WD on that slope I can stop at any point even after a rain.

From the photo we finally got, I dont see anything there that couldnt be mowed sideslope if you wanted, unless the photo is deceiving. I would still mow up and down however just because it is more comfortable in the seat.

Agreed. Photos can be deceiving but I'd be surprised if brakes locked and dragged on that slope.

 

[jinman]

Look at the block with your user name in it. At the bottom is a red triangle with an exclamation point in it. Click on that and you can leave a message for the moderators to move this thread and combine it with the other one.

You're not the first to do this nor the last. As a punishment, you have to pay twice the fee on your next month's membership.:laughing:

 

[edrobyn]

Thanks Jinman. I just did it. And yes I'll gladly pay the fine!!

 

[Bird]

Thanks Jinman. I just did it. And yes I'll gladly pay the fine!!

OK, we'll waive the fine, just this once.

 

[new jersey mike]

I'm new to all of this and the majority of the work I started last October was what I call extreme brush hogging. 20 acres of heavily over grown and at times steep areas. The one thing I would say is walk the slope first. Then go slow, set the mower high, even if you have to go back and mow a second time.

I use my FEL and bucket too push the hay, weeds and for me mostly small trees down. Your hill looks much less intense but you need to be comfortable.

I have a NH t1530 with a bush hog sq172 (6ft). If there is a tree or bush and the trunk or combined trunks are to large mow around it, then cut it out with a chain saw and then mow what you missed.

The golden rod has most likely gone to seed so just make sure you do not over heat the tractor, the grill and internal screen will clog quickly so keep an eye on the temp gauge.