New Kubota MX5400HST, Steep Hill, Rotary Cutter. Safety and stall/power questions.

[Bullwinkle123]

If it bogged down in low range,something is definitely wrong,not operator error.Is the fuel level low?

No, has a full tank of gas, No water in the float thing.

 

[ptsg]

No, has a full tank of gas, No water in the float thing.

You meant full of Diesel and not Gas, right? Just making sure. We've seen that before.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

You meant full of Diesel and not Gas, right? Just making sure. We've seen that before.

Lol, yeah, diesel. Straight from the dealer. Assuming they got it right ;-)

 

[rbtjr]

We have a MX5800 HST and have never had a problem going up even pretty steep hills with the brush hog operating. In fact, I don't remember noticing any significant difference in how the tractor pulls going uphill or not. I run the MX5800 HST in the medium range almost all the time.

 

[Thomas]

What the tractor running for RPM's?
How steep long is the incline?
Dirt hard or soft/loose?

 

[Bullwinkle123]

What the tractor running for RPM's?
How steep long is the incline?
Dirt hard or soft/loose?

I had the RPMs at the marker for peak PTO operation, so ~2500 or so. The engine RPMs didn't hiccup, they were fine. I even increased it further, to ~3000.

The incline when I stopped moving was very steep, I don't know the angle, only that my inexperienced pucker factor was high, and perhaps I leaned forward far enough to cause the seat sensor to take action. (Not sure what that does, just stop movement? Or stop the engine - which clearly didn't happen).

However the other incline where I was moving wood is not terribly steep. It's enough that I can hear the wheel on the raised rotary cutter touch the dirt when I am transitioning from slope to flat, but otherwise not huge. The tractor went, even in medium, it's just that I was surprised that it seemed to be laboring to do so.

Ground was grassy vegetation and small sapling bases from prior cuts.

 

[ericm979]

A tractor that size weighs as much as a full size pickup but has a fraction of the power. And you're using some of it to run the cutter. And you had a load in the bucket. So first you need to recalibrate your expectations. Its going to be slow up hills. Second you need to make sure you're applying less HST pedal. Yes you say you know that but I do to and I still have to remind myself when I'm driving up steep hills. It's so ingrained to want moar throttle.

You should hear the HST whining more when you're pushing it hard. And the engine rpms will drag down. Some of that is ok but when it's too much you just have to back off the pedal and be patient. That said, unless your overall gearing is high, you should be able to climb anything you're willing to go up in low range if you have the traction. Keep in mind that it's possible to flip over backwards and the 3pt implement won't prevent that.

Some seat safety switches are pretty touchy. That might be why you stopped. Try to replicate that in a safe place to see what happens when you trip the safety switch.. it might be useful to know. Kubota has excellent manuals, they may explain it there.

If you're on a slope that has you puckering up you should be in 4wd. There are no brakes on the front wheels. Going down hill the rears get light and don't provide much braking force. In 4wd the front axle is locked to the rear so the rear brakes slow both axles. I discovered that one day driving my old tractor down my steep paved driveway when it was wet. The rear tires just slid when I hit the brakes. Fortunately the road levels out a little and I was able to stop before going off the end of the road and into the trees.

I use my box blade as counterweight.

 

[Grandad4]

Something definitely wrong, apparently with the hydraulic side of things. You should have way more than ample power to spin the wheels any where besides maybe dry pavement. One thing to check : the 3 point lift control limits can be misadjusted so it continues applying pressure even at the top of its travel. That overloads the hydraulics and may affect the HST also.

 

[skipperbrown]

This has nothing to do with your problem, but be very careful about lifting heavy implements on your 3 pt when going up a steep hill. Many, many farmers have died, especially before the advent of ROPS, when their tractor's balance shifted from front to back on a steep incline and the tractor, with a heavy implement lifted, flipped on them. It will happen so fast you have no time to react. And your ROPS is of very little help if you don't use your seatbelt. I always drag a brush cutter or disk harrow (set straight) on a steep incline.

 

[ericm979]

The PTO chipper is the heaviest implement I have. When I drive up a steep road with it I back up with the loader down low just above the ground. The 3pt hitch can pivot upwards- the cylinders only push up, they don't hold it down. So if you flip over backwards the tractor will just flip back onto the implement. Yes the 3pt has a travel stop but it's a ways.

When I was a teen I met a man who was a paraplegic due to a tractor rollover. I ought to remember that more often than I do.