Mowing Roll over question....

[morthog1957]

I have a 2009 4320 cab and FEL. I also pull a 6 ft bushhog. What degree hillside can I safely cut without the danger of rollover? I sure wish my tractor had a "tilt meter"....

 

[ChuckinNH]

If you are worried about it, you probably shouldn't go there. It has taken me a number of years to get comfortable with where I can, and can't go, and I think it is unwise to make suggestions to others based on some specific angle. Soil conditions, bumps, holes, and all that sort of thing make a huge difference. Drop that lower wheel in a hole, and even a safe slope becomes dangerous, soft spot, same thing, bump on the high side, not good!

 

[CurlyDave]

I sure wish my tractor had a "tilt meter"....

The first thing I did when I got my tractor was to buy one of the R&B tilt meters, which are advertised right on this site, in the "Store" section. It is the best $35 I have spent in a long time.

Don't leave home without it.

 

[RoyJackson]

I had an R&B Tiltmeter on my first tractor and it was a big help. Slopes that felt intimidating turned out to be well under 15°.
You'll find out that your tractor is more capable across slopes then you are. If those big rear tires are filled, that adds a lot of inertia which reduces the rollover potential.
However, filled tires and a tiltmeter are no substitute for common sense...never forget that!!!
So, I suggest you get a tiltmeter and install it. It'll help give you confidence operating across slopes that feel steep, but really aren't and it'll keep you off the slopes that are dangerous.
When it comes to wet grass, stay off slopes. Wet grass is slicker then greased owlsh_t. A tiltmeter won't help you there.
Good luck and be safe!!!!

 

[BruceWard]

You can see the R&B Tiltmeters at Welcome To The R&B Manufacturing, Inc.

I am thinking about one for my B21. Might be nice to have two and install one for front to back on the FOPS as well as a side to side.

Lots of other options can be found if you search Ebay for Clinometer.

A 12" or shorter digital level with magnets would be dual purpose and easily calibrated.

 

[techwrtr2]

Seat belt. Wear your seat belt. I don't care how confident (or not) you are on your machine and the terrain... if you have a ROPS of any kind, wear the seat belt. There might be surface features you aren't aware of that can be bad news. Had a roll a few years ago (a flop really) in a crawler. I wasn't belted in and it was NOT a fun experience. No injuries other than to my pride but oh boy...

 

[ChuckinNH]

That photo illustrates very clearly what I was saying about hazards in otherwise safe areas. I'm not sure a tilt meter would have told techwrtr2 anything in time to help. I sure am glad that techwrtr2 came out of it OK though!

 

[eepete]

If you want a tilt meter and have an iPhone, there's an app for that.

Pete

 

[roadhawk]

Pete -I just looked and didn't find any that were free. Is the one you're talking about a money one or do you know a free one?

 

[eepete]

Search for the "stanley bostitch level". It's an app that looks like a bubble level, so it can be used for tilt. It's free.

Other fun tractor relate ones: "Decibel Meter" to see how loud it is in the cab, and "Ruler", "Flashlight", "Unit Converter Pro", "MotiontX GPS Lite" (for ground speed, GPS co-ordinates). You're local TV station may have an app for radar, if not there's "The Weather Channel" app.

Pete

 

[roadhawk]

Found it- thanks.

 

[CurlyDave]

I have the "Clinometer - level and slope finder" from Peter Breitling, and it cost 99 cents.

It is frequently updated and is very effective.

Might not be free, but it is darned close and well worth it.

I have used it for all sorts of things besides finding level. Want to estimate the height of a tree? Hold your iPhone against a rest of some sort and sight the top of the tree along the edge. Read the slope and do a little trig on the built in calculator -- there it is.

When I needed to determine the % grade of a hill, I used a board to even out the small bumps and valleys and got an instant estimate in degrees. The tangent of that angle is the grade. Saved hundreds in engineer fees.

 

[eepete]

:thumbsup: for the Clinometer! It's work a buck to get the larger number display.

Odd how you'll drop $5-10 on some hunk of metal for your tractor, but agonize over a buck for an app for the iPhone (or maybee that's just me... )

Thanks for the tip CurlyDave :thumbsup:

Pete

 

[killdozerd11]

Just have to use that bubble in your butt

In 40 years ive come close but have only turned over two rigs
a 637 scraper that blew a tire on a mountain job

a 966 loader when the foreman kept wanting me to come closer to the ditch we were putting gravel in ...i shook my head no and shifted to reverse the the side of the ditch caved...seat belts are your friend

I have people that will never get on a dozer with me ever again...pussys :laughing:

 

[techwrtr2]

There is nothing like working with a dozer.

 

[roadhawk]

Which of the magnetic or adhesive ones have you all used and like?

I really like the one that goes to 100% on both sides :laughing:. I guess if you're going to flip over and keep rolling down the hill that one might come in handy!

Using my IPod and the free version, I found that I was on slopes about what I was figuring (about 10 degrees or so) , until I checked when I was on other stuff like holes, prior ruts, and in particular, close to a tree (pine) and the slope increased as I went over the build-up next to it. I got to 15 degrees in no time, and some were at 18-20 when I got off and started checking the next trees. I had a FEL and a brush-hog on, and weighted tires. And I was going SLOW. I continued to cut but stayed away from the big humps next to trees, and tried to get my angle so that I was going up/down as much as I could.

Pucker factor is definitely a learning experience, and gets better with practice. The downside is like many other things; learning how much is too much is sometimes not a good thing, but until then you don't know what how much is.

Chicken and egg sort of thing. :confused2:

 

[RoyJackson]

Pucker factor is definitely a learning experience, and gets better with practice. The downside is like many other things; learning how much is too much is sometimes not a good thing, but until then you don't know what how much is.

Chicken and egg sort of thing. :confused2:

Yep, it is. The tiltmeter (either R&B's or the cell phone apps) can tell you what the slope is...but not if your tractor is capable of handling it. That's when the operator has to use judgement.

 

[eepete]

I know where I'm comfortable, nervous, and "no way". I'm just curious to find out what the angle is, and the tilt-meter (cell phone in my case) just lets me put a number on that. Having tipped over once, I'm probably too careful which is probably just about right. Every tractor is different, every terrain is different, no way that can be condensed to a single number. Also coming up to speed on seat of the pants judgement on a JD 4520 with cab, and at this stage of "seat training" the number is part of the process.

I have no intent of looking at the tilt-meter when actually operating, that has to be seat of the pants judgement, as many correctly point out.

Now the apps that's _really_ needed on the iPhone is the one that calls the house for help when the tilt indicates you've rolled over.

Pete

 

[n8wrl]

As eepete says, it is hard for me to look at a tiltmeter while operating. I find I get a serious case of the willies and it's time to get off the slope. For several around my property I back down and drive up.

And wet grass? Fugettaboutit

 

[ChuckinNH]

I'm kind of curious how the tiltmeters work without driving on the slope? Seems to me that a gadget you could hold in your hand, or mount on a stick might be easier. I guess when things do go bad, the last thing you look at is the tiltmeter so you know where that point is the next time? I still don't understand how they help if you hit soft soil. a rock you didn't see, etc. I have very few slopes that are constant from one end to the other anyway, and others that the town snow plows "modify" every year.