Rollover demo at Penn State Ag Days

Gamma · Apr 3, 2007

So how do those tractors that are used to cut grass along the highways keep from rolling over?

I've seen some of them at absolutley incredible angles.

indianaEPH · Apr 3, 2007

Excellent link! After viewing the side roll over I decided that I need a tilt angle meter. I probably don't exceed 10deg though.

mchasal · Apr 3, 2007

Gamma said:
So how do those tractors that are used to cut grass along the highways keep from rolling over?

I've seen some of them at absolutley incredible angles.

A lot of them have REALLY wide set tires and often multiple sets. That and a lot of weight down low keeps them stable.

TSM Class
SuperSlopeMaster: Commercial Steep Slope Mowers

Then there's this little radio control bugger:

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Renze · Apr 4, 2007

I've been on slopes so steep that the oil pressure indicator warns for low oil pressure... That was reversing up against the dirt pile.

On side slopes i know pretty good where the point of balance of my own tractors is. On tractors of a contractor i worked in school holidays, i am a lot more cautious and the guys that work with this tractor every day take over and look at you with a smile that says "what's the point?"
Well, if i was on my own tractor, o.k. no big deal but as long as i dont have a grasp of the limits of this particular tractor... im glad to let somebody else take over....

Renze · Apr 4, 2007

Hmm i remember seeing pictures of the early days of ROPS in the Netherlands... probably the 50's, way before my time. The national agricultural research institute equipped a Ford Dexta with a rollover frame, built in such manner that when the tractor would roll over backwards, it would roll back up over the side as soon as the tractor was upside down.

The tractor was chained to a big pole in the middle, and was driving in a small fenced arena. The tractor was pulling itself over, tumbling back up and driving in the opposed direction to the other end of the small arena, rolling back, all day long. They fueled the tractor up to keep pulling and rolling for the duration of the field demo day and waited untill it ran out of fuel in the evening....