S20 Safety

[DCNMVA]

Hey Friends. I have an S20 with a finish mower and a front-end loader. I have very hilly ground and several times I've nearly tipped the machine over. The back end raises off the ground and then twists sideways when mowing. Scary. Has anyone else experienced this? Is it something that can be fixed or is it just the nature of the beast? I do have the ballast box installed and weighted.

I felt like it was only a matter of time before I got hurt so I quit using it last year and bought different mower.

Dean

 

[Chris616]

I don't know what an "S20" is, so I'll ask if you intended to post this in the Ventrac forum. You're referring to an ancient Steiner S-20, maybe?

 

[DCNMVA]

Yes, and ancient (antique) Steiner S20. Is there a separate forum for Steiner?

 

[MountainBuck]

I can't image the Steiner tipping up like that.

Does that unit have a weight transfer lever? On the Ventrac, the weight transfer will put some of the weight of the mower onto the front axle.

Are you mowing with the deck in the "float" position? That is a must on a hill.

 

[DCNMVA]

Your question is making me think. Is there even a float position on this machine? I don't remember. I had to go look. There is. Did I mow in float? I don't think I did. It's been over a year since I mowed with it so my memory is foggy. Now that I think about it, I don't think it tipped up when I was mowing, but only when I was done and traveling back to the barn with the deck raised. So, as far as the mowing deck is concerned, tipping problem solved. The FEL, that's a different problem, since it will lift way more weight than the ballast can offset. So, now than the tipping problem is solved, I feel comfortable selling it. Thank you.