Scary experience on my B7100

bobm39 · Aug 1, 2008

Last evening I was mowing with my B7100 HST. A lot of my property is sloped probably about 20 % could be more. I am always careful and not push the tractor to places that I feel could be dangerous. Most all mowing is done in 4WD and low gear. Last evening I was playing around with the 4WD vs 2WD and low & high gear when mowing across the slope. I made a turn that put me front end down the slope, this is when it got scary. I lost control of the tractor as it started to run down the hill. I'm headed for a boulder, we have several to mow around along with trees. I was able to steer around that but was concerned with rolling over. With the brakes on the rear tires locked and they just slid, it was like being on ice. I have mowed this area with this same tractor for 10 years without incident.

After calming down I went back to an area with the same slope but no boulders or trees and tried to repeat this. I found that when in 4WD there is no problem as the front wheels when in gear act as a brake. Tried again in 2WD and I was off to the races again. I am also sure that using low vs high will also give more brake effect.

Just wanted to pass this experience on.

llenrocs · Aug 1, 2008

I had a similar experience years ago with a B6200 HST 4WD. I was mowing downhill near the banks of our pond. The tractor slipped out of gear and quickly accelerated downhill towards the pond. Slamming on the brakes did nothing (turf tires) so straight into the pond I went. We pulled the tractor back out, cleaned out the air cleaner & it started right up (thankfully).

The problem with going downhill is that amount of weight carried by the rear tires is less, and therefore the amount of traction available at the rear tires is reduced.

My experience was scary enough.... I'm sure heading for a large boulder was much worse.

Sean

KeithInSpace · Aug 1, 2008

That is NO fun. I hate to say that it has happend to me 3 or 4 times since I bought my tractor. It even happened to my once on my old POS Monkey Wards LT (towing 400# of SacCrete down a 3:1 slope). Usually it only happens when doing un-intelligent things...after the experience, I clean my pants and say to myself, "Well, dummy, what did you expect???"

What is REALLY scary is when this happens when you think you're doing something 'normal'.

Fortunate you didn't bend your machine. Glad to hear you got out of it OK.

FrogLick · Aug 1, 2008

I noticed that you said you were mowing ACROSS the slope. I was under the impression that mowing up & down slopes was always the safest way to prevent roll over on slopes of any significant grade. I have a very steep slope I have to mow and always mow downhill in 4WD, low range, seat belt on, and don't try to get in a hurry. So far I've had no problem but it always makes me nervous.

FullBucket · Aug 1, 2008

Glad to hear you and your tractor made it downhill unharmed.

Thanks for sharing your tip. While I don't have major slopes, I have most of my landscaping still to do. Uneven dips around ditches and swales have made me nervous several times. I try to go slow when I'm on a side slope fearing the result of too quick a rise or fall on one side. Up until this week I had always used four wheel drive. I liked the traction doing FEL work and had just left it that way. Got the idea that it really wasn't necessary for mowing and popped it back to two wheel. I still have significant amounts of bucket work to do on and around slopes and will keep your advise in mind (I hope). Hate to ruin a perfectly good pair of underwear

sunnyside360 · Aug 1, 2008

Having a lot of steep hills on this old farm I've learned years ago the "does" and "don'ts". All my tractors have liquid ballast in rear the tires and I use 4WD in low range mowing only up and down these hills. In fact, on the very steepest of hills where the front wheels come off the ground going up, I only back up and then mow down the hill -- never turn. I found this to be the safest for the steep hills. On a few occasions I've had some very close calls until I got the above described technique down. Just my 2 cents.

Sherweld · Aug 1, 2008

The really great thing about being old and having a good deal of experience is; if you ever ask yourself, "should I really be doing it this way", you probably shouldn't.

dougtrr2 · Aug 1, 2008

Similar experience with my BX24. Had the FEL full of heavy oak pieces and went down a slight slope in 2WD on the High side. Never again. Always stop at the top of the slope and switch to 4WD and Lo side. I am tranporting my firewood from where I cut it to where I stack it and the majority of it is level so I run the 2WD and HI side.

Take Care
Doug in SW IA

NuBota · Aug 1, 2008

All my hills are 15 - 25 degrees - I have not had my BX out of 4WD low since I've had it. And as others have said - back up the steep ones and go straight down. And I am positive the filled tires have saved me countless times.

Bobm39 - appreciate the info - you tested what I always took for granted - heck it took me two weeks after buying the tractor to get the stones to even attempt the hills. I am glad you and the tractor came away unscathed.

megaboz · Aug 1, 2008

bobm39 said:
....

After calming down I went back to an area with the same slope but no boulders or trees and tried to repeat this. I found that when in 4WD there is no problem as the front wheels when in gear act as a brake. Tried again in 2WD and I was off to the races again. I am also sure that using low vs high will also give more brake effect.

Just wanted to pass this experience on.

I can't believe you went and tried it again on purpose?

The second day that I had my BX I had it out of 4wd, I shot down about a 5 foot hill completely out of control. If I am on grass/dirt, it stays in 4wd.

I did have a similar experience on a 4-wheeler with a pull behind mower. I slid about 100 yards down the hill. With the forest coming at me and trying to pump the breaks and thinking that if I did make it through the trees, the
30' drop off was going to do me in. I decided at the last minute to try to turn it sideways so I could jump off on the up-hill side. Before I could jump off the whole contraption did a 180. I grabbed all the brakes and prayed. It stopped. After my hands relaxed on the brakes, I went up the hill and parked it for the day.