Steep Slope Mowing Questions/Thoughts?

[Smokeydog]

There are level/tilt apps for phones. Have cheap electronic digital angle gauge for the break press.

Tire air pressure checked.

Unfortunately have rolled three tractors in fifty years. Shameful. Growing up lost neighbors and friends to tractor related accidents. Two without ROPS. Didn’t get hurt and surprised the tractors suffered little damage. Like most accidents the cause was a combination of several things instead one big thing.

Prefer R1 tires for steep work. Have one steep slope I could come down, stop and backup with R1 tires that can’t go up with with R4. Learning to accept the R4 tires limitations on the current tractors. That slope is growing up now. Ground hogs like the steep stuff too.

 

[MHarryE]

35° engine max operating angle any direction. Going uphill half the time, downhill other half, should not be causing a problem assuming you are not lugging. Since Kubota doesn’t utilize a hydraulic oil temp monitoring system, I keep an I-R thermometer with me and check if I am concerned. Really like to see hydro components under 200° continuous but some can go higher. Steering cooler.

 

[dragoneggs]

If it is truly 3 to 1 slope (about 20deg) I see no real issues. But the sounds of it, maybe it is more? I mow up and down slopes steeper than that. Obviously you need to go slow especially if their are hole and mole hills. This would command a premium because of the added time. As mentioned. Mow dry, up and down and hopefully you can pivot on flatter ground but other than that. Make them happy and earn some money. Win/win. Oh and ROPS up and seat belt on for any slope or FEL work... ALWAYS in my book unless going into my garage.

 

[Smokeydog]

35° engine max operating angle any direction. Going uphill half the time, downhill other half, should not be causing a problem assuming you are not lugging. Since Kubota doesn’t utilize a hydraulic oil temp monitoring system, I keep an I-R thermometer with me and check if I am concerned. Really like to see hydro components under 200° continuous but some can go higher. Steering cooler.

Interesting and useful spec on the operating angle. Don’t know if I have seen that before. Same for transmission I suspect?

One of the future projects is to measure hydraulic oil temperature at the oil cooler when operating under hard use conditions like bush hogging. Bought two thermocouples long enough to reach from oil cooler to dash on the M59. Like to see inlet and outlet temperatures in real time. Got to figure out how to secure the Fluke dual input instrument. Good topic for new thread on hydraulic oil temperature measuring.

 

[rScotty]

Interesting and useful spec on the operating angle. Don’t know if I have seen that before. Same for transmission I suspect?

One of the future projects is to measure hydraulic oil temperature at the oil cooler when operating under hard use conditions like bush hogging. Bought two thermocouples long enough to reach from oil cooler to dash on the M59. Like to see inlet and outlet temperatures in real time. Got to figure out how to secure the Fluke dual input instrument. Good topic for new thread on hydraulic oil temperature measuring.

I hope you write up the hydraulic oil temperature measuring and also what you find when doing jobs. Might as well add gauges for front-to-back and side-to-side tilt while you are doing it. I'd like to put the same on our M59.

If anyone has the an engine & transmission diagram either to scale or with measurements we could figure out where the limits are.
That basic engine block used in our M59s has been used by Kubota for a lot of tractors for decades. We ought to be able to find the slope limits somewhere.

Going up and down hills can have weird effects on cooling. Going downhill the radiators are lower than the rest of the tractor, so a lot depends on whether the fluid is statified by density (hot fluid is generally less dense and floats on the cooler fluid), where the fluid pump is picking up the hot fluid, and all the rest of the things that determine how the fluid is getting pumped through the radiator.

Remember: "You have to rise before you run", makes it rise over run. I've never heard of slope described the other way around. I suggest that if slope is used the other way around conversationally, it is probably a very local usage - but difficult to change.

rScotty

 

[JWR]

Good info Crashz. Those R4 tires are not the right tool for that job. I realize what you got is what you got. R1 AG tires are much better getting up and down steeper slopes and much less likely to get you into an inadvertent slide. The liquid in the tires helps traction but does very little for roll resistance. Ground hog holes are a menace, esp if you hit one on the lower side while mowing across. Evening going straight up/down a gnd hog hole is usually not just the hole but also a dirt pile beside it and can severely destabilize the tractor contact with the ground. Ever been to the PA Ag Progress Days up near State College? They used to do a neat demo with a remote controlled tractor and a dummy in the seat on about a 40% slope. They purposely go back and forth with everything OK and then hit a hole on the downhill side which turns the tractor over into a roll. Very informative demo!

 

[crashz]

We took a ride on Friday night to the customers place. See photos. To me (and my wife, she freaked out about it), it was very steep. But the pictures make it look kind of tame. The second is the ridge I spoke of. I have a theodolite app on my phone, but didn't want to attract any attention from the neighbors, so I just quickly took these from the car. The next time I do this field I'll put the angel finder on and get accurate measurements.

Maybe I'm just being a wimp about it. i know the tractor seems to struggle with it. I bet (but didn't try) that it would not climb the slope in Medium range.

 

[crashz]

BTW - good info on the slopes that tractors typically can handle. I'm feeling more comfortable about the average of the slope and what the tractor can handle (though I may change the transmission fluid early this year).

I will be mowing the neighbors property on Saturday (weather dependent), which is a little less steep, but longer runs. I'll bring a temp gun and take some temps while I'm out there. Also get some angle measurements.

Scotty - you are completely correct about the slang of terms that are used locally or among groups. This is probably one of millions.

 

[crashz]

JWR - sounds like a great demonstration. I might never mow slopes anymore though! I'd like to check that AG show out.

 

[rScotty]

We took a ride on Friday night to the customers place. See photos. To me (and my wife, she freaked out about it), it was very steep. But the pictures make it look kind of tame. The second is the ridge I spoke of. I have a theodolite app on my phone, but didn't want to attract any attention from the neighbors, so I just quickly took these from the car. The next time I do this field I'll put the angel finder on and get accurate measurements.

Maybe I'm just being a wimp about it. i know the tractor seems to struggle with it. I bet (but didn't try) that it would not climb the slope in Medium range.

I would call that a very scary slope. Doubt if I would do it myself. Luckily I don't have any that steep that need tractoring. That's where I would call in someone with specialized equipment. Too much pucker factor & not enough safety factor.
rScotty