tiltmeters

[Mike H]

Received my pair of 7489C's yesterday. I've got a TD-33 - no canopy and no good places to mount on the hood/dash. I mounted them on the stationary vertical loader arm. (I've never removed my loader and don't have any plans to.) Visibility is not ideal but it works. Spent a half hour tonight just tooling around the property checking out slopes. Good news is my "gut feel nervous point" matched up pretty closely w/ 20 deg. Nice device.

 

[W5FL]

Wow!

Guess I will have to get a canopy so I will have a place to mount the tiltmeter. Seems like Rick has spruced up the dual 25 degree unit quite nicely. I like the color codes because you need a quick reference. I have had a rear tire sink in soft dirt in a ditch and just wondered whether the tractor was going to lay on it side or I could get it out. Turned out I got it out, but it was a 2WD tractor and it takes a lot more work than a 4WD tractor.

I never did get an answer from anyone on the largest numbers they had seen on a tilt meter while the tractor was still standing on all 4 tires and what kind of tractor it was.

Are little riding lawnmowers any good on slopes? At least you don't have very far to fall.

 

[Bird]

Wen, 18 degrees is the most I've seen on the tiltmeter on my B2710 (and I hope it's the most I ever see)./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif As far as I'm concerned, a meter that shows a maximum of 25 degrees would be more than adequate (of course I didn't know that when I bought mine).

Bird

 

[W5FL]

Thanks Bird, that is kinda what I had come up with independently. Just the way some people talked, thought they might have got into larger angles without turning them over.

I have a photo of an M6800 with 24 inch tires (instead of 30 inch) just to get the cg a little closer to the ground for mowing. I seriously considered it, but you also lose a considerable amount of traction, too. Guess the cost to back up and do that now would be kinda high, but that is what they put on the low profile Orchard tractors. If you ever see the Orchards in California, they are all on south facing hillsides (there is no flat ground). The problem is that they offset the wheels to make a narrower tractor and they undo most of the good things they did with the smaller tires.

 

[MarkV]

Rick,

Thank you for the information and sharing your expertise with all of us in the forum. You will be getting my order soon. If you spent time mowing for the highway dept. I am surprised you have only rolled a tractor twice. Watching the mowing crews around here, I know they have to be exceeding the 20 degree side slope and 30 degree up/down slope max. They go places I would not think of going. You have to admire their skill.

Hopefully some of the tractor company people look at the forums now and then. Who knows, it might sink in that many of us see items, like your meters, as a plus when we are shopping for a tractor. One of the reasons I bought the Kubota B21 was the 4 point ROPS with a heavy metal canopy. Never crossed my mind to think "this tractor has 4 post, it must roll over more". To me it was,"may cost a bit extra but sure looks safer". Hell, I've considered training wheels for the outriggers on my backhoe./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Now there is a thought. Hydraulic arms with heavy gauge wheels that would lower when a sensor indicated you were exceeding 20 degees on a side slope. Lets see, we have engineers, mechanics, marketing people, web site desginers, manufactures and MarkC, we could start the Tractorbynet product line. Of course we would offer products in any color you want./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I received an email request about posting an updated picture on our website of the model 25's new look - well, I'm workin' on it! In the mean time, I thought I'd post the pic here as well for you all to look at if you are interested.

If the image doesn't load on the message boards, then you can click HERE to see it.

Rick

 

[Anonymous Poster]

MarkV,
Like the product line idea. can i be the janitor in the
warehouse ??? Don't want any more exec. jobs. Thinking that
hard gives me a headache. Well guys, what do you think of
the new look of the #25D ??? Size has changed also. Made it
a little smaller. Now measures 5in. long X 2 in. high.
I am currently looking into other ways to mount without drilling
Don't hold breath though. Lots of irons in fire.
Still like to see more opinions about adding someones,
not necessarily mine at factory. Might write a book and
someday send it to all mfgs. Would like to thank all you
guys for the comments, help. etc. Next time you go out for
a steak dinner, act like it's on me. Rick

 

[MarkV]

Rick,

That steak sounds like a good idea. Are you going to post that credit card number?/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Bird]

Now if it had been available, and if I'd known what I was doing, I'd have bought the model 25 instead of what I got; too many "ifs" huh? But I'm not unhappy with the one I have./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bird

 

[Anonymous Poster]

MarkV,
Would post the c.c. number, however I think i should apply
for a new one at a NEW BANK first. Seems the teller at the
bank i use now is a little nuts. Every time i go to the bank
to use the card, she chases me with a pair of scissors !
I think they like me there though. They have my picture
hung in a couple places.
Rick