tiltmeters

[Rowski]

I believe that the meters should come on new tractors. Also good marketing could overcome the problem as mentioned before. Personally if manufacturer put on the meter I would not believe that the tractor is more likey to roll over. I think safety first. It's sad but the tractor companies (most other companies too)look at the bottom line ->profit. I agree with Gordon that they might have better luck in the begining selling them in an upgrade or package deal. I'm also wondering if the feds would or could step in to make the maufacturer install them like they did with the ROPS and seatbelts. Have you considered going to dealers and selling to them. Great stuff Rick. Keep up the good work!

Derek

 

[PaulB]

This is directed mostly at Rick, but anybody with a good idea please chime in. I like the 25 degree model, and I would have ordered one by now if I could think of a good place to put it. The size is the problem. My B1700 has a small dash, and there is nowhere I can affix a 6 1/2 inch long by 3 1/2 inch wide tiltmeter, unless I cover up my tach and fuel guage! The only one I can see that is substantilly smaller is the 10 degree model, and I really want to know where I am between 10 and 15 degrees. I have thought about mounting the larger model on the front grill guard, using a 90 degree bracket, but would that place it too far away to read easily? Rick, how about a 25 degree model in a 3 1/2 by 1 1/2 inch package?

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by PaulB on 8/20/00 10:04 AM.</FONT></P>

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Rowski, yes i already have a few dealers that sell them.
Some do very well, some do not. I do alot of advertising
and get alot of requests for info. Some buy some don't.
Not sure how to reach most without costing bundles. I had
one major o.e.m. (original equipment manufacturer that
asked me to contact every authorized dealer of theirs. Said
to tell them they needed indicators on EVERY one of a certain model. But don't tell them we said so. Even sent a
list of each dealer. Apparently some reason for request.
I sent info. to 200 of the 500 or so dealers. Did not sell
a single indicator. Sent to 20 more as test. Called 2 wks.
later and asked, "what if mfg. said to send info. Would you
buy then??? 9 said yes. Go figure. Called mfg. and told them.

STILL SAID DO NOT SAY WE REQUESTED INFO. BE SENT. RICK.

 

[PaulB]

Yes I feel they should be standard equipment, and in fact if I were tractor shopping and one manufacturer had a nice tiltmeter integrated into the dashboard I would lean toward (no pun intended) purchasing that brand over other brands BECAUSE of not DESPITE the meter.

 

[Rch]

To take the liability off the tractor manufacture and put it on the operater make a tiltmeter that records the tilt of the last 30 seconds or so and saves it if the tilt goes over 60 or 70 degrees (i.e. the tractor rolls over) thus verifying that the operator ignored the tiltmeter. It would have to be worked out on a time line with the tilt building up "slowly" compared to a final catastrophic roll over that would show alot of tilt fast above ,say, 25 degrees. In cardiology we have a portable outpatient device that constantly records on a EKG called a "King of Hearts". The device erases the EKG after 90 seconds unless the patient pushes an 'event' button that saves the last 90 seconds if palpitations or an abrupt change in the hearts rhythm is sensed by the patient. On a tractor I see an electronic device that records the tilt data on a chip much like on new answering machines and saves the last minutes of data if the tilt suddenly became extreme. Obviously this could be expanded to include RPMs,speed,what gear, PTO status, braking status-- a"flight recorder" for a tractor. I think getting too fancy would, however, would make it too expensive and complex and negatively affect reliability.

RCH

 

[Anonymous Poster]

PaulB, The model #23C is only other option at this time. It
reads 0 to 45 on small scale. not expanded scale as #7489C
so not as accurate and as easy to read. However some choose
it because of size. Yes it does go past scale you need, but
only option I have at this time. Will continue to invent
new models as finances allow. Please call me to discuss
further if you like. (816) 587-9814. Here from 7 to 7
7 days a week. Most days, especially weekends, you can
catch me here until 10 p.m. Welcome to call. Rick
P.S.to anyone interested, i have a conversion chart that
shows degrees vs. percent vs grade to 1. Will post if
requested.

 

[Keoke]

Rick, please post your "degrees to percent" conversion chart for us.
Thanks again for your help,
george, keoke

 

[PaulB]

Just sent in my order for the 23c. Hope I get my "code 57" special tractorbynet secret agent decoder ring $3 off /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Paul, your ring will ship tomorrow.Thank you!
Keoke. Chart follows.
%of slope.
1=0.5729 degrees.
2=1.1458
3=1.7184
4=2.2906
5=2.8624
6=3.4336
7=4.0042
8=4.5739
9=5.1428
10=5.7106
11=6.2773
12=6.8428
13=7.4069
14=7.9696
15=8.5307
16=9.0903
17=9.6480-------6 to 1 grade is 9.46 degrees
18=10.2039
19=10.7579
20=11.3099------5 to 1 grade is 11.31 degrees
21=11.8598
21=11.8598
22=12.4074
23=12.9527
24=13.4957
25=14.0362-------4 to 1 grade is 14.04 degrees
26=14.5742
27=15.1095
28=15.6422
29=16.1721
30=16.6992
31=17.2234
32=17.7446
33=18.2628-------3 to 1 grade is 18.43 degrees
34=18.7780
35=19.2900
36=19.7988
37=20.3044
38=20.8067
39=21.3057
40=21.8014
41=22.2936
42=22.7824
43=23.2677
44=23.7494
45=24.2277
46=24.7024
47=25.1735
48=25.6409
49=26.1048
50=26.5650-------2 to 1 grade is 26.57 degrees
100=45.00 degrees and is a 1 to 1 grade.
for the gentleman that called by phone. you did not leave
your name, but since you mentioned tractorbynet i will post
here. simply put, a 3 to 1 grade is; take a three ft. long
board, raise one end one ft. 4 to 1= four ft. board, raise one
end one ft. etc. most indicators are in degrees because as
you can see from chart, to use percent and still space
the numbers far enough apart would take about a 2 ft. wide
indicator. Talk about hard to mount!!!!! Hope all my
jibberish helps. or at least amuses. Rick

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Keoke, and all you guys. I WAS WRONG IN MY LAST POST.
All numbers are correct, however the explanation of grade
to one is incorrect. SORRY. I will try to explain it right
this time. The 3 foot board is laying flat.The one ft. board stands vertical at one end of the three ft. board.
Now the board you lay on top is 3.16 ft. long. This is a
3 to 1 grade. Sorry for the confusion. All conversion
numbers are correct. Explanation of how to arrive at 3 to 1
grade was not. Thanks to a very sharp friend, I have been
set straight. THANKS JACK !!!!!. RICK.
Hope i haven't confused anyone. If anyone can explain it
more clearly, Please do so. Similarly, a 1 to 1 is; one ft.
board laying horizontal with a 1 ft. board vertical at end.
Board laid on top is 1.4 ft. long. or 45 degrees.