Tipping over

B7500 · Jul 26, 2002

Has anyone ever actually tipped over his tractor? I almost did this last weekend and it scared me to death. At least the machine "felt" like it could go over while working on a sloping grade. How unstable are they?-Terry

rocky2 · Jul 26, 2002

They're as stable as the ground or slope you're on. It's a judgement call. I've seen some old guy I knew run his old 8N with wobbly worn out king pins on slopes I wouldn't (couldn't)walk on. There's a lot of info on this site for tiltmeters, a good product that gives you an idea as to what degree you're actually running. They won't stop a tip, but they'll let ya when your at a questionable angle. And, to your question, yes. I flopped my old B2100 over on its side once.

Boondox · Jul 26, 2002

Tawoo -- On my old B1750 I once got the FEL bucket caught under a stump hidden in brush and the whole right side came off the ground! After changing my shorts, I made it a point to practice emergency procedures like dropping the FEL in a hurry just in case I ever needed to. My L3010 is much more stable with all that extra mass, but with all the slope work I do it was necessary to put the wheels at the widest setting and to load them. Made a world of difference!

Pete

B7500 · Jul 26, 2002

Good tip (move the wheels at the widest setting and to load load them) I'll give that a try. Is it hard to do or something I should let the dealer mess with?

RoyJackson · Jul 26, 2002

"At least the machine "felt" like it could go over while working on a sloping grade."

Do you know if any of the wheels actually left the ground? Just curious...

I've thought about parking my 670 on a side slope, getting off (uphill side) and giving the ROPS a good shake to see what would happen, if anything.

Personally, I'm pretty uncomfortable at 10°-12° although the tractor has never given any indication of rolling on me.

mdbarb · Jul 26, 2002

When I was first shopping for a tractor, a dealer loaned one to me for the weekend. I had zero experience. I was dumpng soil down a bank creating a flat spot. As I was moving towards the new edge of bank with the loader up high (!!!) I remember thinking "maybe I should lower that". With the weight, the front tires sunk in + high center of gravity= well the the next the I remember is laying on the ground about twenty feet away (no seatbelt!) looking uphill at a new tractor laying on its side. Called the tow company to stand it up. Had to drain the carburator but it didn't have a scratch on it. I'm fine except of course the big bump on my head, the strange voices and pretty light I see all the time.
I truly understand that I used up one of my lives that day. working around here (northern California) everything is on hills so I am one cautious operator. Slow and low is the way to go.

Boondox · Jul 26, 2002

A B7500 is fairly small, so if I had the proper equipment I might tackle it myself provided I didn't have to change the dishing of the wheel and rim. Others might disagree with that. Filling is time consuming but not that difficult. But definitely change your wheel settings before loading them!!!

Pete

Boondox · Jul 26, 2002

Roy -- I actually did something similar when I had the smaller tractor and a large truck. Parked the 1750 sideways to the slope, parked the truck above it. Ran a comealong between the two vehicles and gently tried to tip the tractor. Without loaded tires it started to go at 22 degrees.

Wouldn't try that with Clementine because (a) she's a lot heavier than the original tractor, (b) I no longer have a gnarly truck to chain her to, (c) I like my tractor a lot, and (d) I'm an idiot if I push it like that.

Pete

B7500 · Jul 26, 2002

What an incredible story. You are extremely lucky you did not hurt yourself more. I may invest in one of those level indicators others mentioned in earlier posts.
Thanks for your input. -Terry