Tire question w/ a new \"slant\"
I mowed our acreage this weekend for the first time with my B2910 using a brush cutter on the 3ph and my mid mount mower attached (but not in use) b/c the grass-weeds were waist high in places and I had some brush to cut. I also left the FEL on. I have a R&B tiltmeter and discovered that I have some pretty significant slopes to deal with (10 - 15 degrees and sometimes 18 ish). I have already fealt "tippy" on the tractor over the winter and spring, but this was the test on our own property where 90% of our use will be.
It was worse than I expected. Sometimes I was grabbing for the handles (and of course had my belt on). I was pretty nervous and may be disappointed with my tractor choice. Last fall I borrowed an equivalent 4wd JD 955 with turf tires also (no FEL) and cut the same slopes using a MMM. That was one of the first times I'd been on a tractor and didn't feel nearly as "tippy" as I did this weekend after 50+ hours on my Kubota.
I asked the dealer's mechanic about it a few mo.s ago at the 50 hour service and he thought my turf tires were the problem or at a least contributing factor. He thought the turfs are taller and raise the center of gravity AND are "rolly" with rolled/round edges and possibly less compliant sidewalls.
I've been studying the Ag / r-4 / turf / michelin discussions about traction and scuffing, but don't see anything about slope safety. One mention said that turf tires give a wider stance than Ag's so they "should be" safer on slopes, but that wasn't my experience. I had a lot of weight close to the ground, but didn't feel as safe as the 955 w/ only the MMM.
I can do this mowing with a few adrenaline rushes, but I don't want to. I want mowing to be more relaxing and I want my wife and children to be able to do it safely.
When I returned the brush cutter to the rental business I saw another kubota that looked exactly like mine but was smaller. So I thought maybe it's center of gravity is lower and can handle the 10 -15 degree slopes easier like the 955. Upon closer inspection I found it is also a B2910 with some kind of lower profile, squared off edges, bar type tire. It really looked smaller/shorter. It has to be the tires and wheels. It was after closing so I couldn't ask any questions or try it out.
I can live with minor marks on the lawn and had no complaints with turf tire traction this winter with above avg. snowfall. But now I have many many questions about tires which I'd appreciate this board's advice based on experience on slopes:
1. Should I bring the bulldozer back for another $2500 to smooth out the slopes (if it can be done) so my children can learn to mow on this tractor safely?
2. Do all of the mowing myself forever and ever (at 6-8 hours per time) with periodic adrenaline rushes?
3. Replace by now beloved B2910 with something smaller & shorter?
4. Replace with an older used JD 955?
5. Are turf tires really the problem?
6. Do other tires (R-4) have lower profiles, stiffer sidewalls, a more square/stable footprint?
7. If I swap tires, can I use the same wheels or should I get different (wider & shorter) wheels too?
8. How much would that cost?
9. What are my 4 turf tires and rims worth in the classifieds (with 75 hours)?
10. Would filling these tires (or any tires) with fluid give enough low weight to fix my problem?
Thank you in advance,
Leef
I mowed our acreage this weekend for the first time with my B2910 using a brush cutter on the 3ph and my mid mount mower attached (but not in use) b/c the grass-weeds were waist high in places and I had some brush to cut. I also left the FEL on. I have a R&B tiltmeter and discovered that I have some pretty significant slopes to deal with (10 - 15 degrees and sometimes 18 ish). I have already fealt "tippy" on the tractor over the winter and spring, but this was the test on our own property where 90% of our use will be.
It was worse than I expected. Sometimes I was grabbing for the handles (and of course had my belt on). I was pretty nervous and may be disappointed with my tractor choice. Last fall I borrowed an equivalent 4wd JD 955 with turf tires also (no FEL) and cut the same slopes using a MMM. That was one of the first times I'd been on a tractor and didn't feel nearly as "tippy" as I did this weekend after 50+ hours on my Kubota.
I asked the dealer's mechanic about it a few mo.s ago at the 50 hour service and he thought my turf tires were the problem or at a least contributing factor. He thought the turfs are taller and raise the center of gravity AND are "rolly" with rolled/round edges and possibly less compliant sidewalls.
I've been studying the Ag / r-4 / turf / michelin discussions about traction and scuffing, but don't see anything about slope safety. One mention said that turf tires give a wider stance than Ag's so they "should be" safer on slopes, but that wasn't my experience. I had a lot of weight close to the ground, but didn't feel as safe as the 955 w/ only the MMM.
I can do this mowing with a few adrenaline rushes, but I don't want to. I want mowing to be more relaxing and I want my wife and children to be able to do it safely.
When I returned the brush cutter to the rental business I saw another kubota that looked exactly like mine but was smaller. So I thought maybe it's center of gravity is lower and can handle the 10 -15 degree slopes easier like the 955. Upon closer inspection I found it is also a B2910 with some kind of lower profile, squared off edges, bar type tire. It really looked smaller/shorter. It has to be the tires and wheels. It was after closing so I couldn't ask any questions or try it out.
I can live with minor marks on the lawn and had no complaints with turf tire traction this winter with above avg. snowfall. But now I have many many questions about tires which I'd appreciate this board's advice based on experience on slopes:
1. Should I bring the bulldozer back for another $2500 to smooth out the slopes (if it can be done) so my children can learn to mow on this tractor safely?
2. Do all of the mowing myself forever and ever (at 6-8 hours per time) with periodic adrenaline rushes?
3. Replace by now beloved B2910 with something smaller & shorter?
4. Replace with an older used JD 955?
5. Are turf tires really the problem?
6. Do other tires (R-4) have lower profiles, stiffer sidewalls, a more square/stable footprint?
7. If I swap tires, can I use the same wheels or should I get different (wider & shorter) wheels too?
8. How much would that cost?
9. What are my 4 turf tires and rims worth in the classifieds (with 75 hours)?
10. Would filling these tires (or any tires) with fluid give enough low weight to fix my problem?
Thank you in advance,
Leef
