Traction Tonight I'm just a little bit humbled by what happened

[RaydaKub]

On a scut the FEL will transfer several hundred pounds from the rear to the front axle. Your story is one many of us have experienced. Keep in mind that the same effect is in play if you have to go across a hillside. You have now transferred all that weight not just forward, but forward onto an axle that allows it to rock. This is where stability really gets dicey.

First summer I had my BX, I was doing some dirt work on a 25 degree hillside. It felt very tippy to me. I parked it on the hillside and pushed on the roll bar and lifted the rear tire off the ground fairly easily. Then I went back to the garage, took off the fel, 50 lbs of wheel weights on each side and a 275lb weight bar on the 3ph. My rear tires are loaded. I went back to the same spot and tried the experiment again and this time I could not lift the rear wheel. That really told me how much effect the FEL had on my tractor. The FEL is one of the most useful and most dangerous attachments you can add. Low, slow, and 4x4 around any hills.

 

[AxleHub]

On a scut the FEL will transfer several hundred pounds from the rear to the front axle. Your story is one many of us have experienced. Keep in mind that the same effect is in play if you have to go across a hillside. You have now transferred all that weight not just forward, but forward onto an axle that allows it to rock. This is where stability really gets dicey.

First summer I had my BX, I was doing some dirt work on a 25 degree hillside. It felt very tippy to me. I parked it on the hillside and pushed on the roll bar and lifted the rear tire off the ground fairly easily. Then I went back to the garage, took off the fel, 50 lbs of wheel weights on each side and a 275lb weight bar on the 3ph. My rear tires are loaded. I went back to the same spot and tried the experiment again and this time I could not lift the rear wheel. That really told me how much effect the FEL had on my tractor. The FEL is one of the most useful and most dangerous attachments you can add. Low, slow, and 4x4 around any hills.

I agree . . nice post. Over 10 years of hill cutting . . I think sidehilling is the most dangerous because you transfer so much of your weight to the low side front and back wheel . . Creating a "teeter totter " leverage.

I've been thinking of getting rear wheel spacers as well . . But having a 54 inch deck I'm told . . limits my spacer size to 1.5 inches (not measured . . just told to me as a standard). I'm not sure if 1.5 inches would add much benefit or not.