I was wondering, as I see where there is quite a bit of use of Tilt meters, or so they say. And I see it shows yellow, at aroung 15 degrees, and then I guess it is real danger at around 20 degrees. Now is that all tractors or compact tactors they are talking about. Isn't compacts more dangerous as, like my YM 1700 is only 48 inches wide at the rear tires. Or are they near the same as far as tipping over as not only are they not as wide, but they are smaller in every other way too. When one is talking about his life in danger, it is something that is of concern. So I was wondering if anyone has any facts about the danger involved, as I have mostly hills here to cut. Thank you.
tractor tilt
- Thread starter pruntyc
- Start date
- Views: 1777
normde2001
Elite Member
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2002
- Messages
- 4,163
I think the biggest problem with small tractors is that the driver is the same size as he would be on a larger tractor, which will make it more top-heavy. About all you can do is reverse your rear wheels for a wider stance, load your rear tires, and trust your instincts. If it feels too steep, it probably is, and you should only go up and down hill as opposed to across the slope. If it feels steep and you run inro a rut, hole or soft spot with your lower side wheel it could get very interesting in a hurry.
Anonymous Poster
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2005
- Messages
- 29,678
Hi all:
On my property I have three terraces built by the CCC's probably sometime in the 40's. I have had some very interesting moments in the past when brush hogging around them. My little M1500D doesn't like them very well, but then again my Ford 3000 doesn't either. One time before I had my Yannie, I was brush hogging one of the terraces with my Ford and I noticed I could see quite a bit of day light under the up hill rear tire. Since I wasn't progressing forward any longer I figured the best thing to do was try to ease backwards and get back to safer terrain. I tell you for sure, this took a little while and probably cost me five years off my life I was scared so bad. I never want to do that again. This wasn't my closest call with the Ford by any means. If anyone is interested I'll tell that story here too. Point here is, Be CAREFULL. Nothing is worth being hurt or worse. Remember: He who is carefull brush hogging today, lives to brush hog another day.
73 Wes
On my property I have three terraces built by the CCC's probably sometime in the 40's. I have had some very interesting moments in the past when brush hogging around them. My little M1500D doesn't like them very well, but then again my Ford 3000 doesn't either. One time before I had my Yannie, I was brush hogging one of the terraces with my Ford and I noticed I could see quite a bit of day light under the up hill rear tire. Since I wasn't progressing forward any longer I figured the best thing to do was try to ease backwards and get back to safer terrain. I tell you for sure, this took a little while and probably cost me five years off my life I was scared so bad. I never want to do that again. This wasn't my closest call with the Ford by any means. If anyone is interested I'll tell that story here too. Point here is, Be CAREFULL. Nothing is worth being hurt or worse. Remember: He who is carefull brush hogging today, lives to brush hog another day.
73 WesDavesTractor
Elite Member
Tell us the story!
hosejockey2002
Gold Member
There has been a ton said about tilt meters. IMO, the best tilt meter around is between your ears. I can see where a tilt meter may give you a false sense of security. If you are operating close to the "red" zone, all it would take is for the down hill tire to drop into a hole or lose traction and you are tipped over. If you are on a side hill steep enough so you are watching a tilt meter, maybe you should think of another way to approach the job.
Bird
Rest in Peace
<font color=blue>I can see where a tilt meter may give you a false sense of security.</font color=blue>
Does the seat belt give you a false sense of security? And is that a good reason to not have one, or not wear it if you do have one?/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I hope I'm not coming across as sarcastic, because I don't intend to, but I couldn't keep from laughing since it seems to me the same argument should apply.
A tilt meter will certainly not keep you from turning the tractor over, just as a fuel gauge will not keep you from running out of fuel. It just gives you a little more information, and how you use that information is up to the operator. Personally, I like having all the information I can get.
Does the seat belt give you a false sense of security? And is that a good reason to not have one, or not wear it if you do have one?/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I hope I'm not coming across as sarcastic, because I don't intend to, but I couldn't keep from laughing since it seems to me the same argument should apply.
A tilt meter will certainly not keep you from turning the tractor over, just as a fuel gauge will not keep you from running out of fuel. It just gives you a little more information, and how you use that information is up to the operator. Personally, I like having all the information I can get.
Anonymous Poster
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2005
- Messages
- 29,678
Hi all:
O.k. Here is the story as I remember it. It was in the summer of 1982 and I was using my Ford 3000 to skid logs to the log truck so they could be taken to the mill to be sawn into lumber. It was late in the day and I was in a hurry to finish the load. I had a couple of pretty big trees behind the tractor and was running wide open in 5th gear. In the skid trail we had cut all the stumps down to ground level, but after making several skids the dirt had been pulled away and the stumps were beginning to stick up too high again. Anyway here I am going lickety split down the skid trail and the butt of one of the logs I was dragging hung one of these stumps. The front end of the tractor began climbing. I made a stab at the clutch with my foot and just barely caught the end of the clutch with my foot. For a second the tractor stopped it's climb then my foot slid off the clutch and the tractor started climbing again. I made a second attempt to get my foot on the clutch and the exact same thing happened. The third time, I got my foot on the clutch solid and mashed it down. The tractor was standing so straight up and down when I mashed the clutch it just stood there like that, and folks I didn't have my other foot on the brake either. There wasn't time to do that. Finally the tractor came back down on it's front wheels, but hit so hard I broke the front end out from under it. That's the worst I've ever been scared in my life. When I stepped off the tractor I fell flat on my face I was scared so bad. My legs just buckled on me. When my dad (deceased now) saw the tractor he knew what had happened and he turned white as a sheet. Folks please be carefull out there. I almost bought the farm with that one stunt. Incidentally I still have that old tractor and use it occasionally here on the farm. I have been in the process of restoring it the last year even added power steering to it which it's never had. I would be interested in hearing other people's stories of near mishaps if it's allowed on this site. Take care all......Wes
O.k. Here is the story as I remember it. It was in the summer of 1982 and I was using my Ford 3000 to skid logs to the log truck so they could be taken to the mill to be sawn into lumber. It was late in the day and I was in a hurry to finish the load. I had a couple of pretty big trees behind the tractor and was running wide open in 5th gear. In the skid trail we had cut all the stumps down to ground level, but after making several skids the dirt had been pulled away and the stumps were beginning to stick up too high again. Anyway here I am going lickety split down the skid trail and the butt of one of the logs I was dragging hung one of these stumps. The front end of the tractor began climbing. I made a stab at the clutch with my foot and just barely caught the end of the clutch with my foot. For a second the tractor stopped it's climb then my foot slid off the clutch and the tractor started climbing again. I made a second attempt to get my foot on the clutch and the exact same thing happened. The third time, I got my foot on the clutch solid and mashed it down. The tractor was standing so straight up and down when I mashed the clutch it just stood there like that, and folks I didn't have my other foot on the brake either. There wasn't time to do that. Finally the tractor came back down on it's front wheels, but hit so hard I broke the front end out from under it. That's the worst I've ever been scared in my life. When I stepped off the tractor I fell flat on my face I was scared so bad. My legs just buckled on me. When my dad (deceased now) saw the tractor he knew what had happened and he turned white as a sheet. Folks please be carefull out there. I almost bought the farm with that one stunt. Incidentally I still have that old tractor and use it occasionally here on the farm. I have been in the process of restoring it the last year even added power steering to it which it's never had. I would be interested in hearing other people's stories of near mishaps if it's allowed on this site. Take care all......Wes
Mine wasn't as bad as yours, but here is mine. I was brush hoging with an old Ferguson, and I didn't know much about what I was doing, new to it. And I went close to a cedar tree, that had low limbs. I didn't know that when the tire hit the low limbs that it would pull you into it. But I found out, and I couldn't push the clutch, as it pinned my left leg,against the tree, so I couldn't move it. To dumb to turn the key off, it happened so fast. Well the front end started to go up, but it being against the tree, and the brush hog behind me, it didn't go very high, I would guess about 3 or 4 feet. I was lucky that the engine wasn't very good, so it died, and therefore I didn't have to. But was too far from the house for my wife to hear, if I yelled. So I had to take my knife out of my pocket and slowly cut the limbs off, that had me pinned. After I got loose, I went to the house and got a saw to cut it free enough to get it down. Yes I know how one feels, I am a lot more cautous now, then I was at that time.
tractorlet
Silver Member
- Joined
- May 30, 2002
- Messages
- 106
- Tractor
- Use from inventory-varies
Bird-
I think you may have mistaken what hosejockey was meaning. That is, that if you rely on the meter you may find an instantaneous change in attitude (of the tractor, that is) and not be prepared for the critical maneuver that might be necessary to avert disaster.
The tilt meter is the least important information one needs when driving cross hill in a tractor. There are several good postings/threads on TBN on the subject. Extremely important is whether you turn uphill, downhill, stop, how you eject, etc. if a roll over appears to be near
Your analogy to the seat belt brings up the issue of seat belt or not when cross hilling. Hopefully that decision is made before the decision for a tilt meter.
And your reference to the fuel gauge is another important consideration. Crosshilling...not a good time to run out of fuel.
You are right that the more info you have the better but the tilt meter is less inportant than other cross hilling considerations. And hosejockey is right that consideration of other approaches than cross hilling should be made.
Bob
I think you may have mistaken what hosejockey was meaning. That is, that if you rely on the meter you may find an instantaneous change in attitude (of the tractor, that is) and not be prepared for the critical maneuver that might be necessary to avert disaster.
The tilt meter is the least important information one needs when driving cross hill in a tractor. There are several good postings/threads on TBN on the subject. Extremely important is whether you turn uphill, downhill, stop, how you eject, etc. if a roll over appears to be near
Your analogy to the seat belt brings up the issue of seat belt or not when cross hilling. Hopefully that decision is made before the decision for a tilt meter.
And your reference to the fuel gauge is another important consideration. Crosshilling...not a good time to run out of fuel.
You are right that the more info you have the better but the tilt meter is less inportant than other cross hilling considerations. And hosejockey is right that consideration of other approaches than cross hilling should be made.
Bob
