Mowing Use Low Gear on hills!!

[The Haymaker]

Glad my tractor doesn't pop out of gear that easy. You pretty much have to be stopped with no load on the tranny to preselect.

Last year I watched my dad go for a wild ride over one of my slopes as he was helping me mow and forgot to lock in the front end. He was using the belly mower and had a 5' tiller on the back. I was surprised he was able to hold it straight because the rear end (equipped with turfs) was pretty well locked and the differential even had one tire spinning the wrong way. He did well to miss any big trees at the bottom.

Yep, my 4wd gets used a LOT!

 

[Glen Watkins]

I have mowed steep hills all my life with two wheel drive tractors. I bought my first 4WD tractor 5 years ago. I would never mow a dangerous hill in 4WD.

Ya the suspense is killing me on this one! Why not?

 

[9973720wb19]

with my JD 4720, i typically mow my hills in the mid B range so after reading this thread when it first came out i decided to mow in A low range (who mows hills fast anyway?) - i could definitely feel the difference in A - it was better and stronger breaking down down. my tractor did get a away from me once before (in 2wd which cured me from that mistake) on the same hill in B...the wheels started to skid as i stood on the break...i'll continue to use 4wd and A...!

 

[LBrown59]

Me too

Ya the suspense is killing me on this one! Why not?

 

[rekees4300]

I have mowed steep hills all my life with two wheel drive tractors. I bought my first 4WD tractor 5 years ago. I would never mow a dangerous hill in 4WD.

Famous last words.

 

[whistlepig]

I can steer with front tires that are rolling. I don't want to try to steer with front tires that are sliding. Don't even want to try it.

 

[SandburRanch]

I can steer with front tires that are rolling. I don't want to try to steer with front tires that are sliding. Don't even want to try it.

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That's what the guy thought that locked the rear wheels on his pickup truck with snow/ice on the ground and went through the intersection backwards when the traffic signal was red. Then it was determined the wheels with the least traction take the lead and anti lock brakes were developed.

 

[cantbeatadeere]

aaaaahhhh, I see whistlepigs point to an extent.....my own exp. still strongly suggests useing the 4x4, been on some VERY steep grades and have yet to see a tire even slip while in 4 wheel, never even tried 2 wheel on these hills...key is to prevent the slidding before it gets crazy.
also I agree with haymaker on the poping out of a range also, my 4710 will not budge with any kind of load on it....smaller utilities must be a little different.

 

[electrarc]

aaaaahhhh, I see whistlepigs point to an extent.....my own exp. still strongly suggests useing the 4x4, been on some VERY steep grades and have yet to see a tire even slip while in 4 wheel, never even tried 2 wheel on these hills...key is to prevent the slidding before it gets crazy.
also I agree with haymaker on the poping out of a range also, my 4710 will not budge with any kind of load on it....smaller utilities must be a little different.

Every situation is different and must be treated with caution. This photo is the dealer doing a demo on my farm after 3 days of good rain. Seconds after this photo the tractor slid sideways down the hill and never looked like rolling. Glad it was him. It only takes one mistake. Me I'm 4x4 all the way, loaded tires and weights front and rear.

 

[urbandeere2520]

.... also I agree with haymaker on the poping out of a range also, my 4710 will not budge with any kind of load on it....smaller utilities must be a little different.

Yep, on my 2520 it only takes a light tap on the gear selector to move it from High to Neutral while on the move and under load... must be different for the larger tractors. Sure wish JD would put some sort of positive lock mechanism on the gear selector, such as a push button, to avoid inadvertent gear changes.