Brushcutter1
New member
Something else to mention is the "unknown factor". I learned that the hard (painful) way. On a property that I rented, looking at a hillside covered in blackberries I saw that the top was level for turning around and the bottom looked ok. The slope itself was ok to mow going up and down. So I started mowing that way. It worked fine until one of the turn-arounds at the bottom. There was about a 10" rotten log hidden under the brush unseen. As soon as the uphill rear tire was on it, the tractor started slowly going over. I had time to consider options. FIRST option, jump off on the uphill side. Problems were hydraulic lines between that fender and engine, and 2 shift levers that looked a good bet to catch feet. Unhappily, I figured that I better try to hunker down and hope. I did. I couldn't get both shoulder's between the fender and steering wheel, so there was some crunching as it slowly rolled. (Forgot to mention tractor to old for rops.)I decided to stay on the ground and let it finish without me. The tractor (25hp) and brush hog (5')got all the way back on it's wheels still running with the mower in gear (the transmission fortunately popped out of gear) . So I hobbled to it and shut it down before calling for an ambulance, and then a neighbor to lead it to me. Now then, long story short - poor judgement causes many rollovers. ( Not to mention broken shoulders, cracked vertibrei and ribs. But the pain is a good safety reminder even 10 years later)