what do I do?

[Johndeere3720]

I have a 2005 JohnDeere L118 lawn tractor. It is the nicest riding mower (excluding Johndeere 2210) that I have ever used! the only problem is when I drive it down the driveway which is on a hill, I slide down it without control. The first time this happend was the worst because I had 300 pounds of rock in my utility trailer. I felt like I was moving to fast and I pushed on the brake. I noticed that I kept moving! I looked down at the rear tires to see them not moving and gravel getting pushed to the sides. Luckly, the driveway flattens out for about 30 feet so I was able to stop. The bad thing about this is that My mom doesnt have a real tractor to maintain the driveway so it tends to get rough from traffic and the lawn tractor. What do I do to prevent this from happening?

 

[sal64]

chains mite help.

 

[AKfish]

Have you folk's pony up for a bigger 4x4 machine!!

Chains would be a help. (Mandatory with any snow or ice.)

Better yet... never let the tractor get any momentum - with a load or not. Simply; gooooooo sloooowwww.

You already recognize that the rear brakes and whatever engine braking that is available can be overcome by the steep grade.

So, keep it to a creep. (And keep the total weight of the tractor and any load low enough that with poor surface conditions you don't wind up in a heap along the side of the hill or somewhere at the bottom.)

AKfish

 

[LBrown59]

The JD hain't man enough for the trailer and load; stay off that spot with it before you bust your self up.

I have a 2005 JohnDeere L118 lawn tractor. It is the nicest riding mower (excluding Johndeere 2210) that I have ever used! the only problem is when I drive it down the driveway which is on a hill, I slide down it without control. The first time this happend was the worst because I had 300 pounds of rock in my utility trailer. I felt like I was moving to fast and I pushed on the brake. I noticed that I kept moving! I looked down at the rear tires to see them not moving and gravel getting pushed to the sides. Luckly, the driveway flattens out for about 30 feet so I was able to stop. The bad thing about this is that My mom doesnt have a real tractor to maintain the driveway so it tends to get rough from traffic and the lawn tractor. What do I do to prevent this from happening?

 

[Willl]

What do I do to prevent this from happening?

Don't put 300 pounds of rock in your utility trailer.

 

[shot_gun]

Try lowering the tire pressure for riding on the hill and maybe wheel weights might help. Make sure to take them off for mowing. That machine is a light duty machine and you should really have something heavier on that hill and especialy when hauling loads of any sort. Just thinking of your saftey. be safe!

 

[bontai_Joe]

As already mentioned above, go slower, tow less weight, maybe a more agressive rear tire tread for better traction.

 

[oldmanmike]

In a situation like this, young man, don't fight city hall. If the tractor won't go down the driveway without causing you or the tractor serious trouble, then don't go down the hill. Go around, or figure out some other way to get the job done.

If you have enough room to maneuver, go down the hill at a slant, in a zig-zag fashion. We do this on the golf course, on a 300 foot drop. In the past, those who didn't wound up with the equpment and themselves in the pond at the bottom.

 

[swines]

What do I do to prevent this from happening?

The solution is very, very simple - get a bigger tractor....

 

[Wis Bang]

Older units had gear transmissions providing engine braking. Since your back wheels have locked up, you have exceeded the amount of weight you can safely stop. If it is a gear transmission it shouldn't run away if you are going slow, a hydrostatic unit won't give as much engine braking.

Most light tractors only have a small brake band similar to the one we had around the centrific clutch on our mini bikes...it isn't enough to stop the tractor let alone the load you added.