What to use??????

[deere4320]

Hi All,
I was working at our neighbors house the other day and noticed that they had a spring fed pond. There was heavy brush surrounding the pond and covering the beach. They also agreed that it need to be cleared. The only problem is that the bank is very steep almost 25 degrees. Should i use my 4320 with my rotary cutter? I was also thinking of renting a Ventrac Slope Mower (Ventrac - Advantages: Slope Mowing). I would like to do the job ASAP and they said they are willing to pay. Any ideas?:

 

[rekees4300]

Are you sure it's only 25 degrees? If so, then your 4320 should be able to handle 25 degrees IF you remove your FEL, use 4WD, dry ground/brush, ROPS/seat belt and only mow going forward downhill or backing uphill in reverse. Under no circumstances should you try to mow it horizontally going across the slope.

 

[deere4320]

Are you sure it's only 25 degrees? If so, then your 4320 should be able to handle 25 degrees IF you remove your FEL, use 4WD, dry ground/brush, ROPS/seat belt and only mow going forward downhill or backing uphill in reverse. Under no circumstances should you try to mow it horizontally going across the slope.

Thanks for the reply....... P.S Why would i remove the FEL? Wouldn't i want some counterweight on the front?

 

[rekees4300]

The FEL will reduce the weight on your rear tires and that could cause no traction/brakes. The tractor could take off downhill, out of control. It will also tend to pull you down the slope.

 

[Jaylegger]

Thanks for the reply....... P.S Why would i remove the FEL? Wouldn't i want some counterweight on the front?

In addition to removing weight from the rear tires; the average tractors center of gravity is approx 10 inches above the rear axle, loader arms lie significantly above this COG and while travelling the raised bucket likely lies above the tractors native COG as well. I'm guessing but it seems reasonable that a FEL assembly will definitely raise the center of gravity a tractor decreasing the tractors "static stability factor", by how much dependent the relative weight and height of the fel to the native COG of the tractor.

 

[RoyJackson]

Thanks for the reply....... P.S Why would i remove the FEL? Wouldn't i want some counterweight on the front?

Only if you're backing downslope and coming up in forward gear.

 

[rekees4300]

Only if you're backing downslope and coming up in forward gear.

Neither of which do I recommend. One other general tip, go slow keeping it in low gear.

 

[Jaylegger]

Neither of which do I recommend. One other general tip, go slow keeping it in low gear.

Yup, reducing speed by half reduces potential rollover by a factor of four.

 

[magicheater]

Yup, reducing speed by half reduces potential rollover by a factor of four.

Yup, I agree. With tractors, speed can break stuff, remember that when using any implement and especially your loader.

 

[RoyJackson]

Neither of which do I recommend. One other general tip, go slow keeping it in low gear.

If the slope is as steep as deere4320 says it is, backing down and driving up may be the only option, unfortunately...if he uses his tractor.
That Ventrac rental may be the way to go, but it'll cost.

 

[eepete]

I have two steep slopes going into a pond that I mow with my 4520 and MX6 mower. The first is 20 to 24 degrees, but there is about 15 feet at the bottom by the pond that is less than 5 degrees. I go down that "front first" to mow the hill.

The second slope goes right down to the pond. I mow it by backing down the slope until I get to about 20 degrees or so. This puts the mower about 6' from the edge of the pond, and the tractor tires about 14 feet from the pond. I don't go any more because the slope really increases fast, and I want some safety margin. I was able to use the first slope to get a feel for the tractor at various amounts of slope.

I'm in 4WD, A gear (lowest gear), I do it late in the day when the grass is dry and there has been no rain for at least 3-4 days. I "move over" for the next run at the top of the hill where it is only about 10 degrees. I think a snail passed me once, yeah I'm going slow :laughing:. go REAL slow, be REAL safe :thumbsup:.

I then have to do the last little bit with a weed wacker or push mower . But that's better than the alternative... (even when I find out which part of the slope the yellow jackets are in this year).

Enclosed is the pix of my "riding lawn mower".

Pete

 

[rekees4300]

Hi All,
I was working at our neighbors house the other day and noticed that they had a spring fed pond. There was heavy brush surrounding the pond and covering the beach. They also agreed that it need to be cleared. The only problem is that the bank is very steep almost 25 degrees. Should i use my 4320 with my rotary cutter? I was also thinking of renting a Ventrac Slope Mower (Ventrac - Advantages: Slope Mowing). I would like to do the job ASAP and they said they are willing to pay. Any ideas?:

My advice was based on the assumption you were only going to mow the back of the dam. Probably wouldn't be a good idea to tackle the inside of the dam with your 4320 because you could easily end up in the water. Not sure what you mean by "beach"?

 

[deere4320]

My advice was based on the assumption you were only going to mow the back of the dam. Probably wouldn't be a good idea to tackle the inside of the dam with your 4320 because you could easily end up in the water. Not sure what you mean by "beach"?

A beach as in a little sand bar on a slope that is not as steep as the bank into the pond.

 

[deere4320]

I have two steep slopes going into a pond that I mow with my 4520 and MX6 mower. The first is 20 to 24 degrees, but there is about 15 feet at the bottom by the pond that is less than 5 degrees. I go down that "front first" to mow the hill.

The second slope goes right down to the pond. I mow it by backing down the slope until I get to about 20 degrees or so. This puts the mower about 6' from the edge of the pond, and the tractor tires about 14 feet from the pond. I don't go any more because the slope really increases fast, and I want some safety margin. I was able to use the first slope to get a feel for the tractor at various amounts of slope.

I'm in 4WD, A gear (lowest gear), I do it late in the day when the grass is dry and there has been no rain for at least 3-4 days. I "move over" for the next run at the top of the hill where it is only about 10 degrees. I think a snail passed me once, yeah I'm going slow :laughing:. go REAL slow, be REAL safe :thumbsup:.

I then have to do the last little bit with a weed wacker or push mower . But that's better than the alternative... (even when I find out which part of the slope the yellow jackets are in this year).

Enclosed is the pix of my "riding lawn mower".

Pete

Thanks Pete,
Your advice seems great. Also is your 4520 eHydro or does it have the Power Reverser?