Wheel spacers or weights for slopes?

[Gary Fowler]

Gary, I do have the tires filled (all 4) and currently have 3" rear wheel spacers.
I don't have any problem going up & down the slopes as far as the tractors ability, BUT when I do, the tires pull the grass lose from the ground or just tear it out if they spin and that leads to erosion and ruts. Mowing side slope doesn't result in that, which is why I prefer to mow that way.

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With the extra weight, you should not be spinning the tires which is likely why they pull the grass loose. You may be able to go up and down now with the added weight and wider tires. Wider spacing wont help traction any but will add a bit to side to side stability. I still don't know why you would be spinning tires going up a slope that you can mow side slope. Are you sure you are running in 4 WD? Even in 2 WD you should be able to climb a 20+ degree slope without spinning tires unless it is extremely wet.

 

[number9L]

Yes, I always mow the slopes in 4wd. Very well could be that the rear is too light and not providing enough traction (up and down). I do know that when I changed from loaded R4's to the loaded R1's they were *drastically* lighter - several hundred pounds worth. I am not sure the R1's have enough volume to supply significant weight in the rear actually.

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[SPYDERLK]

Yes, I always mow the slopes in 4wd. Very well could be that the rear is too light and not providing enough traction (up and down). I do know that when I changed from loaded R4's to the loaded R1's they were *drastically* lighter - several hundred pounds worth. I am not sure the R1's have enough volume to supply significant weight in the rear actually.

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Going forward with the R1s is where their traction advantage lies. Backing up the hill the R4s were likely better. Were you using the same mower when you had the R4s?
larry

 

[number9L]

I'm all for liquid tire ballast and wheel spacers but I've got to say for that small steep area between the trees and the pond I'd use a string trimmer after I got what was practical and safe with the tractor. "A man's got to know his limitations".

What model tractor is that and how wide is that thing?!

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[number9L]

Going forward with the R1s is where their traction advantage lies. Backing up the hill the R4s were likely better. Were you using the same mower when you had the R4s?
larry

Yes, same mower on same slopes but....I only had the wheel spacers a short time (maybe mowed a couple times) before trading the R4's for the R1's. The R4's sucked pretty much everywhere for me actually, unless it was bone dry.

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[vtsnowedin]

What model tractor is that and how wide is that thing?!

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That is a JD 5045E with 4.1 inch spacers each side and the rears in the widest position. Out to out it is 92 inches wide so it just fits on an eight foot flatbed. I like the setup a lot but would have to swap the tires to a narrower setting if I had a lot of land plowing to do.

 

[number9L]

That is a JD 5045E with 4.1 inch spacers each side and the rears in the widest position. Out to out it is 92 inches wide so it just fits on an eight foot flatbed. I like the setup a lot but would have to swap the tires to a narrower setting if I had a lot of land plowing to do.

I bet that one does good on the slopes doesn't' it?

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[vtsnowedin]

I bet that one does good on the slopes doesn't' it?

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Ayup! that was the plan. I have plenty of steep wooded slopes where even this setup needs to be used with care but there are few places where I can't get within a chains length of the log I want.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Vtsnowedin: I keep mixin merical grow with the diesel I put in my lil 3005 hoping it will grow up to be like yours! Lots of hills here too...

 

[vtsnowedin]

Vtsnowedin: I keep mixin merical grow with the diesel I put in my lil 3005 hoping it will grow up to be like yours! Lots of hills here too...

:laughing::laughing: God if only that would work I could have saved a lot of payments!!

 

[vtsnowedin]

When I was shopping for it I figured that if I was going to shell out 30K$ for a tractor I might as well get a real one.

 

[number9L]

I've been looking into that model some. I really like how wide the front axle is, and that the wheels can be set out. How wide is the front axle with them set out? And where did you get the rear spacers from?
That must be a pretty good size tractor, the front wheels are as big as my rears :laughing: *IF* I end up thinking harder at trading mine off, I'd have to look into one like that......but also have to consider if it would be too heavy to mow the yard with, run when the ground is soft, etc. I don't do any "farming" work, just use my tractor to do all the mowing, brush cutting, and general property up keep (we have 82 ac that's prob 90% woods). I will have a garden some day, but it'll just be a garden and not "crops".

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[vtsnowedin]

I've been looking into that model some. I really like how wide the front axle is, and that the wheels can be set out. How wide is the front axle with them set out? And where did you get the rear spacers from?
That must be a pretty good size tractor, the front wheels are as big as my rears :laughing: *IF* I end up thinking harder at trading mine off, I'd have to look into one like that......but also have to consider if it would be too heavy to mow the yard with, run when the ground is soft, etc. I don't do any "farming" work, just use my tractor to do all the mowing, brush cutting, and general property up keep (we have 82 ac that's prob 90% woods). I will have a garden some day, but it'll just be a garden and not "crops".

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The front tires 9.5 x24 can be set in eight different positions measuring center to center of the tires the narrowest is 52.8 inches and the widest is 75.0 inches. They don't recommend that widest setting for loader work so mine is set at 70.6 inches. The spacers are John Deere factory issue and I had them installed by my dealer and the tires filled and set wide before I took delivery of the tractor. I have a JD ridding mower for the ladies to mow the lawn with. I use the tractor primarily to plow a half mile of private road, skid logs and run the 72 inch rotary cutter. With 82 acres of woods one of these would be quite handy.

 

[skyhook]

That first picture is a grimly reminder of what's ahead for me.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I sure am glad that I don't have to mess with snow removal even though I have the tractor for it. Here I just let it melt on its on time and enjoy the white blanket while it lasts. The wife gets all excited at the first snowflake to fall, hoping we get enough to cover the ground for at least a few days. Being retired means that we don't have to go out in it when it does happen, just sit by the window and look at the beauty.

 

[motownbrowne]

Here you go.

I noticed this on craigslist today. It's a 4560 with wheels spaced at 120". Just try rolling that thing.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Here you go.View attachment 392366

I noticed this on craigslist today. It's a 4560 with wheels spaced at 120". Just try rolling that thing.

Only on smooth ground. On ruf ground I think it should be carried.

 

[jeff9366]

Look into Ventrac and Steiner articulated tractor-mowers, both manufactured in USA. Their primary market is golf courses. They excel at mowing slopes.

https://www.google.com/search?clien...d=ssl#rls=en&q=ventrac+mower&revid=1075671525

https://www.google.com/search?clien...tractorbynet.com&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&gws_rd=ssl


https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Steiner+mower&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&gws_rd=ssl

https://www.google.com/search?clien...tractorbynet.com&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&gws_rd=ssl


If one is going to obsess over mowing slopes, a Ventrac or Steiner is the right tool.

 

[Blade Breaker]

Look into Ventrac and Steiner articulated tractor-mowers, both manufactured in USA. Their primary market is golf courses. They excel at mowing slopes.

https://www.google.com/search?clien...d=ssl#rls=en&q=ventrac+mower&revid=1075671525

https://www.google.com/search?clien...tractorbynet.com&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&gws_rd=ssl


https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Steiner+mower&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&gws_rd=ssl

https://www.google.com/search?clien...tractorbynet.com&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&gws_rd=ssl


If one is going to obsess over mowing slopes, a Ventrac or Steiner is the right tool.

Sat on one once and could not see the front edge of the deck over the hood. Our f932 is great on slopes also. It slides way before it would tip.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Here you go.View attachment 392366

I noticed this on craigslist today. It's a 4560 with wheels spaced at 120". Just try rolling that thing.

Holy wheel bearing stress batman... that's taking things a bit overboard for regular use. I can only assume they are spaced out so far for crop clearance reasons.