Who's better at estimating slope angles?

[rjkobbeman]

what are the tractors rated to? Are they still getting oil in the engine?

I have often wondered that... as I back up a steep hill to mow.

 

[Rob-D]

I have often wondered that... as I back up a steep hill to mow.

It's not a problem, the sumps sit very low in the pan and some engines have a 'step' where the oil collects in a restricted portion.
Racing engines are , of course, different. They often run dry lubrication where the oil sits in a reservoir outside the engine itself and is pumped through it. It's not uncommon for a Porsche to have a 15 gallon oil reserve. The oil cools better outside the engine also.

Rob

 

[Rob-D]

Staring a tiltmeter rather than paying attention to what you're doing will only help you verify for the EMTs the exact degrees of tilt you were at just before you rolled! :laughing:

I disagree. I mounted a tiltmeter on my loader frame and all it takes is a quick glance when you think you're getting steep. It's a tool, would you give up the speedometer or tach in your car? Do they distract you from the road? Not really.
Also it doesn't work that way, what happens is that you start checking it when you feel you're getting to a bad angle, often times I've been at 15 degrees when I started checking, so it's gradual. This happens if I haven't been on a steep angle for some time. It's almost like I have to recondition my senses.
When I got my latest tractor I took it on hills to see how I felt at different angles and what the tiltmeter showed. being very careful I got the tractor pretty steep with no problems. Last winter when plowing I slipped off the driveway into a a drainage ditch. I though the tractor would roll over as it was about 25 degrees but it didn't and eventually I dug myself out. While I don't advise testing your tractor this way it does give an idea of how steep these guys can get.
Rob

 

[dmccarty]

A question; when your mowing do you watch for irregularities in the slope or do you watch the slope meter. How much time is spent on each as the tractor is moving?

My tiltmeter is mounted on the front right FEL "column" so it is easy to see it and what is around the tractor. Just like scanning the gauges but it takes less time. And if one is looking to the right front of the tractor the Tiltmeter is right in your line of sight.

This one section of ground that is worrisome is mowed in A Range and 1st gear so the going is slow. VERY slow.

When my FannyOMeter and the Tiltmeter say it is time to get out of the ditch we gets out of the ditch. I don't think I stay in the ditch past 15 degrees. Watching the Tiltmeter over the years tells you how small a hole, rock, stick, etc, can move the tractor 5 degrees.

Later,
Dan

 

[RaydaKub]

I do the same thing! I have the tiltmeter but I lock my elbo on thelow side too. I would say I'm good to about 20 degrees but don't push it much after that.

Rob

Just like every operator is different, so is every tractor. Some are not safe at 15, some are still safe at 25.