ZTR rollover backwards

[upgw]

A friend's brother owned a commercial mowing operation. Recently, while mowing a steep slope with a big ZTR machine, he rolled it over backwards. It broke his back, he's actually recovered pretty well, but no longer in the mowing business. Since these things are so squat and heavy, I always wondered how he managed to tip it, especially backwards. Well, now I know.

I passed a guy on our street with a really steep slope along the road. It's got to be a 60 degree slope, and he was mowing it with a big commerical ZTR. I couldn't believe it. The thing was continually sliding sidways and trying to climb back up, giving it a overall sideways crabbing motion. Then he'd get to the end of a row, point it straight up and nail it. I can't belive it didn't just roll right over backwards, it had to be close. I had to stop and watch a few passes. No way I'd have ever been on that slope any way but backing up!

No ROPS or belt either. It's crazy.

- Patrick.

 

[RoyJackson]

"No ROPS or belt either. It's crazy."

If you don't have a ROPS, you don't want to be belted in.

60°, huh? Dern, that's a healthy slope. I think I'd plant some ground cover on that!!!! And forget about mowing!

This episode you described sounds like someone got pretty complacent about the dangers of mowing..especially on slopes.

Now that I've driven my 670 for a while, the minor slopes don't bother me near as much...but I gotta admit, I'm still puckering up. I mean to stay that way too!