| Click to Post a New Message!
Page | | [ 3 ] |
| | |
|
Side-Hill Operaion
William.
As in most situations, circumstance makes a difference.
I've found that when a tractor on a side hill reaches the point where the center of gravity causes a tractor to start to tip, if the operator turns uphill, he will turn it over.
If he is sliding, and the tractor's uphill wheels haven't lifted off the ground, he may be able to regain traction by powering uphill.
If other CTB readers find it interesting that there's any uncertainty in what action to avoid trouble, then i suggest they take all of the posted thoughts with serious reservation, and live to tell about it -- if they're working on sidehills, and they're carefull they'll find out soon enough how to react and be around to contribute here.
jim
|
|
 Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Side-Hill Operaion
Jim, I agree with you totally. If you are about to turn over turning downhill is probably your only option. But....if you are about to turn over you really are in a situation we all want to avoid if we can. I am saying turn up hill where you can as a matter of routine. You just get into more trouble when you are going down hill. When I am bushhoging, I try to mow the bad areas going up hill and save the smooth areas for going downhill.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Side-Hill Operaion
William: There was a tragedy discussed here two summers ago I think where the escape route unfortunately proved to be a pond, so that's a good thing to keep in mind.
Myself, I think it's exactly situations and conditions that are being discussed and so I hope nothing contentious in any comments are intended. I think the situation of 'about to tip' is different from doubtful traction and the possibility of having a heavy implement uphill. I believe that my instincts tell me that there's a good chance that the implement might want to race the tractor to the bottom. However, if I'm ever faced with a situation, I just hope my instincts are right 'cause I know I won't have time to think about it let alone read about it.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Side-Hill Operaion
This sidehill tractor subject opens alot of doors.....There is some darned good advice posted within this particular topic.
I've stayed off the subject, because each situation is sooooo different. There is no replacement for good instincts, but unfortunatly, these instincts are not imprinted in our minds like a baby ducks.
Cautiousness is the best answer, but, like the old axiom states, "Familiairity, breeds contempt". I've seem very experienced operators make almost fatal decision, and know of one that was fatal.
Which brings us to the R.O.P.S (Roll Over Protective Structure) and it's importance in our lives.
A ROPS will save your butt!!!!!!!
And.....A ROPS will save your tractor!!!!
And......without a seat belt....it's worthless!!!!
To all you first time buyers, and....all those who have one in the shed:
1) Get on the tractor, and adjust the seat to a comfortable
position.
2) Make sure the ROPS is in it's "UP" Position.
3) Sit in the seat, straight up, like you are driveing.
With your seat belt on.
4) Now, have a friend run a string from the top of the
ROPS to the top front of the tractor hood.
5) Anything that is above this line (Muffler, air breather,
YOUR HEAD!!! is un protected.
6) Next, If YOUR HEAD is above this line, have your friend
measure how much, and then have them measuer how far
your head is forward of the ROPS structure.
7) If there is enough of your head protrudeing above the
structure, and there is not enough room for your head to
roll back WITHOUT HITTING the crossbar..........well....
THIS AIN'T COOL!
I urge everyone...expeirienced or not, to perform this exercise.
There are alot of tractors on the market that are equiped with a ROPS that is pretty much inadequate. The Sub-Compacts are sometimes really scary.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Side-Hill Operaion
MrE, I am on board with you 100 percent but would like to add one thing.
I just got my new BX22 last Friday. It has a 50# wheel weight on each rear and I have had the opportunity to drive it on the same side hills and ground that I have been driving the JD 4100 with liquid filled tires on for the last year and a half.
There is simply no comparison in inherent stability. It’s hard to put numbers on it but I have scared myself several times with the 4100 and when doing the same maneuvers with the BX22 there is not a hint of tipping or instability. So far (6 hours of operation) I am very, very impressed. The real test will be when I get my wife on the new tractor, she disliked driving the 4100 becauuse it always felt to her like it was going to tip on turns. We will see if she is more comfy on the BX.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Side-Hill Operaion
Mark,
I suspect the BX22 is a bit shorter, or at least has a lower center of gravity than the 4100. I haven't seen them both side to side yet.
As an old hand at driving everything with wheels, I will agree that to me the 4100 is not as stable as I would like it to be. But I've driven alot worse.
I've never been a big liq. ballast fan. For a whole bunch of reasons, however sometimes we have little choice but to use the slop.
I've driven enough tractors over the years to say that liquid ballast is not as stable as Iron on the wheels.
The liquid takes up too much air space, and the tire can not flex as much as a totally air filled caseing, therefore, making things a little less stable. A little bump on the high side will feel a little bigger with liquid. This may account for some of the feeling of instability, but probably not all of it.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Side-Hill Operaion
Tough calls I think. Tractors have to have high ground clearance to do field work but higher clearance makes them less stable than many people think they are. I think BX's are less intended for fieldwork than many other compacts and lower ground clearances work well for their main intended uses. Cultivating corn might be a problem though.
A couple of notes: I seem to recall hearing that overturns from trying to make turns at high ground speeds outnumber overturns on slopes. However, over-turns on slopes are frequently the result of changed soil conditions (e.g. an over-night rain) or unexpected increases in draft. These types of things aren't the conditions that instincts developed through routine tractor experience prepares a person for, and I'm not sure how helpful things like tilt-meters would be.
The reason to always use a seatbelt on a ROPS equipped tractor is that if it rolls, most people's instincts have them trying to jump off the low side of the tractor. The ROPS bar tends to catch and pin them as the tractor rolls. Instincts again! There's really no substitute for developing reliable ones. The question is how do new owners develop reliable ones, and maybe there is a role for education. However, The role of education in the form of the safety police is a thankless one and probably not very effective as well. I did appreciate the education that ‘if you aren’t pressed are towing a heavy implement, then turning into a hill might be better.’
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Side-Hill Operaion
Dennis,
This looks like a good candidate for the Safety Section of the forum. Think you can move it over there for maximum exposure? Thanks
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Page | | [ 3 ] | Thread 41547 Filter by Poster:
3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 3 |
|
()
Unanswered Questions
Active Subjects
Hot Topics
Featured Suppliers
|
Gas Generator Weather Protecti
04-06-2017, 06:23 
Reply
Digg It 
Del.icio.us 