Tractor Safety

[Deberosa]

OK, I've been pondering this tractor tilting issue...

Found this on the web about center of gravity:
http://www.nstmop.psu.edu/tasksheets/4.12%20Tractor%20Stability.pdf (http://www.nstmop.psu.edu/tasksheets/4.12%20Tractor%20Stability.pdf)

THen found this:
https://www.imcuniverse.com/store/25cda.htm

Is that worth getting? I'll take some pictures tomorrow of the angles of the place I am working, but it's really hard to tell the slant just by looking at it!

I am working the field below right in front of the two piles of mulch.

[cinok]

Farm tractors can be very dangerous spinning PTO shafts blades and as you brought up stability. Most of the newer compacts are low profile but there still is a risk of overturning. Alot of tractor operation is learned by the seat of your pants, There are some who will do what others wont do. My best advice is if it doesn't feel right don't do it. That little tilt meter you linked to is available at walmart not as fancy but it is used to level travel trailers. I know your not a new operator but all to often city slicker moves to the country buys a tractor and winds up getting hurt. Common sense is you best judge. Tractors with loaders have different balance points the higher the bucket goes.

Hey if you want a wild ride go for a ride on a old farmall tricycle and you will see the improvements.

[DM]

I agree that it's a seat of the pants thing! I've been driveing tractors for 50 years, and i see guys on sidehills that i don't care to go.

I've sidehilled with a dozer, that was so steep the dozer slid down the hill....now that nearly makes you streak your shorts! Putting the blade down "usally" regains control of the dozer, but not always.

Yes the berm in the pict is very steep, (it's even steeper than it looks in the pict.) and it helps that my tiller is very heavy. Keeping it down, lowers your center of gravity even more than sidehilling without it.

http://fototime.com/7D4BFF98931B32B/orig.jpg

To be as safe as possible when side hilling something like that, go SLOOOOOOW! Do NOT lift the 3 point while on a steep angle, and although my tractor doesn't have a loader, keep the loader bucket as close to the ground as you can, NEVER lift the bucket while side hilling. MFWD is better on side hills, so are loaded tires, but the tractor i use doesn't have either. Having the wheels set out to their widest stance helps a lot too, something i also don't have.

It's best to go up and down a hill, rather than sidehilling. Lastly, each tractor is different, so just because YOUR tractor could go on a steep sidehill, it doesn't mean mine will...

DM

[AlchemyAcres]

I agree, if it doesn't feel right, don't do it!

I also agree that many of the compact tractors that are low profile and low center of gravity can take a surprising amount of tilt without turning over, but that's if all goes well.

I've raked hay on a hill that was so steep that the hay rake tipped up on it's side! :eek: A very stupid thing to be doing!!! LOL

What if a lower tire blows?
What if the bearings go out of a lower wheel?
What if a tie rod breaks?
What if you put a lower wheel in an unseen woodchuck hole or something?
What if you're forced to abruptly turn uphill due to some emergency? That increases the chances of a turnover.
What if the tractor slides sideways and comes to an abrupt stop? That could lead to a turnover.
Etc., etc., etc.......

It isn't worth the risk.

I also don't think that the tilt gauge is a good idea...I think it would be a distraction along with possibly promoting a false sense of security.

Just my 2 cents!!!

~Martin ;)

[cinok]

I know in our area the FD train specific for farm accidents whether it be a rolled over tractor or an implement extrication.
The biggest danger is people who rent from rental yards. Ever see that idiot with a uhaul trying to drive it or back it up. Think about the same idiot on a piece of equipment. Have been on more then one rescue recovery with rolled tractor or skid loaders face in the mud some of them are not pretty.

[Deberosa]

Thanks for the advice. I'll just stick to the flat areas for a while and gradually work up to the slightly graded areas.

[No_Trespassing]

I loaded my rear tires with windshield wiper fluid a few years ago (cheap). It made a big difference and the tractor feels a lot more stable. If I'm doing a lot of loader work, I'll put the box scraper on and run it low for added stability. My tractor has a ROPS (roll over protection system?) and I always wear my seatbelt.

[backlash]

Years ago a friend of mine was killed when his tractor rolled over onto him.
He was not new to tractors but the was on a farm he had bought the year before.
It can and has happened so be careful.
My place is flat so I don't have a problem.

[Deberosa]

Thanks for the advice. I tried again - kept the bucket very low. Tires are already filled with fluid. I did much better! I had the bucket up high to see under it. DUH! But once I see the center of gravity issue it made perfect sense. My place in Washington was flat so I always raised the bucket to clear fences, etc.

[Anon001]

I can attest to safety. I rolled or turned over one of my WD's. The nice thing is that it didn't hurt the tractor.... just my pride. I hooked a chain to the frame and to the pickup, and it lifted right back up really easy.

I did just about the worst two things you can do and one was the loader. I have a heavy push blade that goes on the loader when you take off the bucket. The hydraulics have needed adjusting and I just kept putting it off. I was watching behind me and the blade didn't "hold" its position. When I turned back to the front, the blade was all the way in the air above the tractor upsetting the balance of gravity. All it took when I looked forward was the rear tire to go up a cedar tree.

I adjusted the hydraulics. lol

So, yeah... be careful.

Paul

[cinok]

I Know this is an older thread but I am made a near deadly mistake this morning. Went top pickup my tractor this morning from down the street. I have loaded and unloaded countless pieces of equipment but I got sloppy this morning trying to rush it and rolled it off the ramp. I was able to jump clear and avoid injury (except to my pride). Luckily the tractor did not sustain any damage either.

[Deberosa]

I Know this is an older thread but I am made a near deadly mistake this morning. Went top pickup my tractor this morning from down the street. I have loaded and unloaded countless pieces of equipment but I got sloppy this morning trying to rush it and rolled it off the ramp. I was able to jump clear and avoid injury (except to my pride). Luckily the tractor did not sustain any damage either.


Wow that's scary! Be careful out there everyone!

I am adjusting to my tractor bit by bit. I go very very slow but that's OK, it's still faster than if I didn't have a tractor at all!

Debbie

[keydl]

Several of the manuals have limits printed, some have placards on the equipment. One of the ways to get the seat education is to tape a kids protractor and a string with a nut for a weight onto a part that will read side and front tilt. You can jack and weight the weight transfer if the is no chart. Then draw it on the ground with 2 or 3 changes to find the CG.

Three bits of pipe and a 4x4 will convert a 300# bath scale to weigh 6k# with a bottle jack.