Just curious

[JimDeL]

Has anyone done a real study/testing the maximum angle before tip-over for the various tractor models? I'm particularly interested in the BX, but others would be good to know.

Also, how much (measurable) difference do wheel spacers make?

 

[chim]

I've asked about them and most of the answers are similar to the responses on questions about zero turn mowing times Very little useful and measurable information. "I can mow your yard in half the time with my XXX" without even knowing what they're competing with.

We need to come up with a quantifiable value for "way". WAY faster, WAY more stable, WAY quieter, WAY more powerful.

 

[Lil Foot]

While I have no specific data on tip over angles, I will throw out this, for what it is worth.

In my rock crawler days, dashboard inclinometers were just becoming popular.
Everybody bought one and proceeded to test their roll angles, under controlled conditions- using jacks, ramps, and such in driveways & parking lots, to find that magic tip over point.
Everyone made note of those angles, and headed for the field to test the new data.
And promptly had more rollovers than they had before the inclinometers.

Further testing revealed that the smallest things could have tremendous effect on that roll angle.
A tiny undetected dip on the low side, or a similar bump on the high side; as little as a 3lb difference in tire pressures; fuel shifting in the tank; an ice chest or a passenger shifting position; carrying a different cargo layout from the test conditions, etc..
The inclinometers became a rough reference, sort of a talking point for after an obstacle- "Wow, my inclinometer read about 35 degrees, and I didn't roll!"
They eventually fell out of favor altogether.

Point being, if you get a number for that tip over point, use it as a rough guide, rather than a hard & fast value.
YMMV.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Has anyone done a real study/testing the maximum angle before tip-over for the various tractor models? I'm particularly interested in the BX, but others would be good to know.

Also, how much (measurable) difference do wheel spacers make?

Simple answer, NO
There are too many factors at play with a tractor and roll over conditions.
Real world conditions vary too much.

 

[Botamon]

Further testing revealed that the smallest things could have tremendous effect on that roll angle.
A tiny undetected dip on the low side, or a similar bump on the high side; as little as a 3lb difference in tire pressures; fuel shifting in the tank; an ice chest or a passenger shifting position; carrying a different cargo layout from the test conditions, etc..

^This!

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

A local station news flash:

300 lb. farmer on his tractor rolls over and is crushed. Injury was not life threatening, and he survived. When asked later why he crossed the slope on his Kubota like that at a diagonal, he said: "My grand daughter uses this same machine on the same slope at the same angle and direction and mows it for me. She is good on it. She loves doing it for me... her Grandpa. But she has been away at college and she can't do it for me anymore, so I did it myself. And I almost died". He was asked; "How much does your grand daughter weight"? He said "Oh, she's a little sweet thing, Maybe 80 lbs."

There are too many variables on COG, center of gravity, to make a chart that is accurate.

The solution is: don't side-slope.

Wheel spacers are good, wheel weights are good. Those are to save your ass in a worst case scenario, and not to be used as a capability measure. And not-so-common sense, says; Don't side slope.

Be well. Tractor on.

Eric

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

While I have no specific data on tip over angles, I will throw out this, for what it is worth.

In my rock crawler days, dashboard inclinometers were just becoming popular.
Everybody bought one and proceeded to test their roll angles, under controlled conditions- using jacks, ramps, and such in driveways & parking lots, to find that magic tip over point.
Everyone made note of those angles, and headed for the field to test the new data.
And promptly had more rollovers than they had before the inclinometers.

Further testing revealed that the smallest things could have tremendous effect on that roll angle.
A tiny undetected dip on the low side, or a similar bump on the high side; as little as a 3lb difference in tire pressures; fuel shifting in the tank; an ice chest or a passenger shifting position; carrying a different cargo layout from the test conditions, etc..
The inclinometers became a rough reference, sort of a talking point for after an obstacle- "Wow, my inclinometer read about 35 degrees, and I didn't roll!"
They eventually fell out of favor altogether.

Point being, if you get a number for that tip over point, use it as a rough guide, rather than a hard & fast value.
YMMV.

Totally. I hear ya!

Back in my rock crawlin' days those inclinometers were not as needed as they seemed. The driver is too busy picking lines and working the throttle to look at a dash inclinometer. Right?!

A small rock at tilt and everything goes to 'sh1# and nobody is looking at or cares about what the dash inclinometer says. It is brace for impact, and don't grab the roll cage!

Good post. Sir, or Ma'am.

 

[JonM]

depends on your load your fuel state how many lefthanded vs righthanded screw drivers you got in the toolbox.... etc

the variables are endless and its not quantifiable.

your time is better spent studying the basic tractor operating rules and techniques.

not being in a hurry to do anything in a tractor is probably the best starting point. a tractor isnt great at anything its just a really versatile tool that does a LOT slowly so you dont have to spend a million buying a telehandler skidsteer fork lift excavator bulldozer and grader

 

[Gaspasser]

When I was a new owner of my L6060 I lifted a 900 lb. load off of a delivery truck with my pallet forks. My tires are loaded. The capacity of my loader is 2000 lbs. I was on a slight leftward slope of perhaps 2% on solid, compacted stone driveway.. I lifted slowly with the forks completely under the center of the load. So I did everything right and was well within safe parameters from my perspective.

And as you have guessed by now, the right side wheels came off the road as the tractor tipped to the left. The only thing stopping a rollover was the left fork hitting the truck bed and relieving the load. I had been thoughtful and deliberate, thought I had taken all precautions and yet, puckered the tractor seat anyway.

Moral of the story... always be prepared for a potential unexpected action of the tractor. Be prepared to dump the load quickly. Have a spotter at a safe distance. If things don't look right, back off and reset. Wear the seat belt ALWAYS. Have ROPS up if you don't have a cab. Take your time and quit for the day when you are tired or frustrated.

 

[Henro]

this is my BX2200, Foam filled tires front and rear. I think 1.25 inch wheel spacers, and the mower deck, adding a lot of weight down Low. It seems to be rock solid on these angles, but I’m not comfortable sometimes and I always wear my seatbelt for what that’s worth.

Just posting these photos because the OP mentioned his main interest was a BX

I don’t like mowing on relatively steep (for me anyway) cross slopes. But doing it otherwise takes a lot more time and I think I’m able to do it safely, because when I got off the tractor for these photos I did my best to try to turn it on the side, but it was rock solid. Not that I would’ve pushed hard if I felt the high side wheels, lifting the ground, but they were rock solid in their position..

Just a data point. No measurement. Nothing. Other than the photographs...

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

I use my tilt-o-meter religiously and so far it has been flawless. (It was calibrated on a track, but it still has usefulness in tractorin’ situation)

the way mine works is this…

Stage 1 automatically detects seat slippage and engages slight body english

stage 2 applies tension to vinyl seat

stage 3 increases pressure and begins to deform vinyl seat (at this point I am looking for safe way out / considering turn downhill or back up or drop laoder

stage 4 I stop and back out, change course and / or drop the loader violently.

keep the rubber side down.

 

[Henro]

My tilt-o-meter works for me too. In my case, another name for it is pucker factor. Seems like it makes me stick to the seat better!

Mine was calibrated by an unexpected event on my B2910 about 13 years ago or so. I ended up tipping the tractor on its side in an event that I would’ve never expected to happen!

Can’t be too careful with anything we do, where something could change and the tractor could end up on it’s side or worse!

 

[William1]

As soon as I begin to pucker. I stop and back up.

My dad was somewhat ignorant of pucker. He rolled over on the side of and into the pond. Two tow trucks and hefty bill later, he went up and down, not across.

 

[Lil Foot]

Good post. Sir, or Ma'am.

Thanks!

 

[Hoserman]

I have one section in my yard that has a slight slope that I usually mow side slope. That was with my old BX that had loaded rears with wheel weights. I had watched several YT vids about tip overs, and decided if it makes you uncomfortable don't do it. Now I mow it on a diagonal, and it feels safer.

 

[TJP440]

Speed also comes into play as well as using 4wd

 

[Botamon]

Back when I was working at the mines the company would employ contractors to reseed and reclaim the leach pads to where they would look just like the original terrain before mining started. Sides of a leach pad are always extremely steep; the contractors used tractors with like 4 wheels on each side of the back of the tractor, with spacers in between the wheels. So the tractor was essentially about 30 feet wide. Always sidehilled as they worked, never drove up and down. They wouldn't roll over but sometimes slide sideways. Wish I had taken a photo of one of those back then but I didn't.

 

[mikester]

Without the BH I can get the tractor to tip over forward at about 35 degrees...I avoid going sideways on steep slopes. Wear your seat belt if you have ROPS/cab.