Kubota b 3030 with woods backhoe and cab TOPHEAVY

[newbiewankubotie]

Ok guys got a b3030 with cab and woods backhoe---IT IS SO TOPHEAVY, even on a SLIGHT slope it wants to roll over. Any advice? Anyone have one? is it my imagination? I was on a slope, stopped the tractor, locked the brake and got out---you could push on the cab and pick the backwheel right off the ground? Seems like the single pivot front wheels are the cause--it has a front loader on the front? Wish there was a degree chart to the actual safe slope for operation--bought it to level my ground behind the house--and im afraid to use it there---honestly, even going down hill then turning right or left it feels like it would roll right over? Suggestions please?

 

[Bulldog]

If the wheels are adjustable make it as wide as you can in the rear.

May want to think about wheel spacers and I would for sure have the rear tires fluid filled. May even consider adding wheel weights.

I know it sounds like a lot but making it wider will help some but fluid in the tires and wheel weights will make the center of gravity lower and will make a big difference. I just added fluid to the rears on my L3000 and it's amazing what a difference it made.

 

[Tooljunkie]

As mentioned, adjusting wheels wider is number one. Some need to be moved from left to right to widen. Spacers may be available too. Ballast is also a must.
Keep loader bucket as low as possible too.

 

[Grouse Feathers]

How steep are your hills? Can you either check the angle or the rise over the run? As TJ said keep the front loader bucket low and be ready to put it on the ground. The bucket is wider than the front wheels and doesn't pivot so it will provide more stability if not floated.

Use your seat belt!!!

 

[KennedyFarmer]

I loaded my rears [rim guard] and spaced out the wheels on my L3901 learning your limits and handling will come in time. you are doing the right thing be careful if you don't like the situation and don't feel safe don't do it. Dont over load or push yourself to get a task done. Over confidence and pushing the limits will get you tipped over, hurt, etc.

 

[Bulldog]

First time I looked at a B3030 my initial thought, HOLY CRAP what a bad arss lawn mower.

My next thought was I would turn that thing over where I mow. The idea of a small cab tractor in cool and useful in the perfect world. In the real world of slopes and steep banks being that narrow and top heavy isn't the best combo.

 

[MadMax31]

Load those rears with Rim Guard. Then when you go to put them back on, see if you can adjust for wider width. My B7610 felt tippy bush-hogging while side-hilling. I kept bucket 6" off ground and it never actually broke contact with ground. Now I have an extra 440 lbs on the ground and it feels like a tank. I could go 1" wider each side, but then Im beyond my mowing width.

Factory cab isnt that heavy. Rim Guard is the heaviest ballast I know of. A ballast would counter-act the cab weight for sure.

 

[BadDog]

What I don't understand is why Rimguard is so darned expensive. I can't imagine it would be that expensive to make, and with that kind of retail price, there should be some competitive pressures. The only other viable option is CC, which isn't as expensive, but is hard on the rims. So water with RV antifreeze or washer fluid is the only option that makes any sense for me.

 

[Grouse Feathers]

You might want to look into moving the wheels out first. No point loading the tires first and then finding out you have to take them back off to turn around or add spacers. It will be no fun wrestling loaded tires any more than necessary.

 

[newbiewankubotie]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the advice. It was just at the Kubota dealer for a woods backhoe, I showed him my backyard--he told me he rolled a b3030 before. I think he would have told me about the making the wheelbase wider if it was possible--but I can recheck. It already has bead juice in the tires for ballast, seems the woods backhoe helps a little--but it is SO iffy on the hill--its not that bad I mow without concern on my small lawn tractor---but WOW this is just so iffy----so I put out a stabilizer today---just in case---do not feel comfortable at all. Brother in law is coming tomorrow---he is going to perhaps walk beside me--as I maneuver it a bit---figure he can stop it if it would happen to go----also we are going to take the doors off the cab and perhaps the back window? Don't ya think that will do away with some of the "top heavy"? I have to come up with some type of solution--even going down the hill--then turning to the right to "dump" a load of dirt--it wants to tip forward to the left. If anyone knows---how much do the glass doors and back window weigh? They have to be a few hundred anyhow?

 

[Grouse Feathers]

This could be really bad. Don't roll this thing over your BIW unless you really don't like him. Someone on the downhill side isn't going to stop the tractor once it starts to roll. Make sure you stay safe by using the seat belt. Do you have any idea what the grade of your slopes are?

 

[Diydave]

Another thing to use in daily practice, is to carry the load low. Especially when on a hill have the front bucket as low as possible, and for that matter it won't hurt to do the same thing with the hoe bucket...

Point 2: just how steep is the hill? These: http://www.harborfreight.com/dial-gauge-angle-finder-34214.html are only 5 bucks, go measure the hill, by laying a length of 2x4, as long as the width of your tractor, on the hill in question. then give us an idea...

 

[KennedyFarmer]

If the rears are loaded and tires out are you attempting this slopes correctly? You should be going up or down the slope not along with it. This slope might be too much for this equipment to practical without major mods if this slope is what you plan to do all the time

 

[Grouse Feathers]

Nobody wants to hear that you got hurt or rolled your new tractor. Take a board at least 4 feet long and lay it down the steepest part of the hill where you want to go. Raise the bottom end until the board is level and measure the distance you had to raise the bottom end. What is the length of the board and what is the distance you had to raise it? There is a lot of tractor operating experience here on hills and someone will give you some good advice when we know your conditions.

 

[cerlawson]

When I was questioning the stability of a tractor on side hill mowing, I attached a rope to the roll bar somewhat up from its support. the other end was hooked to the trainer hitch of my truck , sitting up hill a ways. My son drove the truck and I the tractor, keeping a slight sag in the rope, so no tension of importance. I drove the tractor along the steepest slope. I even moved my butt as far down hill in the seat as possible to make it worse. With that test and finding I was still keeping traction with the up-hill drive wheel, I was satisfied the tractor was stable for that slope. It made me feel better, but not real happy.

One of the clues as to danger is when up-hill drive wheel loses traction. At that time I would usually turn down hill to stabilize things.

 

[newbiewankubotie]

How steep are your hills? Can you either check the angle or the rise over the run? As TJ said keep the front loader bucket low and be ready to put it on the ground. The bucket is wider than the front wheels and doesn't pivot so it will provide more stability if not floated.

Use your seat belt!!!

Larry, if I do put the bucket down--would that prevent a rollover? I wish someone was CLOSE to Bellwood Pa to kinda give insight to my hill im working on----there was a guy back on that hill tearing out stumps on a Case 580 c---he was sideways and never rolled---but that is a way different animal all together.

 

[newbiewankubotie]

Nobody wants to hear that you got hurt or rolled your new tractor. Take a board at least 4 feet long and lay it down the steepest part of the hill where you want to go. Raise the bottom end until the board is level and measure the distance you had to raise the bottom end. What is the length of the board and what is the distance you had to raise it? There is a lot of tractor operating experience here on hills and someone will give you some good advice when we know your conditions.

THanks so much Larry I will do that....great idea, guess with a protractor I could almost get an exact grade... I shall submit it in a day or so....

 

[newbiewankubotie]

Thanks again guys I will do the 2x4 measure----I will also not put my bro in law on the downhill side of the tractor!!! LOL.... Perhaps the truck and the slight sag in the rope is also a great idea..... It could be I just "feel" like im going to tip. However, I did put the brake on and exit the tractor at one point on the slope---I could have easily pushed it over---HOWEVER this was before the backhoe was on the machine and my right wheel was in a small indent in the bank which really made it tippy...... Great ideas....Im open to any.

 

[Grouse Feathers]

Larry, if I do put the bucket down--would that prevent a rollover? I wish someone was CLOSE to Bellwood Pa to kinda give insight to my hill im working on----there was a guy back on that hill tearing out stumps on a Case 580 c---he was sideways and never rolled---but that is a way different animal all together.

You don't want to be operating close enough to the balance point where you have to depend on the bucket preventing a rollover. The bucket is just an "I hope it works last ditch effort", it will give you more stability and might save you.

my right wheel was in a small indent in the bank which really made it tippy...... Great ideas....Im open to any.

This is one of the things you have to worry about when operating close to the balance point, the little bumps in the terrain that could upset and through you over. They sometimes sneak up when you don't expect it.

 

[newbiewankubotie]

OK, I have measured my hill. The biggest drop is 10 inches in 4 feet..... used a T square and level...measuring at 48 inches. The average is 7 to 8 inches? Am I safe? LOL....... maybe you guys could give me some insight? next move is to tie a rope to the truck and the tractor and drive around.... I am new to this. I don't feel like wrecking a 30k machine. Any and all help is appreciated...... no big holes in the ground or anything like that---but that is the drop.... 10 inches per four feet worst "humpy part" average 7.5 drop in 4 feet.....
I have calcium in the tires, a b75 ground breaker woods backhoe on the 2010 b3030 Kubota, with a front loader.... and a cab....