Stability question

[NHwoods]

I have a lot of side hills in my fields. I have been trying to find a spec anywhere for the tipping angle of an MX6000 with ballasted wheels. I feel like it’s not a problem but i stay away from some hills that would be very nice to mow sideways. Anyone have any information on approximate tipping angle?

 

[JohnDB]

Not published because there are too many variables. For example, your speed and the roughness of the slope. Many others too. Do a search on this forum for discussions on stability and you'll get the picture

 

[Gaspasser]

I have a lot of side hills in my fields. I have been trying to find a spec anywhere for the tipping angle of an MX6000 with ballasted wheels. I feel like it’s not a problem but i stay away from some hills that would be very nice to mow sideways. Anyone have any information on approximate tipping angle?

Welcome to forum. I'm in NH as well. It is very easy to tip a tractor on even relatively slight inclines. When I first got my L6060, I had 2 seat puckering experiences despite operating conservatively. Go slow, especially when turning. Keep pallet fork and loader loads as low as possible to ground and be prepared to dump/lower all the way to ground. Loaded tires and ballast on the 3 point as well ( I always keep a rear implement mounted, usually the box blade). Plenty of other posts here as well as countless YouTube videos. Enjoy and good luck.

 

[BAP]

A good rule of thumb as far as tipping over goes, “If You Got To Ask, Then You Probably Shouldn’t Be Driving There”. You are much safer driving up and down steep hills than across them. Just remember, all it takes is a hidden woodchuck hole, washout or any other divot to roll your tractor over. I farmed for 40 years in the Connecticut River Valley and surrounding hills of New Hampshire. We farmed on hills that would scare most people, but did it safely because we learned to respect them and how to properly handle them.

 

[GeoHorn]

A good rule of thumb as far as tipping over goes, “If You Got To Ask, Then You Probably Shouldn’t Be Driving There”. You are much safer driving up and down steep hills than across them. Just remember, all it takes is a hidden woodchuck hole, washout or any other divot to roll your tractor over. I farmed for 40 years in the Connecticut River Valley and surrounding hills of New Hampshire. We farmed on hills that would scare most people, but did it safely because we learned to respect them and how to properly handle them.

Perhaps I’m mis-reading your intent, but I think the OPPOSITE is true. Questioning the safety is indicative of a level of safety-consciousness that is appropriate and leads to safe operations.

Experienced farmers kill themselves on tractors every year.

A good friend of ours, a rice-farmer all his life just west of Houston, owned 4 large John Deer tractors with which he had earned his living for decades. When he reached 70 he retired and decided to sell them.

He put them out in front of his property on Hwy 290 for motorists to see with “For Sale” signs on them.

While his wife of 49 years, Juanita, was preparing lunch, he went out for their weekly start ‘em-up and let ‘em run to keep the batteries charged…. and when he was late coming back in for lunch….she went out to find him underneath one of them, crushed and deceased in a ditch.

Their time together was gone.

These things can kill and maim.

 

[Shawn T. W]

I mow this sideways too ... No filled tires.

Camera is not quite level on this next one, it's at more of an angle ... The little tree on the left, is the same one just beside the tractor, same area just look the opposite way (this is looking West)...

I drove up this one in 2 wheel drive, didn't spin a tire. (Looking East)

Here I forgot to add rocks to the bucket for front ballast, and even in 4X4 I couldn't steer the front up the bank, I stopped and gingerly got off the top side, holding into the ROPS, it was steady ... I gave it a half hearted nudge, it wouldn't budge, I finally placed my hands above the rifle and push as hard as I could ... Couldn't get it to begin to tip ...

I went down into the creek and got some rocks, and then drove it right up out of there!

The next day ... I got into the soft dirt on the other side ... Needed my pickup truck to get it out, but still rock steady!

Now my Little Baby Fergie does have filled rear tires, plus 70 Lb steel wheel weights on each side, plus another 275 Lbs of steel weight lifting plates on the BH mount, plus the second day I still had the bucket full of rocks, so lots of weight down low ...

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Good day.

Let’s start with I am always amazed at what I see county/highway road crews mowing on sides of roads and at over passes. I always wonder how often if ever they roll a machine.

to me all 4 wheel machine lean the wrong way (as opposed to a motorcycle which leans into the turn)…then with a tractor throw in the center pivot axle. If the weight is on the front axle, if you find a hole it may not work out so well.

for me, before it ever gets to that point my calibrated butt trips the tiltometer and I ask myself how bad I need to mow that section. Sure I am a wuss, but I do not have confidence in my ability to recover it if it should happen to lean the wrong way.

I guess if a new piece of property I would wonder who / how been mowing it before?

if a chunk of ground I am familiar with I would wonder if a wheel found a hole that didn’t use to be there would I be properly ballasted. If I can’t answer that I would consider risk vs reward…we all have different experiences and you know your property and limitations best. If choose not to mow, or to only go up and down, aside from some time and fuel, what is the risk/loss vs failure mode?

keep the rubber side down.

 

[imarobot]

I've seen where the state mows along the highways that have some very pretty steep hills with skid steers. Nothing I would ever consider with anything other than a push mower. Never seen them actually mowing but would like to see them at it.

 

[BAP]

Good day.

Let’s start with I am always amazed at what I see county/highway road crews mowing on sides of roads and at over passes. I always wonder how often if ever they roll a machine.

to me all 4 wheel machine lean the wrong way (as opposed to a motorcycle which leans into the turn)…then with a tractor throw in the center pivot axle. If the weight is on the front axle, if you find a hole it may not work out so well.

for me, before it ever gets to that point my calibrated butt trips the tiltometer and I ask myself how bad I need to mow that section. Sure I am a wuss, but I do not have confidence in my ability to recover it if it should happen to lean the wrong way.

I guess if a new piece of property I would wonder who / how been mowing it before?

if a chunk of ground I am familiar with I would wonder if a wheel found a hole that didn’t use to be there would I be properly ballasted. If I can’t answer that I would consider risk vs reward…we all have different experiences and you know your property and limitations best. If choose not to mow, or to only go up and down, aside from some time and fuel, what is the risk/loss vs failure mode?

keep the rubber side down.

I definitely Would Not follow the lead of the State of New Hampshire and roadside mowing as what hills you can safely mow. The state has a fleet of 40-70hp tractors that I believe are leased, that they put rear mounted mowers on and turn their guys and gals loose on to mow the roadsides. Last I heard rumor was that the rollover count for this year alone was 5 tractors. Those tractors are just off the lot models with no extra widening done or duals, to make them safer to use in steep situations. The State of Vermont hires contractors to mow along I-91 and I-89, and they mow some really steep roadside banks. But they have some tractors that are in the 125hp range with extra wide duals on all 4 wheels. The last couple of years, most of the tractors New Hampshire uses have been Kubota’s, but some John Deere’s mixed in. Most of the side arm over the guard rail mowers are still New Holland’s.

 

[Clevus]

Points for the rifle mount.

Here I forgot to add rocks to the bucket for front ballast, and even in 4X4 I couldn't steer the front up the bank, I stopped and gingerly got off the top side, holding into the ROPS, it was steady ... I gave it a half hearted nudge, it wouldn't budge, I finally placed my hands above the rifle and push as hard as I could ... Couldn't get it to begin to tip ...
View attachment 162699



View attachment 162701

 

[Shawn T. W]

Points for the rifle mount.

Working on an idea for the cabbed Kubota to carry my 10" scoped Contender ... Much shorter to deal with inside the cab, but much louder too!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

County guys near me, when they USED to mow the roadsides, had smaller wheels on the right side, which helped 'level' the tractors for mowing( sickle bars of course....) They did look 'funny' driving on level ground though !