Tipping over sideways?

[B7100]

Having spent most of my tractor driving life on very hilly ground all I can say is: keep the load low and as for turning up or down the hill when things get hairy,it all depends if if one is going across the slope "up" or across the slope "down" if you get my drift! The way to recovering a bad situation is to get the top wheel lower and the bottom wheel higher which ever direction that means turning in.
Dave

 

[MHarryE]

Before retiring I worked for a major construction equipment manufacturer. One of the most frequent questions we had was tipping angle. It was also a question we refused to answer unless absolutely required (for bid specs). Then it was with a long disclaimer about vehicle dynamics. Hit a rut or soft spot on a slope and you can be laying on your side quicker than you can think. And often the person rolling a machine also does not wear a seat belt. I am not sure about your tractor but most of the machines I was responsible for were actually engine limited - the angle at which the oil becomes a problem by either being sloshed (is that a technical term?) too much by the crank or exposing the oil pump inlet.

 

[koppel]

hi All,

I have a very steep block that I am using a 4wd B7100HST with loader to do landscaping.

Many times over the last 18 months I have been faced with that tipping feeling.

So far one thing I have done to help situation is to add water ballast to my tires.

Posted article on this quite a while back.

Well it did help as the weight is much lower than that of adding counter weights to rear.

Mind you I still add counter weights on to my 3 point linkage.

However recently I have had situation that dictated I work on a compound angle 18deg one way and 7 deg the other and I was backing and turning and digging wet clay that had been excavated with my Kubota mini excavator.

On 3 occasions I had a rear tire lift clear of ground as I was starting turn.

After I regained contol and evaluated the situation I noted my front tire on lower side of slope was starting to fold under away from direction of turn (ie tucking under in the opposite direction to the turn I was making) just before opposite side rear tire lifted off ground. This was having the effect of lowering the down hill facing corner of front of tractor suddenly with the result of the rear tire then lifting.

Well I have increased tire pressure as a interm measure with some success. Mind you I am still cautious and keep my rpm low and loaded bucket as low as possible during this angled ground working.

Had them low as I was in a boggy area prior to this hard pan surface.

Obviously tire pressures also add to tipping formula as well as the width footprint of the tires.

I am running farm chunkys not wide turf tires.

Well thats my few cents worth

regards
David in Australia

 

[fjz]

Hi guys, newbie here,
If I'm on a hill and it's iffy, I move the backhoe uphill for more stability.

 

[skeets]

Hmmmmm there seems to be a lot of really steep hills around,,, I wonder if I could load a bunch of seep in the trailer and rent them out, I cant ever remember seeing a goat or sheep tip over,, at least the sober ones,, A bud had a wild crab apple thicket on his farm, and the sheep got in to the apples that fell and started to ferment,, NOW that was funny to watch,,lol

 

[tiredguy]

Having just tipped over my B3030 a few weeks ago and the pucker factor still fresh in my mind of the event I'll throw in my opinons on a few issues that were brought up. First off mine has a cab on it and I was backing down the trail skirting an area I was backfilling after removing a stump. Very slight angle and I was barely creeping along with the bucket low and the left front tire basically caught on the edge of the distrubed soil and the right rear came up and over I went in slow motion. It fortunately went over slowly enough that I shifted my butt in the seat and was sitting in the arm rest and immediately reached for the key to shut it off. I'm talking milliseconds and my son who was walking in front of the tractor leaped up opening the door hollaring "you all right" so fast that he was nearly looking me in the eye as I turned the key off. I was shocked of course that it happened and extremely lucky no damage was done except for my pride. the angle was slight both sideways and downhill and being well versed in mowing on side hills that I'm always very careful since rolling my small garden tractor many years ago.
Someone mentioned to mow it by hand instead of risking it,and I'd suggest doing what I've done that last 25 years here at home: Screw it let it grow!!!
When some areas are more trouble than it worth both risk and labor wise, to me it's not worth the grief and aggravation and if the neighbors don't like it they can help themselves to cutting it themselves LOL!
I put the box blade on as soon as I got home ( sons place a mile away) to be able to move things around using the loader and will not do anything without the box blade on until I get the tires filled and I probably won't even risk it and not do anything unless on flat ground without the box blade on. A device that would measure the angle would most likely be useless unless your planning on only running on concrete or pavement at an agle. To many factors with the soil conditions changing due to rain or traffic to rely on that for safety. I've operated various machinery for 45 years and the split second decision on which way to turn like most have said depends on several factors whether going up or down etc and no different than driving a vehicle on an icy or snow covered road and suddenly your not going where you want to so with practise you learn which evasive type moves to make to get yourself out of trouble and it happens automatically with practise. I am for sure with turning downhill as the long time equipment operator said though, much rather worry about trying to get stopped rather than ride it down to the bottom on it's side or worse..rolling all the way down.
Al
PS: The cab adds a little to the tippy feeling but it's more of the pucker type than actually how far it tilts. Just eery at times even at very slight angles.

 

[mlatour3300]

I agree with previous post, great advise here for you to think about and would add a few additional points:

1) Never do something with the tractor against good judgement
2) Add ballast as suggested
3) Consider wheel extenders/spacers to increase the width of the tractor

 

[bosshogg]

I was hanging ten the second day I got my tractor. I set the rear wheels to their widest setting today and things are looking much better.

 

[Bulldog]

If you really want to see a difference fluid fill the rears. That really helps to keep it planted where it needs to be. My L 3000 doesn't even feel like the same tractor.

 

[Lil Foot]

In my short career as a tractor owner, I have never had a close call or ever felt "tippy". (knock on wood) My B7100 has cast iron weights on all fours, and I don't operate it without implements on both ends, but I feel the main reason is that I make a real effort to keep it pointed uphill or downhill. I avoid sidehill like the plague, a leftover from my offroading days. I realize that is a rather simplified statement, and is not always practical or possible, but that attitude really makes me respect & give a lot of thought to the sidehill stuff I can't avoid. Just my two cents.

 

[Kingcreek]

I've done some crazy things in my day but I've never tipped a tractor. I have nothing but hills, level ground is rare here, but I am very very cautious on side hills. I don't want to get close to finding out what the limits are. If its questionable, it's too much.

 

[tiredguy]

I for one hope nobody gets to experience tipping a tractor over ever, and being extra cautious and never "side hilling" if you can avoid it as that's the safest bet always. Weight low to the ground is best such as loaded tires being number one, and if running with the loader on keep it as low as possible
and your hand on the stick so in case it does start to go you can slam the bucket down as quickly as possible to hopefully prevent it from going over. I jsut finished up some deer food plots yesterday that I'd used my cousin's 81hp Belarus on and with loaded tires and everything it doesn't take much to get that pucker feeling with slopes and hills especially when turning. Sometimes it may feel worse than it is, but once you've experienced going over it will haunt you as a constant reminder of just how easily and quickly it can happen.
Good luck all and lets hope we never have to hear this type of story ever again!
Al