Up on Two Wheels - not fun!

[Dalroo]

I had a busy week tractoring. I mowed about 10 acres Friday evening, and Saturday morning. Interrupted Friday evening as I hit 50 hours, and since I was at a good stopping point, went ahead and did 50 hour service. I had all of the supplies, so it was very easy. It took me about an hour, and most of that was making sure the old oil had completely drained.

After mowing on Saturday, I went ahead and broadcast about 300 pounds of sunflowers and another 50 of deer mix - okra, and black-eyed peas. Then dragged the fields. I was done at that point, with about 8 hours for the day.

Yesterday afternoon I hooked up the shredder with the intent of mowing my frontage between fence and county road. Only problem, the last time the County graded, they cut a really deep bar ditch which made getting up on the slope of my fence line ....challenging. I got the first strip done, then had to turn around. While turning, I was going slow, slow in 4 wheel drive when I crossed the ditch and ended up with only 2 wheels on the ground. I did not like this at all. Before breaking anything, I decided to take a hiatus and tackle again later. The parts left to do are even steeper, and since I am a novice at this, I am not sure I am confident that I can do this safely.

This was the first time I had gotten my tractor in this situation, so maybe down the road I will have a better feel for handling, but not at this moment. The grass may just grow.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Which 2 wheels?
Front, Rear, Or side?

As there is fixes to each event.

 

[virginiavenom]

they should put a level gauge basically on every tractor in the gauge area that shows your potential roll over risk based on angles. cause I'm certain a tractor can be sideways on a hill but the question is, at exactly what pitch degrees does it become a dangerous risk of a roll over. 5 degrees? 10? 25?

 

[Lil Foot]

they should put a level gauge basically on every tractor in the gauge area that shows your potential roll over risk based on angles. cause I'm certain a tractor can be sideways on a hill but the question is, at exactly what pitch degrees does it become a dangerous risk of a roll over. 5 degrees? 10? 25?

That level gauge would have to be only a rough guide, taken with a grain of salt, or marked "Under Ideal Conditions Only"
Back in my rock crawler days, we did fairly extensive testing on various level gauges, in various vehicles, mounted in various locations, and found them to be marginally effective at best. There are too many variables that come into play- tire pressures, fuel level in the tank, vehicle loading, weight & placement of passengers/driver, surface conditions & imperfections, wet or dry, the list is almost endless.
Examples: We put a crawler up on two wheels near the roll point, took 3psi out of the low side tires, or added 3psi to the high side tires, & over she went.
Vehicles that were solid with a full tank of fuel got more tippy (at the same angle) when the had 1/2 tank or less. We drove a jeep through a canyon so narrow that you had to put two tires on the wall to drive through, measured the angle, and drove back the opposite direction at a lesser angle & rolled it.
We found that people with level gauges spent too much time watching/trusting the gauge & not enough time paying attention to the "feel" of the situation.
Granted, tractors are a vastly different breed than crawlers & jeeps, but a gauge probably won't be a perfect solution, & at best a rough guide.

 

[virginiavenom]

maybe just a buzzer.

 

[Dalroo]

Which 2 wheels?
Front, Rear, Or side?

As there is fixes to each event.

Right front and left rear touching ground. My pucker factor was that if it pitched forward toward the floating left front, I was going to be past point of no return. I lowered bucket and backed out the way I came in.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Right front and left rear touching ground. My pucker factor was that if it pitched forward toward the floating left front, I was going to be past point of no return. I lowered bucket and backed out the way I came in.

Actually, that is the most stable of all the 2 wheel options, it probably wasn't going to go any farther, but yes still the pucker effect!
Sounds like you attacked it at a 45 degree angle or close, on sloped ground go at it strait on if possible.

 

[RCW]

Actually, that is the most stable of all the 2 wheel options

To follow Wolfman's thought: I'm not mowing my road ditch and a couple other places with my little BX unless I'm on 2 wheels in a similar way, at least for a little bit.

Of course, been mowing here for 25 years, so I know what parts to challenge, and what to stay away from, especially if it's wet. I also don't have the FEL when mowing, either. That changes a lot.

All is a learning experience, and you will figure the same things out quickly.

Glad it worked out okay. Stay safe, and be careful.

 

[Grandad4]

Of course, been mowing here for 25 years, so I know what parts to challenge, and what to stay away from, especially if it's wet. I also don't have the FEL when mowing, either. That changes a lot.

All is a learning experience, and you will figure the same things out quickly.

Glad it worked out okay. Stay safe, and be careful.

What he (and Wolfman), said! Crossing gullies and ditches on the diagonal is likely to end up like this since the tractor has no suspension, only a mild pivot on the front axle. Approaching head-on works better when you can do it, but having a cutter in back greatly limits how much rear ground clearance you have. Shortening the top-link temporarily will raise the rear of the cutter in such situations.

 

[Diydave]

Cheap Angle gauge...

http://www.harborfreight.com/dial-gauge-angle-finder-34214.html

I find the pucker factor is right around 30º, on my L2202 with the 4' bush hog, and rear wheel weights of about 80 lbs, on each rear wheel...

 

[D2Cat]

An angle gauge won't do much good if the operator chooses to go through the up and down portion at a 45 deg. angle. Need one that reads a compound angle!!

Seat time and common sense will solve the problem.

 

[Diydave]

An angle gauge won't do much good if the operator chooses to go through the up and down portion at a 45 deg. angle. Need one that reads a compound angle!!

Seat time and common sense will solve the problem.

Buy 2, and mount one front to back, and the other side to side...

 

[Dalroo]

Thanks for thoughts - and yes, was attacking straight as possible, but still had a pretty good slope above me and with my right rear already light, the pucker was that if it also came down on left front with a bump, I would have both tights in air. I will get the hang of t!

 

[D2Cat]

Wear your seat belt.

 

[Grandad4]

Thanks for thoughts - and yes, was attacking straight as possible, but still had a pretty good slope above me and with my right rear already light, the pucker was that if it also came down on left front with a bump, I would have both tights in air. I will get the hang of t!

Something else to consider, maybe it's obvious but also worth a mention: If this is a trail on your place that you are using to get somewhere, you may want to use your new rig to make some "adjustments" to the path so it is safer to travel on.

And if it's a place you're actually trying to mow, it may be time to consider other options or even not mowing it if it can't be done safely.

Safety for you and others is job #1.

 

[coachgeo]

Do you have a ROP? (Roll Over Protection/Roll Bar)

 

[Dalroo]

Do you have a ROP? (Roll Over Protection/Roll Bar)

Yes, but I don't want to use it***128512;

 

[skeets]

I never had enough horse power to get up on 2 wheels,, however I have been up on one wheel a couple of times

 

[jay2]

I let my neighbor try my BX out. While mowing at 3000 RPM's, he backed up, then stomped it forward. I looked up just in time to see him pulling a wheelie. So, although I haven't been on two wheels, my BX and neighbor have.

 

[skeets]

Soooo I dont guess you will be letting him play with your toys no more huh