How much incline is too much?

[slate mike]

I have a JD 3120 with loaded R4 tires and FEL. With a Frontier 6' finish mower on the 3 pt hitch, what kind of incline mow across (keeping the fel low?) Thanks for the help. Been doing the 3 acres all Summer with a Cub lawn tractor(46"and would realli like to cut down the time and give the 6' a chance but haven't yet due to the side hills.

 

[Charlesaf3]

15 is the rule of thumb MAX. Life on the edge is not good though. Mow up and down if you are at all worried. Speed will make up for inefficiency

 

[TCBoomer]

I mow a 25* cross slope using a NH TC24DA unloaded turfs and 60"MMM but NO WAY would I leave the FEL on!! up/down no problem...but cross slope Just my opinion

However...you mention a 3 pt mower. Years ago a buddy of mine had a JD??/something and used a 3 pt mower on a 20* slope. His only complaint was 3 pt mower felt like it was dragging the back end of the tractor downhill and he always had to compensate using the brakes and steering

 

[Thomas]

Indeed bucket low.

Old timer told me once.."If your high rear tire spins more than couple time mowing side ways your to steep"..but that was for 2WD.

 

[sunnyside360]

I have a JD 3120 with loaded R4 tires and FEL. With a Frontier 6' finish mower on the 3 pt hitch, what kind of incline mow across (keeping the fel low?) Thanks for the help. Been doing the 3 acres all Summer with a Cub lawn tractor(46"and would realli like to cut down the time and give the 6' a chance but haven't yet due to the side hills.

I asked this question to John Deere via email years ago and they referred me to the dealer. Could not get a straight answer from the dealer either but I can see why since there are so many variables involved. I've resorted to loading the tires on all my tractors. On steeper hills, I mow up/down and not across.

 

[Runner]

I mow a 20 degree cross slope with a JD2520 with a 6 foot rear finish mower. As mentioned in one of the other posts, it drags the rear end of the tractor down hill, however, it does not feel "tippy" and I've gotten used to it.

I do have to keep it in 4WD and drive the machine with a "crab angle" like flying a plane in a cross wind. I also keep the 200CX loader frame on, minus the bucket.

Not sure how this experience relates to a 3120 since that is a taller machine, but with loaded tires, I would think it would be OK. Just have to try it...slowly... and see how it feels I guess. ROPS up and seat belt on....

Best of luck.

 

[Nuru]

I was able to take a 15 - 19 deg slope horizontally in my 4310 OS, but with my 3520 Cab - it was too scary. So i just mow vertically on anything over or approaching 15 deg - Yes I am chicken big time about the potential to suddenly fall over or tumble down a hill. Play it safe and trust your inner scare-O-meter, I believe the medical term is the "Sphincter"

good luck and be safe!

 

[jeffster]

As suggested I would mow up/down if you can at all. I am box blading a hill at my place that is probably easily 45 degrees (3520 so same size), and if going up/down it is simple as pie. However, 20 degrees horizontal is out of the question. I have some smaller "banks" on my place that are about 20-30 degrees and I won't even touch them with the tractor. I leave those to the dozer when I have access to it. I love my tractor but I have scared myself way too many times on it and the thing is I am pretty darn careful. It is just VERY tippy.

 

[kthompson]

Think you will find you can handle more slope going down hill than up hill. Not many roll over forward but with FEL may be about same going uphill. I really believe a tractor handles more of a slope than the operator does. Watch the angle we use a tractor and blade on a hill of dirt.

 

[DrainPondDesign]

When running near your max comfort angle you also need to consider if the upper wheel goes over a bump or the lower wheel drops into a hole or soft ground. Either one increases the tilt angle and the faster you are going the greater that increase.

 

[jeffster]

Think you will find you can handle more slope going down hill than up hill. Not many roll over forward but with FEL may be about same going uphill. I really believe a tractor handles more of a slope than the operator does. Watch the angle we use a tractor and blade on a hill of dirt.

Which tractor though? That makes all the difference in the world. We also have a 70s Deere 820 that I have absolutely no problem taking places where the 3520 would definitely tip, no questions asked. I have had the 3520 on 2 wheels a couple of times and trust me it isn't any fun at all. Prior land owner was severely injured due to his tractor rolling on a hill about 30 degrees or so, and we have a friend that **** near killed himself when his mower caught something while on a hill and it jerked the tractor enough that he rolled it, and it wasn't that steep of hill he was on. So, am I probably overly cautious now? Yep, guilty as charged. But, I would rather live than take the risk. I know the limitations of the 3000 series and I won't push them just to try and make things quicker or easier. But, really, it again just depends on the tractor in question and your ability to react to any given situation. Be safe everyone.

 

[jenkinsph]

Which tractor though? That makes all the difference in the world. We also have a 70s Deere 820 that I have absolutely no problem taking places where the 3520 would definitely tip, no questions asked. I have had the 3520 on 2 wheels a couple of times and trust me it isn't any fun at all. Prior land owner was severely injured due to his tractor rolling on a hill about 30 degrees or so, and we have a friend that **** near killed himself when his mower caught something while on a hill and it jerked the tractor enough that he rolled it, and it wasn't that steep of hill he was on. So, am I probably overly cautious now? Yep, guilty as charged. But, I would rather live than take the risk. I know the limitations of the 3000 series and I won't push them just to try and make things quicker or easier. But, really, it again just depends on the tractor in question and your ability to react to any given situation. Be safe everyone.

I agree, my prior tractor was the 820 and was a straddle platform tractor and had a lower center of gravity than my 4520 with flat platform and cab. Much safer to go up and down the hills, I don't wan't to hear about someone getting hurt just to save a little time.


Steve

 

[whistlepig]

There is no magic degree of slope. Perhaps there is a washed out dip that wasn't there before. Perhaps a new groundhog hole. After one mows enough steep places they learn to "feel" with the tires on the tractor. To feel comfortable with a certain degree of slope or some sort of "Slope Meter" in my mind is just plain fatal. This isn't plug and play. Only with years of mowing the side of cliffs can one learn this. If it scares you, you are a wise man.

 

[slate mike]

Thanks to all for all the great info. I think I'll get an "incline-ometer" and keep off any side hills more than 15 deg. The Cub Cadet lawn tractor can handle the steeper stuff. I do wear the seatbelt and keep the ROP up. And have absolutely no interest in testing their effectiveness in a tip over.

 

[Nuru]

Yep, there is this one spot on the flat are of my property that I continually forget to fill and it suddenly makes the tractor pitch slightly but suddenly. I gotta fil that shallow hole.

 

[slate mike]

Where to get an "inclinometer?" Would TSC have them? And where do you mount them? Obviously someplace where it can be easily seen.

 

[whistlepig]

Where to get an "inclinometer?" Would TSC have them? And where do you mount them? Obviously someplace where it can be easily seen.

They use them most on jeeps for rock climbing. You can search "inclinometer" and go from there. Tractors, of all, are the most dangerous of all off road equipment. Please don't trust your life to a gauge. I will never have an inclinometer because experience is the best teacher. If you are on a slope that scares you enough that you need a gauge then you shouldn't be on this slope at all. You are the best judge of the danger and not a gauge. A tractor will kill you in less than a second. The gauge will register the fact after you are dead.

 

[slate mike]

Good point, Whistlepig, but at least the inclinometer would tell me where I was (degree wise) when I start to get nervous.

 

[megotatractor]

"OOPS!" is too much.

 

[SpringHollow]

Go here to my slope meter page and it shows the ones i bought from an advertiser here. They are very nice. There is a link there to a post here if i remember correctly.

USA Discount Generators - Standby and Portable Gillette Generators

Oh, and if you have my tractor/slope mower, the answer is 45 degrees

Ken