Mowing Almost rolled it- dumb, stupie, smart

[daveshoot]

The brand new B2320... I was mowing the neighbors for fire control with a Gearmore rotary mower. They have a lot more "terrain" than I do.

There is a bowl shaped depression (a holler) and I was skirting the drive around the rim. I know just enough to go straight up and down slopes to avoid rollover conditions.

Anyhow, I was tracking along pretty flat but there was a pile of branches that looked like ground. Oops, not ground, it was their "trimming dump" that they've used for ages, and there was a drop and soft sand underneath. Tractor canted sharply to left, leaving me the side with the FEL lever as the way out. It was kinda tippy.
The mower couldn't be lifted enough to get it out the sand and weeds, complicating thins.

Locked up the hubs with the lever thingie and used my 4WD capability. Oops, further in, and thing was canting dangerously to port (I was corkscrewing into the bowl). I stopped and lowered the FEL to bottom to lower center of gravity.

I decided enough was enough, picturing $16k rolling down the hill. Shut 'er down and called the homewowners for support. We filled in the holes in the softer sand caused by my 4WD antics, hooked a chain to the high side rear, and connected to a Tacoma. Backed her out the way I went in.

Lessons:
Don't mow there (at least close to edges) again. Terra incognito sucks.
Don't lock hubs and move forward, when forward is what got you in trouble.
Power down and jump off and call for help when you're in over your head.
Calling for help sucks but the alternatives can be far worse.

End Result: Drove home, had 2 Johnnie Walker Blacks. Back on the horse tomorrow.

I gotta say, this thing is a riot, but there is definitely a learning curve. I think I was ignorant, dumb, and moderately smart, in about that order. YMMV.

 

[Kubota 2350]

Went home with an undamaged tractor, can't be all bad, sounds like a good day to me.:thumbsup:

 

[TripleR]

Went home with an undamaged tractor, can't be all bad, sounds like a good day to me.:thumbsup:

Gotta agree; operative word is "almost".

 

[rekees4300]

Lesson not learned: Remove FEL before mowing.

 

[wdchyd]

Just read about "Layed down BX24" minutes ago and he did not have the same results, glad you lucked out (Maybe Lottery Ticket should be bought:laughing

 

[timswi]

Now that there was some compelling writing. Felt like I was there.

Glad there was a good result.

 

[Baby Grand]

You kept your head, shut her down and walked away when you did. That's often very hard to do, but it was the right decision and you should feel very good about that.
-Jim

 

[daveshoot]

Geez I just read the "layed down BX24" thread... I totally got off easy. I feel for that guy and now I know how it easy it would be to do that. I really dodged a bullet here, and I think it was about 4" away.

I have yet to ever remove the FEL and I was running it low in case there were stumps or other obstacles in the foreign terrain. I do think I would probably have been better off without it (unless there was a stump).

Frankly I am still mastering the 3-point hitch switcheroo between the mower and the box blade. I am pretty sure this is laughably easy to the pros, but I thought the X300 garden mower (that the place came with) was a "tractor" until recently! I found the rear hook-ups a little daunting and the FEL, well that is like BP oil rig stuff at this point.

Y'know a 3-pt video for dummies would be great. The interesting videos at everythingattachments.com are really great for me, but they always start with everything hooked up. I am not really that far, yet!

I wasn't offered this Kubota insurance and I believe I will ask about it.

 

[Tractor Factor]

Lesson not learned: Remove FEL before mowing.

How exactly does that help? Does it lower your center of gravity?

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I'd venture to say that just about all of us that have used our tractors for more than just mowing level lots has had some "browning of shorts" experiences. Those of us that are still alive have hopefully learned some lessons from our moments of (can't think of an appropriate word here, use your own)...
Yes, the FEL off is better on hillsides or always keep it low.
I was learning the power of my first tractor BX2200 MMM FEL and decided it would go anywhere. I had a brush pile that included trees and limbs on a hillside so it was almost level on the downhill slope. I was sort of rounding up the stray limbs and compacting the pile. I did have some concern of falling through the pile but was venturing forward a bit more each time. Knew the FEL would lift my front end and let me push myself back and out. Well, thought I knew it.I got stuck with the MMM and couldn't get it out. Had to get a friend that was doing some dozer work for me get it out when he came over a few days later. For years I've cursed having the MMM on while doing all my excavation work but now the "fan tears up on BX's" story has came to the forfront so I guess the MMM probably saved me that experience.

 

[Tractor Factor]

I'd venture to say that just about all of us that have used our tractors for more than just mowing level lots has had some "browning of shorts" experiences.

Something as common but unexpected as riding over a good sized surface tree root can give you that roller coaster in the pit of the stomach feeling.

Yes, the FEL off is better on hillsides or always keep it low.

See, I would figure you're better off with it on, assuming you keep it as low as possible. Then again, I don't have a mower on my BX25.

 

[Reg]

Couple of "lessons" I didn't see mentioned;
1) The inherent risks of working on someone else's property.
Whether or not for gain/profit it is very unfamiliar and just about any dump spot will become overgrown eventually and appear "mow_able".
2) New tractor, this just compounds the risk.
New or just new to you, either way.
3) The distinction between tractors and mowers.
There really ARE low built machines for this.
Tractors can mow, but they are Swiss Army knives.
They present compromises, just as a real screwdriver is easier to use and less likely to slip and gouge your other hand.

Not to be hypercritical and I'm really pleased you got away with this.

Oh yeah, backing out of trouble is usually a better option than more of what got you into trouble.
If you have a loader on - usual rule; low enough to see over it, not high enough to see under it (-:
Keep the bucket fully rolled forward, if you have to use it as an emergency brake and then as a reverse gear it will slow you better than the flat bottom of a curled bucket and be ready to push you back.
Don't worry about tweaking the loader arms, in an emergency Ya gotta stop when Ya gotta stop.

 

[daveshoot]

That is a good tip about keeping the bucket rolled forward.

Totally hear ya about working other properties. It was a combination of favor and self-defense, since this is fire country and they aren't getting it done.

I have a regular garden tractor mower and yes, they are vastly superior for maneuvering around the house. Also a much neater cut than a tow behind rotary kutter. However, that thing is lost in the pasture or their neck-high weeds.

I will just stay further away from edges of all kinds over there. My goal is just to clear the wide expanses of tinder, and the trim is their problem.

More projects to follow. Just gotta put it behind me and store the lessons.

 

[newbury]

All you were doing was fine tuning the rear cheek clench factor tipping gauge. Now you know what it feels like to almost roll it, next time you'll know when your getting close.

I fine tuned mine the first time i really used my FEL, had to get a friend hiking out on the outboard rear tire.

 

[Dead Horse]

Dave, for what it is worth.


3 things from someone who does the things you described a LOT

1: when you have to winch/pull someting out of a hole, pull from the low front side, NOT the high! You will save yourself a LOT of damage pulling from the low front side.

2: Yeah, "back out" the same way you went in. the Big wheels are way better at getting you out of trouble than the little ones are.

3: Loader on? bucket curled all the way UP! and "feeling the ground, brail style". If your bucket is curled all the way down and you hit a stump or other immovable object you risk blowing out a hydraulic line. Pull THAT stunt in a precarious location and the tractor will let you down big time. I do not mow with a loader on. it severly hurts manuverability.

I mow a LOT of acreage in mountain country. In fact less than 10 % of my hunnert+ acre property is "flat" ground. I have had enough "brown alert" moments for a lifetime!

Lastly your front axel moves for a reason...... watch it like a hawk, cause the rear axel ain't gonna be so forgiving!

That is a good tip about keeping the bucket rolled forward.

Totally hear ya about working other properties. It was a combination of favor and self-defense, since this is fire country and they aren't getting it done.

I have a regular garden tractor mower and yes, they are vastly superior for maneuvering around the house. Also a much neater cut than a tow behind rotary kutter. However, that thing is lost in the pasture or their neck-high weeds.

I will just stay further away from edges of all kinds over there. My goal is just to clear the wide expanses of tinder, and the trim is their problem.

More projects to follow. Just gotta put it behind me and store the lessons.

 

[jimmer2880]

1 more lesson to learn here.

When sliding sideways, using the rear diff lock will only make it slide MORE sideways. I know it's tempting, but stay off the rear diff lock when sliding sideways, or when sliding sideways would be bad. That's when having 4wd is nice.

I'll agree on mowing without the FEL. In fact, I like mowing with 0 extra weight on the front end. This past weekend, I needed to add some weight up front for something I was pulling. After that was done, I didn't bother removing the 150 lbs of suitcase weights before mowing. Because the extra weight up front took weight off of the rear wheels that don't pivot, and put it on the front axle that does pivot, the tractor was much less stable, even though the suitcase weights were only approx 6 inches off of the ground, and nice and wide.

 

[bp fick]

I got my FEL in a crate almost 9 months after getting the tractor. Installing was difficult, only because I wasn't up to speed on many things. Once I had it on, I had to work the garden. One time with the FEL was enough. No way. The loss of being nimble was intolerable. OK, what to do?

Sounds funny to say now, but I played those Messick and BXpanded youtube videos over and over until I could master the removal and installation of the FEL. I was determined to get quicker and I practiced. No, I still cannot do it as quickly as BXpanded or Messick, but it only takes me 5 or 10 minutes, which is good enough.

I think one of the things we could/should encourage all the "I just got my new tractor" posters is strongly encourage them to master this skill. All these new guys are so geeked to have their FEL, but it just has to come off from time to time, for safety and for practicality.

 

[rekees4300]

Another lesson to learn: Before mowing unfamiliar ground, walk it on foot to see what's there.

 

[Evil the Weasel]

Lesson not learned: Remove FEL before mowing.

I'm not sure I agree with this. He's using a rotary mower not a MMM.

 

[rekees4300]

I'm not sure I agree with this. He's using a rotary mower not a MMM.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rekees4300
Lesson not learned: Remove FEL before mowing.

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I should have said "Remove FEL before mowing slopes". Nevertheless even on level ground removing the FEL will increase stability and reduce front axle stress.