I have a 1920 with 4WD and a FEL and a 5ft. bushhog type mower. I have a slope(I am not good at judging how many degrees it is). It looks to be about as steep or steeper than jinmans signature picture except about 300 feet from top to bottom. It is about 1 acre to mow and it is about 4 feet tall grass(weeds) and I can't see the ground so I can't see if there are rocks or holes. It is flat at the bottom and at the top of the slope so I know I will mow from top to bottom. Once I am at the bottom I can drive around the slope back to the top and take one swipe at a time. I already know that I need to be in the slowest speed and in 4WD. My question is should I have weight in the loader to aid in traction or would that make it worse? If not, should I have loader bucket turned toward the ground so if I should start to slide I could lower the bucket to help in stopping? I already have figured that once I start down the hill there will be no stopping with the brakes as they will probably lock up which will cause it to slide.
Need advice on mowing a slope.
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whistlepig
Elite Member
I would mow it by backing up the hill the first time. I would also take the loader off. A loader makes a tractor top heavy.
Need advice on mowing a slope
I have a Ford 1920 with 4WD and a FEL and a 5ft. bushhog type mower. I have a slope(I am not good at judging how many degrees it is). It is about 300 feet from top to bottom. It is about 1 acre to mow and it is about 4 feet tall grass(weeds) and I can't see the ground so I can't see if there are rocks or holes. It is flat at the bottom and at the top of the slope so I know I will mow from top to bottom. Once I am at the bottom I can drive around the slope back to the top and take one swipe at a time. I already know that I need to be in the slowest speed and in 4WD. My question is should I have weight in the loader to aid in traction or would that make it worse? If not, should I have loader bucket turned toward the ground so if I should start to slide I could lower the bucket to help in stopping? I already have figured that once I start down the hill there will be no stopping with the brakes as they will probably lock up which will cause it to slide.
I have a Ford 1920 with 4WD and a FEL and a 5ft. bushhog type mower. I have a slope(I am not good at judging how many degrees it is). It is about 300 feet from top to bottom. It is about 1 acre to mow and it is about 4 feet tall grass(weeds) and I can't see the ground so I can't see if there are rocks or holes. It is flat at the bottom and at the top of the slope so I know I will mow from top to bottom. Once I am at the bottom I can drive around the slope back to the top and take one swipe at a time. I already know that I need to be in the slowest speed and in 4WD. My question is should I have weight in the loader to aid in traction or would that make it worse? If not, should I have loader bucket turned toward the ground so if I should start to slide I could lower the bucket to help in stopping? I already have figured that once I start down the hill there will be no stopping with the brakes as they will probably lock up which will cause it to slide.
rekees4300
Elite Member
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
FEL's and slopes are a dangerous combination, suggest removing the FEL before mowing. It will cause less traction and stability problems.
FEL's and slopes are a dangerous combination, suggest removing the FEL before mowing. It will cause less traction and stability problems.
Rustyiron
Super Member
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
I've been on some steep slopes that are only up and down, that is drive down & back up (mowing) but if it is so steep that you are thinking about digging in the bucket to stop the tractor, It sounds way to steep for a tractor, find another way. Rent a tracked skid steer with a mower. 'bout the only thing that I can think of.:thumbsup:
I've been on some steep slopes that are only up and down, that is drive down & back up (mowing) but if it is so steep that you are thinking about digging in the bucket to stop the tractor, It sounds way to steep for a tractor, find another way. Rent a tracked skid steer with a mower. 'bout the only thing that I can think of.:thumbsup:
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
I don't think I would really need to use the bucket I just thought it might could double as an emergency brake. The slope is no steeper than what I have seen mowed on the side of the interstate but their tractors are rigged up for that. One of those guys would probably mow this slope going across it. But they do that kind of thing all the time.
I had never thought of backing up the hill while mowing. Is that safer than mowing while going down?
I don't think I would really need to use the bucket I just thought it might could double as an emergency brake. The slope is no steeper than what I have seen mowed on the side of the interstate but their tractors are rigged up for that. One of those guys would probably mow this slope going across it. But they do that kind of thing all the time.
I had never thought of backing up the hill while mowing. Is that safer than mowing while going down?
whistlepig
Elite Member
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
The loader will get you in more trouble than it will get you out of. If you consider the hill unsafe then it is unsafe. You are the sole judge of this. I would mow by backing up the hill until I got the "feel" of the hill. Once you start sliding on a hill there is nothing you can do to stop this.
The loader will get you in more trouble than it will get you out of. If you consider the hill unsafe then it is unsafe. You are the sole judge of this. I would mow by backing up the hill until I got the "feel" of the hill. Once you start sliding on a hill there is nothing you can do to stop this.
Rustyiron
Super Member
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
PS keep in mind that a long slope (like your 300 footer) looks steeper than a short slope. Do you know if this been tractor "mowed" before? Stand back and (if the slope is at a continous angle) look at a small portion just in front of you. Looking out level (into the slope) how far away is eye level, 15' or so? thats not a bad slope really, just long! Now if you're at 10' or so that's steep. I never worried about the FEL on hills as long as I was going up and down. The tractor doesn't care and it's allways nice to use it a a early detection device for big rocks. Stability with a FEL only comes into play when side sloping. And if some one else has mowed this before, chances are you'll be fine, just use your head.
PS keep in mind that a long slope (like your 300 footer) looks steeper than a short slope. Do you know if this been tractor "mowed" before? Stand back and (if the slope is at a continous angle) look at a small portion just in front of you. Looking out level (into the slope) how far away is eye level, 15' or so? thats not a bad slope really, just long! Now if you're at 10' or so that's steep. I never worried about the FEL on hills as long as I was going up and down. The tractor doesn't care and it's allways nice to use it a a early detection device for big rocks. Stability with a FEL only comes into play when side sloping. And if some one else has mowed this before, chances are you'll be fine, just use your head.
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
I have seen aerial pictures of the land before and it looks like it has been mowed. I am probably making it out to be worse than it is but since I have never mowed it before I just don't want to take any chances. And if I can use the equipment on the tractor (and the advise of this forum on the best way to do it) to my advantage I want to do that.
When I am looking at the slope should I be standing at the base of it looking at the slope? So if I am 6 ft. tall and I am looking straight ahead into the slope and my eye level at the slope is about 15 feet away then that should be okay?
I have seen aerial pictures of the land before and it looks like it has been mowed. I am probably making it out to be worse than it is but since I have never mowed it before I just don't want to take any chances. And if I can use the equipment on the tractor (and the advise of this forum on the best way to do it) to my advantage I want to do that.
When I am looking at the slope should I be standing at the base of it looking at the slope? So if I am 6 ft. tall and I am looking straight ahead into the slope and my eye level at the slope is about 15 feet away then that should be okay?
Rustyiron
Super Member
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
I wouldn't say that it was "safer" but generally, if you backed - up hill, and got into a traction situation, chances are that you will safely be able to drive back down to the comforting safety of flat ground:laughing:
I wouldn't say that it was "safer" but generally, if you backed - up hill, and got into a traction situation, chances are that you will safely be able to drive back down to the comforting safety of flat ground:laughing:
whistlepig
Elite Member
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
If you start sliding at the top of the hill most likely you are going to slide all the way down. Tractor picks up speed on the way down. If you lose traction backing up the hill you will only slide to the place you that you lost traction. This will only be a few feet. Is this a PITA? It certainly is.
If you start sliding at the top of the hill most likely you are going to slide all the way down. Tractor picks up speed on the way down. If you lose traction backing up the hill you will only slide to the place you that you lost traction. This will only be a few feet. Is this a PITA? It certainly is.
rekees4300
Elite Member
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
Mowing 101 - Before mowing an unfamiliar area, examine it on foot.
I know walking in 4 foot overgrowth wont be fun but it's better than having your front tire(s) drop into a deep hole or hit a big rock. That could have serious consequences.
Mowing 101 - Before mowing an unfamiliar area, examine it on foot.
I know walking in 4 foot overgrowth wont be fun but it's better than having your front tire(s) drop into a deep hole or hit a big rock. That could have serious consequences.
Rustyiron
Super Member
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
It is very hard to estimate "looking level", it is VERY deceiving. For about $14 you can get a locke or sight level at HD/Lowes, about 7" long and by ways of a mirror inside you look thru it and a bubble for level is in your view. Not knowing your level of tractor/machinery experience, be very cautious! There are very subtle hints that your machine will communicate to you that you will only hear after hours and hours of ***** in the seat listening practice. When things start to go wrong on a hill. they do it real fast! Don't "tractor" beyond your abilities! If you are concerned, it's prolly for a good reason. Keep in mind the 15' deal is also dependant of ground conditions, available traction, vegatation cover, etc.
It is very hard to estimate "looking level", it is VERY deceiving. For about $14 you can get a locke or sight level at HD/Lowes, about 7" long and by ways of a mirror inside you look thru it and a bubble for level is in your view. Not knowing your level of tractor/machinery experience, be very cautious! There are very subtle hints that your machine will communicate to you that you will only hear after hours and hours of ***** in the seat listening practice. When things start to go wrong on a hill. they do it real fast! Don't "tractor" beyond your abilities! If you are concerned, it's prolly for a good reason. Keep in mind the 15' deal is also dependant of ground conditions, available traction, vegatation cover, etc.
Scooby074
Super Member
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
Id get an angle finder and a 2x4. Try and lay it on the slope to get a ROUGH idea what were looking at.
I sidehill a ~20* slope with my BX. Take the bucket off as it raises the centre of gravity. At least until you mow it a few times. If you go straight up and down you can do a much steeper hill then sidehilling. Its safer too.
Even a photo would help.
Id get an angle finder and a 2x4. Try and lay it on the slope to get a ROUGH idea what were looking at.
I sidehill a ~20* slope with my BX. Take the bucket off as it raises the centre of gravity. At least until you mow it a few times. If you go straight up and down you can do a much steeper hill then sidehilling. Its safer too.
Even a photo would help.
JoelT
Silver Member
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
The loader, empty, is good for finding obstructions but digging in to stop might backfire. That takes weight off the front tires traction and with some hydraulics things could actually jackknife lifting the front totally off the ground. Back up the middle of your area. If you have enough traction pulling up a grade you definitely have it going down. Move in and out of 4wd just to see your limits. You might end up mowing up and down. I had an area similar to yours and found I could mow down in 2wd, though I use 4wd. It's amazing what these tractors can do, although I don't do much of any grade when it's wet. My pucker factor limits are way less than my JD4310's.
The loader, empty, is good for finding obstructions but digging in to stop might backfire. That takes weight off the front tires traction and with some hydraulics things could actually jackknife lifting the front totally off the ground. Back up the middle of your area. If you have enough traction pulling up a grade you definitely have it going down. Move in and out of 4wd just to see your limits. You might end up mowing up and down. I had an area similar to yours and found I could mow down in 2wd, though I use 4wd. It's amazing what these tractors can do, although I don't do much of any grade when it's wet. My pucker factor limits are way less than my JD4310's.
whistlepig
Elite Member
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
Any weight that is added to a tractor that is above its axles will make the center of gravity higher on the tractor. Or top heavy so to speak.
Any weight that is added to a tractor that is above its axles will make the center of gravity higher on the tractor. Or top heavy so to speak.
barbqranch
Silver Member
How does a loader make a tractor top heavy if it is down near the ground? Just curious. I do have hills to mow also, but not that bad or that long.
JoeL4330
Platinum Member
Re: Need advice on mowing a slope
I don't believe the CG in the vertical plane is at the axles ...I would bet it is just about at the attachment/pivot point for the loader ...by design ...so, with the bucket pretty much level, the CG (in the vertical plane) is just about unchanged ...lower a loaded bucket and (I bet) the CG will be lowered, so advice to take the buck off is not necessarily on the mark. The bucket will, of course, change the fore/aft CG, as will a RAISED 3ph implement ...but if the mower is in contact with the ground, it has no effect (that's why, if your rears lose traction in 2wd mowing down a steep slope and the tractor wants to run away, raising the mower can help ...puts weight on the rears ...of course, it is always best to use 4wd coming down a steep slope so that engine breaking on the fronts helps control things.
I don't believe the CG in the vertical plane is at the axles ...I would bet it is just about at the attachment/pivot point for the loader ...by design ...so, with the bucket pretty much level, the CG (in the vertical plane) is just about unchanged ...lower a loaded bucket and (I bet) the CG will be lowered, so advice to take the buck off is not necessarily on the mark. The bucket will, of course, change the fore/aft CG, as will a RAISED 3ph implement ...but if the mower is in contact with the ground, it has no effect (that's why, if your rears lose traction in 2wd mowing down a steep slope and the tractor wants to run away, raising the mower can help ...puts weight on the rears ...of course, it is always best to use 4wd coming down a steep slope so that engine breaking on the fronts helps control things.
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