BX25D - Traversing a slope for mowing... max?

[dragoneggs]

Okay folks, I have an acre of sloped property. Some have already seen a bit of what I am dealing with but here is another question. I am planning to terrace as necessary using Allen Block, trying to limit my steps (wall heights) to 4ft and I want to gently slope the areas between the steps so that it is comfortable to mow traversing the slope. The big question is what is the degree or percent slope you recommend for this using my BX25D and a 60in MMM? I installed the BroTek wheel spacers. Please make sure you specify whether you are talking degrees or %slope! I guess in more simple terms, what angle should I feel comfortable driving my BX across??? First pic actually might not do the slope justice. Second pic looking up from the bottom and giving you an idea of the debris field I am beginning with.

 

[willi67]

I have a BX2360, 60" MMM and 2" spacers .. feels safe to me going sideways across 25 degrees.

 

[dragoneggs]

I have a BX2360, 60" MMM and 2" spacers .. feels safe to me going sideways across 25 degrees.

Okay... added some pics (edited original post). Just installed a free app for my iPhone today called Tiltmeter. I mounted it to the top of the engine cover of my BX using a windshield suction cup and calibrated it to level. Seems pretty accurate (at least for this exercise) but the vibration of the engine makes the reading not steady. Need to either turn off the engine or come up with a way to dampen the vibration.

Oh, I forgot to say... Wow 25 degrees still seems scary to me!

 

[willi67]

Nice pics .. I replied too soon lol .. I reckon I could go across that cleared area no probs. Here is a pic of mine at 22degrees. Have used it on steeper hills but I think 25 degrees would be my safe limit

 

[4shorts]

I was a heavy equipment operator for many years and I kept all our equipment as level as I could at all times while operating.

I would never use a dozer sideways because they could side sideways. I wouldn't mow sideways either if I could simply go up and down the hill to mow. Yes it's a pain to do it that way but It's SAFE. Get rid of the tilt meter or app. I'm sorry if I'm about to hurt anyone's feeling but tilt meters are nothing but a gadget on a tractor. there great on a crane or boom truck but not on a tractor. You'll spend more time looking at them and loosing consentration on the work ahead of you.

Instead of using a tilt meter use what I call my comfort zone sensor. It's built into you. Everyone has one. If your doing something and it don't feel comfortable or right then its probably not and DON'T DO IT.

These machines can do a lot of work and your off to a great start but please be safe. If your going to be "out of level" put on your seat belt. The safest place to be in a rollover is in the machine. Never try and jump clear and keep telling yourself this until its etched in your mind.
Glad your enjoying your new machine but please be safe.
Cheers. Paul

 

[RaydaKub]

I'd agree with Paul. The tilt meter is interesting, but only from after-the-fact. Your pucker factor will tell you more than anything else.

So, first, get rid of the FEL and backhoe in order to mow. The FEL will transfer several hundred pounds off the solid rear axle onto the rocky front axle. Not good. I gotta believe the hoe is too top heavy, though I don't have one. I can ride my BX w/o spacers on a 25 degree slope pretty easily, though I go really slow. The first part of your yard looks WAY more steep than that, just below the deck. I can't imagine mowing that at all. Obviously you are mowing it now, but I don't know what you are using to do it.The rest of this property doesn't look too bad to me, but I would go up and down for most of it if I could. That's just being smart. I'll be interested to see what you end up with there. Right now the rocks might make mowing an expensive exercise.

 

[Larro Darro]

When I worked at a little nine hole golf course, the back side of two of the greens were about like your hill. What I did was to go straight down with the tractor in a lower gear. The first couple of times will raise your heart rate, but as long as you keep it going straight down the hill, it is safe. Like 4shorts and RaydaKub said, wear your seat belt and take off as much weight as you can. And remember it doesn't have to be mowed as often as the rest of your property. You might think about using a good bush hog until you get it into better shape. That is what we did on the steepest slopes. With the rear wheel off, you can mow pretty close with it. It just takes a little practice handling the lift. Good luck.

 

[dragoneggs]

I was a heavy equipment operator for many years and I kept all our equipment as level as I could at all times while operating.

I would never use a dozer sideways because they could side sideways. I wouldn't mow sideways either if I could simply go up and down the hill to mow. Yes it's a pain to do it that way but It's SAFE. Get rid of the tilt meter or app. I'm sorry if I'm about to hurt anyone's feeling but tilt meters are nothing but a gadget on a tractor. there great on a crane or boom truck but not on a tractor. You'll spend more time looking at them and loosing consentration on the work ahead of you.

Instead of using a tilt meter use what I call my comfort zone sensor. It's built into you. Everyone has one. If your doing something and it don't feel comfortable or right then its probably not and DON'T DO IT.

These machines can do a lot of work and your off to a great start but please be safe. If your going to be "out of level" put on your seat belt. The safest place to be in a rollover is in the machine. Never try and jump clear and keep telling yourself this until its etched in your mind.
Glad your enjoying your new machine but please be safe.
Cheers. Paul

Thanks for chiming in Paul! Agreed the tiltmeter is just a fun free app I installed for curiosity. The pucker factor is there regardless. My main purpose was just to get a 'feel' for the slope that I want to grade. The reason I want/need to mow sideways is because the distance between the tiers will be very short (two mower passes probably) but a 100ft in the sideways direction. I may end up doing it all with a push mower if I can't design it right.

 

[dragoneggs]

I'd agree with Paul. The tilt meter is interesting, but only from after-the-fact. Your pucker factor will tell you more than anything else.

So, first, get rid of the FEL and backhoe in order to mow. The FEL will transfer several hundred pounds off the solid rear axle onto the rocky front axle. Not good. I gotta believe the hoe is too top heavy, though I don't have one. I can ride my BX w/o spacers on a 25 degree slope pretty easily, though I go really slow. The first part of your yard looks WAY more steep than that, just below the deck. I can't imagine mowing that at all. Obviously you are mowing it now, but I don't know what you are using to do it.The rest of this property doesn't look too bad to me, but I would go up and down for most of it if I could. That's just being smart. I'll be interested to see what you end up with there. Right now the rocks might make mowing an expensive exercise.

Thanks for the comments, Kay, Yes if I do end up with a MMM (depending on what I can actually grade appropriately) I would remove the FEL and BH. Long ways from that point... lots of dirt work to do first.

You are correct, the upper part of the hill next to house is way too steep to mow. I have to use a weedwacker and that is what I am trying to avoid. It is treacherous. I surely don't want to add any more lawn that requires that kind of maintenance. I have a great Honda self propelled push mower that works great and use it for other areas and that might just get more business if I can't landscape the lower area with enough gradual slopes and terraces that allow a MMM to navigate.

 

[brin]

As Paul said...Up & Down ...no sideways...stay safe...if you slide and the downhill wheels catch a rock or depression , you are going over...not worth the chance...Stay safe

 

[JimRB]

I did not know you mow rock gardens.. Maybe do bigger terraces if you think you have to mow. Some would just plant some ground cover to keep things from eroding. Blue Rug Juniper Plants

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Kubota Lawn & Garden
Look at the posts on the F and I've made a video and some pics of angles I do with an F but would NEVER do or consider doing with a B or BX.

 

[dragoneggs]

Kubota Lawn & Garden
Look at the posts on the F and I've made a video and some pics of angles I do with an F but would NEVER do or consider doing with a B or BX.

Thanks JT... I watched some of the videos. Yes steeper than I plan to grade for sure.

 

[dragoneggs]

I did not know you mow rock gardens.. Maybe do bigger terraces if you think you have to mow. Some would just plant some ground cover to keep things from eroding. Blue Rug Juniper Plants

Hi Jim, no I won't be mowing rocks but if I could I would! Seriously, even if I don't plant lawn to mow, I still want to comfortably access my gardens with my BX for maintenance, spreading mulch/bark, planting, digging, pruning, etc.

 

[4shorts]

Thanks for chiming in Paul! Agreed the tiltmeter is just a fun free app I installed for curiosity. The pucker factor is there regardless. My main purpose was just to get a 'feel' for the slope that I want to grade. The reason I want/need to mow sideways is because the distance between the tiers will be very short (two mower passes probably) but a 100ft in the sideways direction. I may end up doing it all with a push mower if I can't design it right.

Your kindly welcome. Just be careful. Don't want to see anything happen to a valued TBN member :thumbsup:

 

[BleedingOrange]

I share the concern while mowing on a slope as well. Another concern I have is engine oiling. Is the pickup for the oil on one side or the other in the oilpan ? Is there any concern with sucking in air instead of oil if it,s all on the low side ?

 

[BobRip]

I saw a video once of a tractor mowing across a hill. It was doing fine until the front down hill side wheel went into a shallow hole, then it went over.

 

[dragoneggs]

Again, my real issue is taming my slope! Mowing is just one issue and in the grand scheme of things not the biggest. I first have to cut relatively level areas and will build a bunch of 4ft retaining walls with block. I will start another thread for those adventures but I was trying to get an idea of what %slope people are comfortable moving/turning around on so I can safely (w/o pucker factor) use my BX for whatever I might want to do.

 

[dragoneggs]

I saw a video once of a tractor mowing across a hill. It was doing fine until the front down hill side wheel went into a shallow hole, then it went over.

This is a real concern for me now as I have freshly cleared and very rough and loose soil. I think I am going to have to use my BH to slowly even out a traversing path.

 

[94BULLITT]

You need it to be comfortable for you.

I have gone across slopes a little over 30* with the BX. I don't know really what the steepest slope I have gone up is. I don't have a inclinometer for that direction. I know I can go up the 30* slopes I have gone across and it does not feel bad at all.