Rotary Cutter Do Batwing Mowers Increase Lateral Stability on Hills?

[4Papa]

I've got a 100hp, (9K lbs) filled rear tires tractor pulling a Bush Hog 2215, 15' batwing. For now I'm mowing about 6 acres of former horse pasture on a slope that varies from 5% to 20-30%. As I'm a fair chicken on slopes, I usually run straight up and down on the steepest sections, but that often causes scalping and damaging the blades. So, I'm now wondering, when pulling the mower--as opposed to nothing up front or in back--is the tractor more stable on the hills? My logic suggests yes, because the 4,500# mower with its extremely low center of gravity lowers the tractor's center of gravity, at least near the draw bar. With an HD attachment carried low on the front forks, the low CoG will move forward. Any thoughts? I'd like to mow across the slope, or at least on the transverse angle to keep from beating up my mower and blades. Thanks in advance.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I would not bet on that at all. I have an integrated 10' 56hp bat wing mower that has tremenous capabilty on hills. Can run circles around my steiner, but it's all one unit.

 

[4570Man]

How heavy is the draw bar on the bush hog?

 

[Industrial Toys]

That's just crazy. I mean the wings are of no consequence in this case. It's like asking if you have a trailer with a heavy tongue weight, if you can drive on steeper slopes!

 

[4570Man]

That's just crazy. I mean the wings are of no consequence in this case. It's like asking if you have a trailer with a heavy tongue weight, if you can drive on steeper slopes!

Not entirely. Adding more weight on a low point like the draw bar would lower the center of gravity.

 

[RickB]

It’s not going to make a tangible difference.

 

[Industrial Toys]

That's what I would think and giving you any illusion of a safer setup is just plain dangerous. If you ask me.

I had this rig, with also a good amount of tongue weight, but I never dreamed it would increase my stability.

 

[4570Man]

It’s not going to make a tangible difference.

It’s probably got a hitch weight of 1,000 pounds or more. We all know loaded tires or wheel weights help stability. How would another 1000 pounds sitting even lower not help? But 30 percent grade isn’t even very steep.

 

[RickB]

It’s not going to make a tangible difference.

It’s probably got a hitch weight of 1,000 pounds or more. But 30 percent grade isn’t even very steep.

It’s not going to affect his pucker factor enough to make any difference. If he is uncomfortable on a slope grabbing the batwing isn’t going to change that.

 

[4570Man]

He didn’t ask if it would make him feel better. The question was would it increase stability.

 

[Industrial Toys]

You used to see more low profile mowing tractors. Low turf tires, spread out far. Probably not even any ROPS back in the 70s. That's what you want. Your average loader tractor has no business being on a hillside!

Something like this:

 

[4Papa]

He didn稚 ask if it would make him feel better. The question was would it increase stability.

Tongue weight (transferred to the draw bar) is 1,500 lbs. And yes, if the batwing increases stability, I would feel better. As remarked by one of my (farmer) neighbors, the tractor can handle my slopes better than my nerves can.

 

[kf4uda]

Widen your rear wheels as much as you can. That will help some. Your pull type batwing won’t help with stability.

 

[ovrszd]

He didn稚 ask if it would make him feel better. The question was would it increase stability.

Yes it will. Until it starts trying to drag the rear of the tractor sideways down the hill. Then the mathematics change quickly and dramatically. Too late then.

I give my 15' batwing no credit for adding sideslope stability. I mow on slopes steep enough that the upper wing barely covers my tractor track.

 

[RickB]

Yes it will. Until it starts trying to drag the rear of the tractor sideways down the hill. Then the mathematics change quickly and dramatically. Too late then.

I give my 15' batwing no credit for adding sideslope stability. I mow on slopes steep enough that the upper wing barely covers my tractor track.

Great answer. I tire easily of questions about slope, stability and rollovers. Analyses of different variables are never linear and the typical TBN member wants to quantify everything and marry every possibility to a math formula. Tractors, land and ground conditions don’t strictly adhere to that.

 

[dieselscout80]

That's what I would think and giving you any illusion of a safer setup is just plain dangerous. If you ask me.

I had this rig, with also a good amount of tongue weight, but I never dreamed it would increase my stability.

View attachment 607940

What brand is your batwing mower?

How high will it cut.

 

[ovrszd]

Great answer. I tire easily of questions about slope, stability and rollovers. Analyses of different variables are never linear and the typical TBN member wants to quantify everything and marry every possibility to a math formula. Tractors, land and ground conditions don’t strictly adhere to that.

Agree.

 

[4Papa]

I give my 15' batwing no credit for adding sideslope stability. I mow on slopes steep enough that the upper wing barely covers my tractor track.

As Yoda would say, "A can of worms, he opened." Is the assumption from the above quote to mean that the mower has already begun sliding as it’s not tracking directly behind the tractor and that the tractor would safely traverse the slope without the batwing attached?

 

[FTG-05]

According to my neighbor, who I pay to cut my hills each year, his 15' increases his stability such that he can cut my hill side-to-side vs up and down like I do with Kubotal L4330. He uses an M5060; his tires are not widened as near as I can tell.

Here is the hill I used to cut and now he does:

 

[aczlan]

What brand is your batwing mower?

How high will it cut.

Looks like an Almo Grass Flex which was available in 13-1/2', 14-1/2', 15-1/2' and 16-1/2' cut models.
I would hazard a guess that mower is a 15.5' or 16.5' wide cut model and most of those go from a 1.5" cut to a 5-6" high cut.

Aaron Z