4X4 downhill traction issue

[locknut]

Finally got the tires put on and tried it out today.Had about 2 in of rain up there Friday so the ground was somewhat soft but the grass was dry.What I observed today is that no matter what I do to try to slow the thing down,one rear wheel will start skidding and the only way to remedy that is to give it forward hydro and speed up,which is ok where there is plenty of room to run it out.Backpeddling the hydro only made things worse as the skidding rear turns backwards and more pedal breaks a front tire loose and turns it backwards.I still believe if the K664 had a rear locker where both rears would hold I could ease this thing down a hill without breaking traction,much like the Kubota.They make a K664 with a locker but I guess Simplicity was too cheap to spec it. Panther 4WD | Seco GROUP a.s. Of course,the manual says to not use the machine on slopes over 10 deg.If one has no slopes over 10 deg,there would be no need to get a 4WD.

Anyway,here's a couple pics.Notice the skidding starts not too far downslope.This hill will be a mess with erosion with continued use like this.Not sure what I'm going to do.The Simplicity deck does a much better job cutting the remainder of the yard and doesn't scalp when breaking over the crest of several knobs in the yard.

 

[k0ua]

Well dang, I was really hoping the new tires would fix it, but I guess because the front tires don't really hold back any, and you effectively have a 2wd going down hill, Maybe it is a lost cause. I have a bank that may be steeper, and I can't mow it with the JD, I have to use the Kioti and the rotary cutter. Of course that is neither convenient to hook it up all the time just to mow the little bank, nor does it do a real pretty job. If I had lots of run out room I could go down it with the JD, but I don't.

James K0UA

 

[94BULLITT]

I have some steep spots the BX will slide off of. Locking the diff does not help it, 4WD is the only way to keep from sliding. Do you have anyway you could add some more weight to the back of it to test it out?

 

[JerryG]

Put on wheel weights.

 

[locknut]

Well dang, I was really hoping the new tires would fix it, but I guess because the front tires don't really hold back any, and you effectively have a 2wd going down hill, Maybe it is a lost cause. I have a bank that may be steeper, and I can't mow it with the JD, I have to use the Kioti and the rotary cutter. Of course that is neither convenient to hook it up all the time just to mow the little bank, nor does it do a real pretty job. If I had lots of run out room I could go down it with the JD, but I don't.

James K0UA

Yea,there's only one wheel trying to hold the thing back when it starts skidding.I guess I could design some brakes for the front wheels.That would for sure fix it. :thumbsup:

 

[locknut]

I have some steep spots the BX will slide off of. Locking the diff does not help it, 4WD is the only way to keep from sliding. Do you have anyway you could add some more weight to the back of it to test it out?

Not without building a weightbox,and I don't have any wheel weights for this tractor.I've tried adding weight previously on a rear drive tractor with aggressive tires and it made very little difference.With a hill this steep you really need traction on both axles on the downhill run.One thing I didn't mention is that I'm only carrying a 115lb 44" deck from an old Broadmoor.I may put the 54" deck on it and see how it does pulling it uphill.Downhill I'm sure will be worse as it weighs 192lbs.

 

[94BULLITT]

Is there anyway you can modify the hydro to keep it from freewheeling?

 

[Tollster]

On my BX I also have to engage 4x4. Perhaps you could put a 5 gallon pail of concrete on the rear trailer tongue, with an aggressive tire and see how it works

 

[jenkinsph]

I know you have had a heck of a lot of rain lately but I suspect the ground surface will dry out quickly on a hill that steep. I would give it a try when it dries out more. Other than that you might be better off trading for a mower or subcut that can handle the slope.

 

[Dr Dave]

I saw my neighbor mowing his steap hill30 to 35 deg. He hasJD rider with tire chains. He goes straight up an down.

Dave

 

[SPYDERLK]

Not without building a weightbox,and I don't have any wheel weights for this tractor.I've tried adding weight previously on a rear drive tractor with aggressive tires and it made very little difference.With a hill this steep you really need traction on both axles on the downhill run.One thing I didn't mention is that I'm only carrying a 115lb 44" deck from an old Broadmoor.I may put the 54" deck on it and see how it does pulling it uphill.Downhill I'm sure will be worse as it weighs 192lbs.

The heavy mower should actually help a little because its weight is below CG and thereby shifts a larger proportion of weight to the rears when going down forward. ... Is there a less steep area you can drive down ok? You could drive down it and mow up the steep areas. Failing that; back down, and mow up.
larry

 

[locknut]

The heavy mower should actually help a little because its weight is below CG and thereby shifts a larger proportion of weight to the rears when going down forward. ... Is there a less steep area you can drive down ok? You could drive down it and mow up the steep areas. Failing that; back down, and mow up.
larry

On a suspended deck that would be true.These decks are hitched to the front axles and dragged around on the rear full-width rollers which adjust for the cutting height.Probably the best design out there to follow the ground contours.

 

[KubotainNH]

Yea,there's only one wheel trying to hold the thing back when it starts skidding.I guess I could design some brakes for the front wheels.That would for sure fix it. :thumbsup:

:thumbsup: This is one thing about 4 wheelers, all the wheels have brakes. Huge difference. for the price of some of these things you'd think they'd have better brakes. Hopefully you figure something out.

 

[94BULLITT]

Did you buy the machine new or used?

 

[locknut]

Bought it used with just under 100hrs on it.A new one set up w/54" deck is over 9K w/tax.My thought was to free up the GR from mowing duties,leave some of the cab frame on it over the summer months(takes two days to build it up from scratch),and use it for loader work,tilling,boxblading,etc.I had no idea how the 4WD system actually worked on this tractor as reviews are non existent.What I might do is modify the hitch on the Kubota straight blade and adapt it to this tractor and move it on.I no longer use it with the V-plow setup and it has power lift and angle.It's already orange,just swap out the decals.....

 

[csr0831]

Thats too bad locknut...was hoping the new tires would give you enough "bite" to slow down, but if wheel is basicly freewheeling, no amount of "bite" is gonna help. With your fabrication skills I am quite sure you could design some brakes for the front wheels, then you could move forward and use each machine as you planned.....I suspect it ,might be a pretty major project though. I do agree.....if you didn't have slopes in excess of 10% you wouldn't need 4WD in the first place.......I feel a long letter comeing for marketing and R&D (not that it would help).........

 

[hawkeye08]

Might be time to terrace the hill or change from grass to minimum upkeep type landscaping...

 

[KubotainNH]

I'm sure you could make something like this work for you. You got those rear wheels spread out quickly.

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[jenkinsph]

Tested my x749 today and the front axle does not freewheel

 

[locknut]

Tried another test last nite.Put a big floor jack under the back and drove across the shop floor at work.The front axle does have some holding power,but apparently not enough.Working on some ideas for front brakes.Bought some cheap mechanical calipers off ebay.We'll see where this goes.