coasting down slopes in neutral or clutch in, bad?

[ugabulldog]

owners manual says "do not coast down slopes with tractor in gear and clutch disengaged, or with the transmission in neutral". I know it would be bad to let clutch out in too low of a gear or traveling too fast,..... but other than that, What would doing either damage?

Also, if this is indeed bad, I assume that rolling backwards a few feet with clutch in would not hurt rather than having to change from forwards to reverse instead?

 

[Bravo Xray]

Probably depends on the slope, but if you need to reduce speed at some point, a re-engagement of the clutch or a tap of the brakes just might cause you to lose traction, and the result might not be pretty. Best bet would be to keep it in gear if the slope is steeper than a few degrees, or the potential speed of the machine could be greater than will be easily controlled.

Most likely not bad for the machine to coast, but potentially bad for the operator.

 

[52wej]

The biggest problem with coasting is you can quickly pick up speed to a point where you lose control of the tractor and equipment. Even if in gear on wet ground a wheel can slip and cause you to slide, especially if one wheel slips and the other does not. Going down hill proper traction is even more important than going up hill; especially with a heavy load behind the tractor. I know many who have tried coasting, and fortunately lived to tell about their experiences. Loss of control of a tractor with equipment is just plain scary.

Having said that there certainly are some modest spots where you could allow the tractor to roll a short distance and be able to bring it to a stop with the brakes; either forward or backwards. But be careful. W. Jones

 

[boggen]

owners manual says "do not coast down slopes with tractor in gear and clutch disengaged, or with the transmission in neutral". I know it would be bad to let clutch out in too low of a gear or traveling too fast,..... but other than that, What would doing either damage?

Also, if this is indeed bad, I assume that rolling backwards a few feet with clutch in would not hurt rather than having to change from forwards to reverse instead?

other words... you going down a hill, you push the clutch in, or toss shifter in netural. and suddenly you let clutch engage. this can be like putting a sudden brick wall hitting the engine and your drive shafts, and your transmission, etc... there is no "saftey" device. like there is on a PTO shaft "shear pin" or "slip clutch".

generally i end up putting tractor in low gear approaching the hill (yet to go down it), so i can let the "engine act some what as a break". if HST the transmission can some what act like a brake. and keep things under control. while actually on hill, i never actually shift / change gears / change range.

i never really let a tractor "coast" to much weight, and generally to slippery of conditions, and/or on mud/grass were conditions are even worse. i want to stay in control. not let it free wheel on me.

 

[ericm979]

Owners manual says it for a reason. Coasting in neutral or with the clutch in is less safe. You're totally depending on the brakes to slow the vehicle. Tractors are heavy and will gain speed fast. There's no advantage to coasting.

If you're holding the clutch while coasting in you're wearing the throwout bearing needlessly. If it's in neutral you may not be able to get it into gear should you need to. Tractor transmissions don't have synchromesh like cars do. Riding the brakes downhill wears them needlessly. If they're dry brakes and it's a long downhill the brakes may overheat.

OTOH rolling a few feet backwards with the clutch in and in forward gear won't hurt. Don't let the clutch out to slow the tractor, use the brakes. It's easier on the drivetrain. Replacing brakes doesn't require splitting the tractor like replacing the clutch does.

 

[coralhead]

If you are not familiar with how to drive a Massey Ferguson with Multi-Power you may be in for a surprise going down a slope in Multi-Power low.

 

[Coyote machine]

If you are not familiar with how to drive a Massey Ferguson with Multi-Power you may be in for a surprise going down a slope in Multi-Power low.

Can you elaborate on what this entails?
Thanks,
CM

BTW, I agree that the safest way to handle slopes is to be in control of your machine, and the best way to accomplish this is to remain in gear and let the transmission be part of the 'breaking' efforts. For instance my Kioti uses a 'wet' brake system, which means the brakes are actually submersed in hydraulic fluid in the transmission; so if I allow it to be in neutral there is essentially no control going downhill. AND I can't, because of no 'syncrosmash', shift into a range (gear) when the tractor is rolling.
So best practice is to use whatever is available, including and especially common sense to control downhill/slope descents, including, but not limited to seat belts and ROPS in full upright position.

 

[sandman2234]

Rolling backwards in neutral and dumping the clutch may have a rollover effect... be careful!!!
David from jax

 

[Texasmark]

Agree with others: Once you start sliding you are dead meat! In N, especially with a non synchronous tranny, you can't get the gears to mesh (can't grab a gear) when they get to moving fast....on a fast roll down a hill. On the clutch, while in gear, the minute you let it out you may do it too fast and break traction. The engine makes for a super brake going down hill when the throttle is cut back and is slow to break traction on the rears.

The heavier the tractor, steeper the slope, and wetter the terrain, the higher the risk. That's why I gave up on a tractor for mowing my pond dam and just use a lightweight 46" hydro riding mower with ATV snow tires going parallel to the bank. Trying to mow with a 1000# ZT is/was just asking for it.......that was after I gave up on using a tractor that was just asking for it.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Unless you are in 4WD if it's a 4WD you have no braking on the front. The back brakes of most tractors are crude with one side not adjusted the same as the other. So it will steer you violently to one side. So, often on a tractor, you simply can't re-engage a gear at speed and then all you have left is these dangerous back brakes.