Freewheeling downhill on a new TC55DA

[jt7157]

I got my new TC55DA about two weeks ago, and today I ran it for about six hours bush hogging some pretty steep hills. On three occasions, the tractor broke traction and started accelerating down the hill. Since the overall distance to the bottom was not too great, I just rode it out--no real safety problem in this circumstance. However, I have additional property with steep hills that I absolutely will be in big trouble if this happens. What's really frightening about it is today, after reaching the bottom of the hill, the tractor just came to a stop as if I had the clutch (inch peddle) in. The gear shift selector was in gear, and the forward/reverse selector was in forward, but the tractor was in neutral. This happened all three times. Now I've lost traction on steep hills before, on my Dad's old Ferguson, but on that tractor, once I reached the bottom of the hill, the tractor (still in gear) continued to drive. My new New Holland is scary in that this phenomenon happened going down a hill in mid range second gear and in mid range first gear and each time it's as if the tractor popped out of gear. I had the tractor in four wheel drive each time. I suppose the slope was too great and the machine just broke traction and the newer tractors will not stay in gear if speed becomes to great. I did continue to mow, and I came down the same slope perhaps as many as twenty other times without breaking traction. My tractor has R4's. My rotary cutter in a Bush Hog 296. The weather conditions were good--late afternoon on a hot dry day--no moisture on the ground. I was mowing with the front loader installed. Anybody got any ideas?

 

[schmism]

i thought any TC with DA at the end was HST....

there is a presure bypass on the HST system, but ive got pancake flat ground by me soooooo....

 

[RickB]

i thought any TC with DA at the end was HST....

there is a presure bypass on the HST system, but ive got pancake flat ground by me soooooo....

The TC48DA and TC55DA are not offered in hydrostatic versions.

 

[FULLPULL]

It happend once to me when i stood up the seat switch activated a saftey i had to set down then shuttle back in gear.

 

[FULLPULL]

This is what i thought happend i know the seat switch had something to do with it .I am going to ask the dealer about it also.

 

[jt7157]

I've experienced the same thing when I stood up to get a better view of what was ahead of me. I think the safety aspect of this function is not altogether right. I have some rough land, and it would be good to be able to get a quick look ahead every now and then, but if I do, the tractor goes out of gear. During my downhill adventures, I never got out of the seat, so I suppose the tractor took itself out of gear for another reason, perhaps to protect the drivetrain somehow. It still worries me some, however. Would ag tires help with losing traction on slopes?

 

[Birdman253]

It doesn't sound to me like you lost traction. Sounds like the transmission neutralized for some reason. This should be checked thoroughly by a dealer to find out the reason.

 

[DieselMonk]

First i would try to override that safety switch on the seat bu jamming a piece of wood in there, then try it again. I never had mine pop out of gear. Did you go forward or backwards down that hill? Geeze, that must be some hill tho. Any pics?

 

[FULLPULL]

The last couple of time's i parked the tractor and left it running when i got off the seat it didnt kill the engine. Maybe this is a small warantee item. If you get off the seat it's should to kill the engine if the brake is not set. If you are running the tractor and stand up the transmission goes to neutral with the shuttle still engaged.It has to be a saftey switch or swich malfuntion.

 

[litnin]

I had the same thing happen to me with my new (16 hours now) TC40DA. I was going down a steep hill slowly in the lowest HST gear cutting with my finish mower and the front loader was in place. The tractor lost traction and skidded down the hill. I too had no need to panic as I have a level place at the bottom of the hill. I tried it again and it did the same thing. I just assumed that I was geared too low and when it lost traction, it just skidded down the hill. I have four skid marks to prove it! I also have R4's and felt that because they are directional, that is part of the reason for the slide. The tractor has no problem going UP the hill. I thought that next time, I would try it under power and not just letting the tractor creep down the hill. What do ya'll think?