I just bought a 440 Steiner. Very nice machine, but....

[masseygreg]

I bought a beautifully clean and well maintained Steiner 440 Kubota 25hp diesel. I realize the 440 is the bastard child of the Steiner machines. My big problem is that the machine is a bit twitchy on a slope. Apparently the mower takes weight off the front axle. Ventrac has a built in weight transfer mechanism but Steiner skipped this feature and offered a optional add on kit which is not available any more. Does anyone have ideas how I can get weight on the front axle to regain steering control? I'm considering loading the tires? Help please!

 

[5030]

Front wheel weights maybe?

 

[masseygreg]

Front wheel weights maybe?

I thought that, but can't find any. Also thinking loading the tires?

 

[oldnslo]

Is it losing weight because pushing mower lifts the front similar to how a loader lifts front of the tractor? If yes that would require some linkage from deck lift to rear axle to transfer that push behind the pivot point.

Loaded tires would help along with wheel weights if you can find some that fit.

Nice clean looking machine

 

[masseygreg]

Is it losing weight because pushing mower lifts the front similar to how a loader lifts front of the tractor? If yes that would require some linkage from deck lift to rear axle to transfer that push behind the pivot point.

Loaded tires would help along with wheel weights if you can find some that fit.

Nice clean looking machine

I can't get my head around the fact that the mower takes weight off the front axle because the mower operates in the float position. The weight transfer solution is to add springs to lift around 125# of the mower weight and put it on the tractor. I am considering weighting the front axle but I hate the idea of adding weight to a mowing machine unnecessarily. I hope someone here has dealt with this before.

 

[oldnslo]

In the pictures it looks like mower lift pivot point is in front of and above the front axle. While in float and driving forward resistance to mower moving makes the front of tractor rise and want to raise and climb over the deck.

Simple solution sounds like filling tires or adding 125# weight.

More complex solution is designing and building the spring suspension system.

 

[Cycledude]

Sorry you got stuck with such a lousy machine maybe try putting it up for sale and see if someone else might be interested in buying it.

 

[Jrasband]

You can make a bracket to hang barbell weights on the front wheels, also fill your tires with fluid.

Check out wheel weights below to see what I mean. They will not bolt to your hubs but will show you what I mean.

Wheel Accessories - Earth Tools

 

[MowMN]

Do you have the mower in float when on the hillsides? One relatively simple solutions is to take it out of float and raise the deck just a bit. Doesn’t take much as, in doing so, weight will transfer off of the mower deck and onto the front axle.

 

[masseygreg]

Do you have the mower in float when on the hillsides? One relatively simple solutions is to take it out of float and raise the deck just a bit. Doesn’t take much as, in doing so, weight will transfer off of the mower deck and onto the front axle.