Landing a Tractor in a Crosswind

Anonymous Poster · May 18, 2000

A friend of mine who knows a tad about tractors (he is currently the National FFA President) was surprised that I kept my brake peddles connected together since my property is hilly. He says to apply the uphill brake when crossing a slope to keep the tractor from sliding down the hill. It reminds me of landing a plane in a crosswind. If the force (wind or gravity) is coming from the right, apply right rudder or right brake in this case. I know that these peddles are to be connected while traveling at higher speeds for obvious reasons but do I really need to unhook them for mowing? Does operating the brakes independently tear up the turf more or less (4WD)?
Thanks,
JesseJames

Bird · May 18, 2000

If your friend "knows a tad about tractors" then he probably knows more than I do, but did you ask him whether he was talking about 2WD or 4WD, or both? He has a point if he's talking about 2WD, and I can see how it could conceivably even apply in some extreme cases for 4WD, but except in extreme cases (in which I don't want to be on that slope anyway), I don't think you'll find it helps much in 4WD. I keep my brake pedals connected unless I know I'm going to be using them for turning, which is pretty rare.

Bird

Bud · May 18, 2000

Bird--I thought you had a B2710. How do you use your brakes for turning, do you have two right feet?

Bud

Muhammad · May 18, 2000

It's the flat deck thing, I think. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

MChalkley · May 18, 2000

I, too, suspect he's thinking about older 2wd ag tractors, which pretty much had to be used that way on side-slopes. But I see no reason why this would be necessary, or even useful, on a modern 4wd tractor, except in conditions more extreme than you have any business being in.

Mark

Bird · May 19, 2000

Well, I said I rarely use the brakes for turning, and the only time I have done so is mowing the pasture with the B2710 and I was using the cruise. And the only time I've used the brakes for turning, even with a geared tractor, in the last 5 years was mowing or pulling a hay rake.

Bird

Thomas · May 19, 2000

Hi Jesse.
I have steep slopes that need mowing,but I travel down the slopes in 4wd lo range and I leave my brake peddles connected.
Also I have tire chains on the rear tires for that little extra bit.
I'm not sure if a HST compare to gear driven tractor makes all that differents,but I'm ready to jump on the brakes if need be.
I'm not to sure if I would want to try mowing your friends hilly slopes the way you explain.....yikes.

When mowing my lawn I use to use the independent brakes and yes one can make a quick corner,but after a while the grass started to fade do to quick cornering so I stop.
Just go slow and think twice.

Stay safe and have fun.

MChalkley · May 19, 2000

Having used a number of old 2wd tractors and even the 'tricycle' type ones /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif, I can say that I definitely for sure don't want to drive a tractor like that, especially not bush-hogging.

By the way, I think the course of intelligence here is to do whatever it takes to not need the left/right brakes in this kind of situation. You can bet more than one person has been killed by hitting the wrong brake or meaning to hit both and hitting only one.

Mark

Anonymous Poster · May 19, 2000

Thanks for all of your replies. On this particular hill, there is an old groundhog mound making the slope slightly steeper for about 3-4 feet. My L-2050 with loader and Woods 5'finish mower does very well with loader and mower lowered. The last time I mowed there the tractor seemed to twist like the rear end was trying to slide down hill. It felt kinda wierd for about two seconds. I do not feel it was trying to roll but rather the rear mower (850 lbs) was causing this due to it's natural tendency to roll down hill. I also don't feel that I lost traction. I have turf tires with fluid in the rear ones.
Also, it would seem that the independent braking is not for my 4WD machine. I always wear my seatbelt since I have ROPS, even if it is to drive across the street. I think I will take the loader and remove this old groundhog mound.

MChalkley · May 19, 2000

Jesse - It sounds to me like you've got the bases covered pretty well. With your seat belt always on, you'll be safe if the worst does happen, at the very least.

Mark