Rollovers

[howlinwolf]

A new 1820D owner here. Outside of ROPS what can I do and what have you done to your tractor to help PREVENT rollovers besides? common sense. Thanks all.

 

[rtimgray]

Park it on a flat spot and don't move it.

Seriously, a ROPS won't prevent a rollover - but it might save your lift if the tractor does roll. You can do the following things to help prevent rollover (but they fall in your common sense category as well):

1. Rear wheels set at widest spacing.
2. Rear implement kept as low to the ground as practical
3. Loader (if you have one) kept as low to the ground as practical
4. Drive up and down slopes, not across them
5. If you install a ROPS, you will have to install and use a seatbelt for the best protection.

I have an F16D with no ROPS. I have a Kioti DK 45 with a ROPS. I don't take the Kioti anyplaces that I won't take the F16 and vice versa. Having a ROPS on the tractor does not make me any more likely to see just how steep I can get.

I have mowed some fairly steep slopes sideways with both the Kioti and Yanmar. I think that they Yanmars in general may feel a bit "tippier" because on many of them, the top of the seat is about even with the top of the hood, so the operator sits relatively high on the tractor. I don't think I've ever come close to rolling the tractor, and don't want to. If rolling is a big concern for you, set aside the $600 - $800 and purchase and install a ROPS and seatbelt. If it's not a big concern, just be careful.

Good luck and take care.

 

[JDeerekid]

Set tires as wide as possible and add weight to the tires. Adding weight makes the tractor a bit more stable and keeps tires on the ground a little eaiser. Keep implements low. Don't go anywhere you feel uncomfortable. Use good judgment. If you have to go somewhere you think will be uneasy go slow.
ROPS will not prevent rollovers just protect you from the tractor rolling over complelety on you.
I had a 8N ford that I think is more stable than my new tractor that has a cab on it and didn't have the tires loaded when I first got it and I was afraid of going anywhere that wasnt flat with the new tractor. I had the 8N on very steep slopes and felt very comfortable on it. Tires were set out as far as I could get them and had weight added to the tires on both tractors and am not afraid to take either one out on slopes or uneven ground.

Good luck and be safe.

 

[kenmac]

Like has been said . Weight as in filling the tires

 

[reb]

When I was a newby, I was surprised to learn it is apparently easy to flip a tractor backwards by pulling improperly. The tow hitch is located below the rear axle for a reason. Attaching a tow strap to an axle and trying to pull a heavy weight can be disastrous. There was a news story a few months ago about a fatality in Colorado when someone tried to pull out a stuck truck that way with a tractor.

 

[kenmac]

That's why I always tow/pull from the front of the tractor

 

[broncobisley1]

Also, if you are sideways on a slope and feel tippy or think you are about to roll, quickly turn downhill or in the direction you would roll.

 

[howlinwolf]

Thanks all, I switched the left and right side tires which made the outside wheel base from 45 inches to 50 inches and a much more comfortable and secure feeling. Some say I can expand the wheel base even more but I am not sure on this model YM1820D yanmar on how to do it. Also will ballbast fluid in the wheels make a big difference?

 

[kenmac]

Also will ballbast fluid in the wheels make a big difference?

Fluid In the tires ?? yes

 

[svcguy]

Other possibilities include wheel weights. If you have a scrap metal dealer anywhere near you, there are many possibilities for wheel weights (both front and back). I have found cast iron rounds, thick steel rounds and many heavy round slabs suitable for drilling and mounting inside the rims with bolts. While fluid represents more weight per wheel, good size cast or steel slugs are economical and work well. Another possibility is a large piece bolted beneath the tractor.

 

[chriswheeler]

One thing that is often overlooked is over lifting/overloading with the FEL. Came close to putting my YM 3000 on it's side pulling T posts a couple of days ago. My rig weighs in somewhere around 3300 lbs and still can be unstable if not lifting correctly. You folks with the smaller rigs can have more of a problem faster with smaller tractors. My koyker 160 is rated to lift more than 1500 lbs. Without blocking the frame or something hanging from the 3 point, it could be on it's side with much less weight. Also matters how high the bucket is with this weight.
Chris

 

[2manyrocks]

This subject has been discussed in the Safety forum several times. Here's just one of them that you can find by searching the forums: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/safety/97525-tractor-rollover-myths-facts.html

I'll just toss in this simple observation that it is wise to get to know your machine well on level ground before getting on slopes with it. One of the problems is that terrain drops off suddenly or has an unexpected hole in it. You can deal with it on level ground, but it can make you roll over on a steep slope before you know it.

Have a cousin who is an experienced and careful operator. He was pulling a sprayer on a hillside when a wheel on the sprayer unexpectedly gave way. The fluid in the sprayer shifted and made his tractor flip. Had to be life flighted and undergo several surgeries. Things can happen quickly on a slope.