Safe operating incline

[MacMurphy]

I have a sloping garden that I need to mow with my new CK30HST and not being familiar with tractors am unsure of mowing accross the slope...

Does anyone know the safe sideways working angle for this unit ? The incline is not much yet if feels a lot when I'm sitting in the tractor.

Thanks

Murph

 

[Bob_Skurka]

There are no hard and fast rules as to what slope is safe to mow across, however it is best not to error at all and the easy way to do that is to mow up and down the slope rather than across it. The problem with crossing a slope is that even if the slope is mild and you are within the safe operating parameters of your tractor, if one of your lower wheels drops into a small rut or one of your upper wheels climbs up on a small bump or rock, then the balance of your machine changes very dramatically and the momentum of the change can cause the tractor to flip on its side in the amount of time it takes you to blink your eye.

Do a search on the safety forum, seems like about once a year people post some safety video links that show tractor roll over tests. You'll be surprised how little it takes to flip our toys onto their sides, or worse yet to cause a complete roll.

 

[Bowhunter]

There may be some guidelines in the operator's manual (although I've always found the manufacturer's slope guidelines to be overly conservative.) Like Bob said, mowing up and down is the best bet, and always wear your seatbelt.

 

[Harrygoodwrench]

Words of wisdom spoken above.
To be honest I get a queasy feeling when working on angles. You just never know how far is too far. I'm going to buy one of those lev-o-gage(s) (tilt meter) and get a approximate degree that I just start to feel uncomfortable, get off tractor and try pushing sideways etc. If the tractor is reasonably stable I will stay below that degree # just to be safer.
I just don't want to be a statistic. Hear of these accidents all the time. 15 bucks is a small price to be safe.
Here's a link to where to get one on these or a comprobable tilt meter. Harry
http://www.predatorhummer.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=181

 

[KiotiJohn]

All safety experts that I've read recommend NEVER cutting across a slope. One thing that you may experience doing so is that the cutter itself, if heavy enough, can drag the rear of the tractor and cause a turn over. Mowing up and down slopes is the best policy, and 15-20 degrees ia about all I would ever want to be on.
You could do a lot better if the tires were extendable much further out, but they're not. With R4s, the CK30 is at it's widest stance already.
There is nothing in the CK30 manual about cutting on slopes. John