Should I remove the FEL

[EMS503]

I have a section on my property that was being used to grow hay. They are no longer using it and will be bush hogging it down so I can mow.
I have a L3490 w/loaded rear R4's with Woods RD72 finish mower. I will be mowing this going down hill not sure about mowing up. on the very top my tilt meter reads 15 degrees when coming across the top sideways, I am sure it is probably closer to 20 degrees or more further down and I am not very comfortable here, Not used to the tractor yet its just a little higher then my old GC2300 When mowing this hill should I remove the FEL or leave it on for front weight. I remove the FEL for all other mowing which is not as steep. The pictures are looking from the side, down and up.

 

[JRobyn]

Doesn't look TOO tippy, but if it was me, I'd keep the bucket on and down real low. Remember that the front axle just pivots, so if you start to tip, it won't help. On the other hand, the bucket will. Functions as sort of an outrigger if you do tip any.

- Jay

 

[N80]

I agree, it doesn't look that bad. But, if you've never mowed this patch, I'd leave the bucket on for the first time. Keep it down low to 'feel' for obstacles you don't want to mow, like old tires, down fences, etc.

 

[SI2305]

Personally, I find the FEL useful when mowing rough areas. The FEL can be used to push over materials that might otherwise be combersome under the tractor. Additionally, if you added some weight to the bucket and kept it close to the ground, it might make it more stable. If you do this, you would have to monitor the bucket position at all times, but I do this anyway.

good luck

SI2305

 

[WH401]

One of the hills on my property is steeper than that, and it gets mowed regularly with the FEL still on the tractor. I feel I have much more stability and front end weight with it attached.

 

[dmccarty]

I would leave the FEL on as well. I mow up to about 15 degrees on the Tiltmeter but no farther. Hopefully that give me room for error. The only time the FEL is removed is when I have to work on the engine.

If you are in doubt about the safety of going across the hill then mow backwards up the hill.

Later,
Dan

 

[Aguanga]

Personally, I find the FEL useful when mowing rough areas. The FEL can be used to push over materials that might otherwise be combersome under the tractor. Additionally, if you added some weight to the bucket and kept it close to the ground, it might make it more stable. If you do this, you would have to monitor the bucket position at all times, but I do this anyway.

good luck

SI2305

I agree with leaving the loader on (been in several situations where slamming the bucket down in a hurry helped prevent a roll over). However with a CUT and most rubber tire industrial backhoes, your stability (side to side movement) is based on how the rear tires are sitting on the ground (unless you're sitting on the bump stop on one side of the front axle). Adding more weight to the loader bucket shifts weight to the front axle and off the rear, which makes it easier for the machine to rock to one side or the other on the front axle pivot. This of course really only becomes an issue if you're on a side slope.

 

[Willl]

I'd be more worried about the tires slipping in the grass and creating a new barn door.

 

[EMS503]

Thanks everybody for your input. I drove up and down this area with the FEL and BB on going slow and in four wheel drive The only area I have stayed away from is the tallest in the center about three quarters of the way down it feels as if there is a small drop off,I will wait until it is bush hogged and look at it. The tractor feels more stable going up the hill then it did coming down. But I am also going to have to mow uphill because I don't have room to turn at the base with the FEL on due to the chicken house (I don't think Perdue would like it if I parked the tractor with the chickens )

 

[ScottFarm]

I believe i'd mow going up hill and leave the FEL on. I've always felt it was safer to mow up hill, then have the bush hog help push you down the hill and loose traction.

 

[pat32rf]

Good point about the traction...I have some trails on our property that I can climb in 2wd but if I come down in 2wd the rears start to slide. Then the only option is to press the go pedal and when the rears are rolling OK then click it into 4wd and get off the go pedal again so the engine braking slows it down

 

[rdbrumfield]

Absoulutely leave that front loader on. Widen the tractor tires as much as possible if you are feeling light on the high side.
I have been on my side a couple of times by dropping into a sinkhole with a front tire. The loader frame will keep it from going on over. I did however go turtle up with a brushog on on a powerline right of way. The loader was about 2ft off the ground and it saved me some considerable discomfort. When the right front dropped I knew by the momentum that I was going over. With seatbelt on I tucked and held on. The loader kept the tractor off the front off the ground and the roll bar held up the back end. It left me plenty of room to crawl out. I would say without the loader on it would have cost me some bucks for frontend damage. As it was, i just rolled it back on it's wheels, checked the oil and went back to work. I had changed my exhaust to down and back instead of the normal straight up so I was lucky with that. This was with a 50hp JD.
I might add that I don't use fluids in my tires as I like to be light on lawns and such when tilling. With 4X4 I don't see the need.

 

[hdbikercouple]

just a thought, they where using it for hay. you mean bvaling it or running animals in it. if they baled it you should have no problem bush hogging it. anyways the tractors and equipment the farms use around here will filp over before my bx. just my thought.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I have often wondered why going downhill is always scarier than going up. I guess mechanically you have smaller tires, and tires that can change direction on the downhill, weight bearing side. But I bet the psychology of the situation plays more than physics. You are looking downward, no backrest to give you support, you are using your feet to keep you in the seat (yes you have a seatbelt on but I jam my feet into the floorboard / colum anyway).

 

[EastTexFrank]

Well, that looks "interesting" but no worse than my pasture. Luckily on most of mine I have a flatter spot to get turned round at the top and bottom.

Whether I'm using the B2400 or the GL4740, I always keep either the bucket or the grapple on. It just feels safer, especially when mowing forwards up hill for some reason. It makes working along fences and the like a little more difficult but I can live with that. I have a lot of trees to mow around so I do a lot of backing up the slopes too. When I do take the FEL off and run around the pasture the tractor feels like a completely different machine and takes a little getting used to.