Speaking of tilt...

[MarkV]

Mark,

With all the work you have done on you tractor I can see how you can work steeper sideslopes than most of us. Sideslopes of 25 degrees are past what I can do with my lighter machine. For anyone who does not know all that Mark has done to his tractor be aware that he would not try 25+ degrees with a stock unit. I don't mean to talk for you Mark, but, I believe you would agree.

What kind of degree angles have you found work front to back rather than side to side? I think I remember that you mounted a tiltmeter on the side of your canopy to monitor those angles. My weekend house site if very steep so I am always pointing up or down to some extent. One friend of mine likes to say I bought a view and they threw in 14 vertical acres.

MarkV

 

[MChalkley]

Bird - Your analogy of the bicycle is an apt one. If you turn downhill, inertia from the direction of travel and the direction of the turn itself will tend to keep the tractor upright. Turn uphill and the tractor will tip faster for the same reasons.

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

MarkV - Thank you for your note of caution. It was entirely appropriate. I thought I was saying as much myself, but it needed emphasizing.

As for the forward the front-to-back tilt, I've gone way beyond 30 degrees, but I don't know exactly how far because it was before I had the side-mounted tiltmeter. I find that I don't mind those slopes nearly as much now that I've got the HST because there's none of the "wild free-wheelin' ride" you get with the GST's when you shift gears.

MarkC

 

[TomG]

I was trying to think this one through without much success. What I was trying to figure is whether there is any point in the radius of a turn where the tractor CG is shifted laterally. If so, then it probably wouldn't be a good idea for the CG to be shifted any further downhill. However, the dynamics in a turn seem pretty complex, and a bunch of factors are involved. My thinking got stuck, so guess I'll turn downhill.

Come to think of it, the only time I had a problem on a side-slope was between two mounds. I was going slow. The uphill front tire went up one mound, and the downhill rear tire went up the other. The result was that the downhill front tire lifted about a foot off the ground. Instinctively, I steered downhill, and very gently. Sounds like maybe steering downhill is the best idea.

 

[Harv]

Almost forgot why I started this thread. It's fascinating how the discussions meander.

Just to recap -- I was looking for ways to measure the slope and tilt on my prospective tractor path which I'm mapping out on my 42 acres. "Jack in IL" came up with a very good suggestion about buying a $7 protractor level from my local hardware store and just walking the path and laying down a board wherever the incline looked suspicious and then checking it with the level.

Well, I just spent the weekend up at "the property" and I tried it out. Just to be fanatic about it, I cut two 2 x 2's -- one to match the wheelbase of my soon-to-be tractor and the other to match the width. Where the path looked a little slanty I lay down the appropriate board and tried the level. I discovered that my eyeball estimates were way off -- in the safe direction, fortunately. What looked like a steep incline to me turned out to be less than 20 degrees, usually 15 or less.

The net result was that I had one section with a 22 degree slope, which isn't too bad, but with just a slight re-route I was able to drop it to 15. Likewise, there is about a 20-foot stretch where the side tilt weighed in at 18 degrees, but I think I can easily excavate it flat with the 'Bota.

That gave me the confidence to continue prepping the path, by hand at this point, but at least knowing that the trees I took down didn't fall in vain. Then onward with the weed-whacking, just so's I can see what the ground acutally looks like.

BTW -- I plan on buying 2 tiltmeters from our buddy Rick, but thought I'd better wait to make sure the tractor I buy isn't already so equipped. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[roysallis]

Haraav,
It looks like you are doing a lot of work with your trimmer that could be done a lot quicker and easier if you could go ahead and get your tractor with a FEL, brush cutter, box blade, etc. Nevertheless what you are doing is productive and good exercise. From reading your posts I feel that you will make a wise decision on which tractor to buy.

 

[Harv]

Roy -

It's true -- I am doing a lot of work that could be done easier with a tractor, partly out of frustration in not having the tractor yet, but partly due to a bit of caution I've gained from reading messages on this board.

Since this path is through "uncharted" areas of the property, and the plant growth is significant, I am a little concerned about the hidden dangers that lurk beneath. I have already uncovered a couple of nasty short, pointy stumps just waiting for some unsuspecting tractor tire. I also discovered (the hard way) an invisible depression about 18 inches deep which would have introduced an abrupt side-tilt situation which I don't even want to think about. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

I suppose it isn't necessary to weed-whack to the extent that I have been, but it gives me satisfaction to see what looks like an actual road taking shape.

I've divided the work to be done into three categories -- that which can only be done with a tractor, that which can only be done by hand, and that which can be done either way (although taking 5 times longer by hand). Just trying to stay busy and constructive 'til the big day comes.

BTW - my quest is still in high gear, but the supply of used tractors seems to have dried up around here. Both my broker and the dealers I have talked to say there is an unusual shortage going on right now. In fact, even though I'm now starting (just barely) to consider a brand new economy 'L', it seems they are hard to find in stock, too. Haven't even been able to see one in person yet.

End-of-harvest is coming up in a few weeks, and I'm on several waiting lists for those. I'm still hopeful of finding that perfect machine before then.

Thanks for your thoughts, Roy.