tc needs traction help

[JWB53]

i mowed yesterday for the first time with my tc and 90 inch deck, mowing a lot in sandy damp soil, got stuck 5 times in about 5 hours, soil wasn't soaked just damp. any suggestions thanks, tc has standard tires (not turf) , mowing 6 to 12 inch grass, cutting height high as deck will go

 

[Thomas]

What kind of tires on TC?
How high was the grass,and could you take less of cut until the ground dryer?
Do have pic/pics?

 

[JWB53]

standard tires, (not turf) 6-12 inch grass, deck high as possible thanks

 

[radman1]

Was the TC stuck, like in mud, or just slipping on the surface due to wet grass? Or was it spinning in sandy soil? Hills?

When you were stuck did you check to see if all 4 wheels left spinning marks?

Some have said, the TC has better traction in 2 wheel rather than 4 wheel steering. I am not sure if I notice a difference. For mowing, it does much better in 4 wheel steer.

 

[JWB53]

not wet grass just damp sandy soil beneath grass, does fine on dry hills, had 4 wheel spin marks , i was alone so i don't know if all wheels were spinning together or not, and tc was in 4 wheel steer, thanks

 

[radman1]

If you had spin marks from all 4 wheels, then it seems to be trying its best. I have posted many times that R4 tires don't have great traction in soft or muddy conditions. The TC's tires are not that big and your pushing over 6000 lbs of weight with the mower on. If the soil is sandy and the mower tires dig in a little, it is even harder to move.

I believe the TC's tires will allow 2:1 spinning on a D series. One tire may turn 2X for 1X of the opposite tire. This allows it to turn tightly without turf damage.

 

[Rip]

From experience with a heavy snow blower, some real ballast (like 500 to 800 lbs) in the rear bed helps a LOT! I use the solid 8x16x4" concrete blocks which weigh a little over 25lbs each set on a cut-down PU rubber bed mat.

As was mentioned above, R-4 tires are not ideal for the application either. Might also lower the tire pressure, but ballast weight will make a HUGE difference.

Good Luck

 

[melgibson]

Don't believe these posts- you've got a drive system defect, or Bobcat has a false advertising problem.

What series do you have? Do happen to know the date of manufature or have your serial number handy? Are you very experieced with how a 4 wheel drive vehicle handles.

 

[ndnewbie]

It sound as if something is amiss, causing resistance. You should not be having a problem.

Are you possibly placing too much downward pressure on your mower deck, driving the wheels into the soil?

Do your mower wheels rotate freely when you have it picked up? Sometimes they pick up grass and bind.

On a "C", a person is in 2-wheel drive when in 4-wheel steer or 2-wheel steer under normal operation. To get 4-wheel drive, it is necessary to first put the TC in 2-wheel steer, and then depress and hold down a button that engages 4 wheel drive.

If you are stuck with a mower, the best thing to do is detach the mower, try to get out without the additional weight. Then, once out, hook a chain from the lift arm to the mower, lift, and drag the mower to better ground to re-attach it, minding not to cut or tear out the hydraulic hoses in process.

Having a heavy ATV winch which you can plug into your rear receiver is great for getting un-stuck, and having a receiver you can put on the lift arm so the winch can also go in front is also great. With enough cable you can double the pull by using a pully which might come on the ATV winch.

While ballast is helpful when pushing down on a solid surface, it has the opposite effect when pushing on a soft surface. If you are stuck, the heavier you are, the faster you sink.

 

[melgibson]

That's why I asked him what model he has- dollar to donuts it's a D, which apparently is so high-tech there isn't a button (and boy I wish there was!) to get it into four wheel drive.