Tiltmeter - how far is too far?

[KennK]

I am the new owner of a JD 3320 and have read enough about rollovers to make me quite nervous about hills and tipping. I can see why a Tiltmeter would help the user stay aware of just how much of an angle the tractor is on, but ...

QUESTION: If I got a Tiltmeter how would I know what angle(s) puts me in the danger zone?

There are so many models listed on their web site (even the basic models) that I wouldn't have a clue which one to get!!

Advice?

Ken K.

 

[KennK]

I am the new owner of a JD 3320 and have read enough about rollovers to make me quite nervous about hills and tipping. I can see why a Tiltmeter would help the user stay aware of just how much of an angle the tractor is on, but ...

QUESTION: If I got a Tiltmeter how would I know what angle(s) puts me in the danger zone?

There are so many models listed on their web site (even the basic models) that I wouldn't have a clue which one to get!!

Advice?

Ken K.

 

[hudr]

That is a hard question to answer. First we have to determine the tractor's center of gravity. Then, how is the COG affected by implements like a FEL, bush hog, boxblade. Are the tires loaded or not? Speed is also a factor when turning on slopes. Of course the ideal test would be to tilt the tractor and see what the meter showed when it flipped, but I don't think any of us want to do that (not w/ our own tractors anyway /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)
But you can see there are a lot of factors to consider. I bet JD would have some COG info on the tractor from the factory. That would be a good place to start.
Mostly I use my internal tilt meter which I am sure makes me more cautious than a tiltmeter. Most vehicles can stand more tilt than we can before getting nervous. What you have to watch for is the unseen dip or hole while on that slope/hill. Once the center of gravity gets outside the footprint of the tires, things get hairy.

 

[hudr]

That is a hard question to answer. First we have to determine the tractor's center of gravity. Then, how is the COG affected by implements like a FEL, bush hog, boxblade. Are the tires loaded or not? Speed is also a factor when turning on slopes. Of course the ideal test would be to tilt the tractor and see what the meter showed when it flipped, but I don't think any of us want to do that (not w/ our own tractors anyway /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)
But you can see there are a lot of factors to consider. I bet JD would have some COG info on the tractor from the factory. That would be a good place to start.
Mostly I use my internal tilt meter which I am sure makes me more cautious than a tiltmeter. Most vehicles can stand more tilt than we can before getting nervous. What you have to watch for is the unseen dip or hole while on that slope/hill. Once the center of gravity gets outside the footprint of the tires, things get hairy.

 

[Doc_Bob]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am the new owner of a JD 3320 and have read enough about rollovers to make me quite nervous about hills and tipping. I can see why a Tiltmeter would help the user stay aware of just how much of an angle the tractor is on, but ...

QUESTION: If I got a Tiltmeter how would I know what angle(s) puts me in the danger zone?

There are so many models listed on their web site (even the basic models) that I wouldn't have a clue which one to get!!

Advice?

Ken K. )</font>

I have no idea. I see the tilt meter as a way to keep me aware. If I get tired, I may get more tilt and my internal tilt meter may go offline. The use of a tilt meter lets me in a semi-objecive get feedback on the angle I am at. I look at a tilt meter as one more tool to keep me safe, not the only tool.
Bob

 

[Doc_Bob]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am the new owner of a JD 3320 and have read enough about rollovers to make me quite nervous about hills and tipping. I can see why a Tiltmeter would help the user stay aware of just how much of an angle the tractor is on, but ...

QUESTION: If I got a Tiltmeter how would I know what angle(s) puts me in the danger zone?

There are so many models listed on their web site (even the basic models) that I wouldn't have a clue which one to get!!

Advice?

Ken K. )</font>

I have no idea. I see the tilt meter as a way to keep me aware. If I get tired, I may get more tilt and my internal tilt meter may go offline. The use of a tilt meter lets me in a semi-objecive get feedback on the angle I am at. I look at a tilt meter as one more tool to keep me safe, not the only tool.
Bob

 

[Bird]

Ken, if you call Rick at R&B Mfg., he can give you the best answers of anyone I know. The maximum that your tractor can tilt without turning over can vary, depending on a number of things. But if you'd like just a wild approximation . . . I didn't like anything over 15 degrees, parked my tractor once at 18 degrees and got off to see if I could push it over manually enough to lift the high side wheels off the ground, and did not. I think you can go to 20 degrees; probably not to 25 degrees. But of course you have to remember that if you're at the maximum, the slightest dip in the ground on the low side, or slightest hump, stick, rock, etc. on the high side and over you go. I don't know anyone who would go out on a limb and give you a specific number that's "safe".

 

[Bird]

Ken, if you call Rick at R&B Mfg., he can give you the best answers of anyone I know. The maximum that your tractor can tilt without turning over can vary, depending on a number of things. But if you'd like just a wild approximation . . . I didn't like anything over 15 degrees, parked my tractor once at 18 degrees and got off to see if I could push it over manually enough to lift the high side wheels off the ground, and did not. I think you can go to 20 degrees; probably not to 25 degrees. But of course you have to remember that if you're at the maximum, the slightest dip in the ground on the low side, or slightest hump, stick, rock, etc. on the high side and over you go. I don't know anyone who would go out on a limb and give you a specific number that's "safe".

 

[Seon]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( QUESTION: If I got a Tiltmeter how would I know what angle(s) puts me in the danger zone?


Advice?

Ken K. )</font>

I live on top of a hill. I didn't find this site until just recently, so when I bought my 4210 some 5 years ago I was on my own. What I did was drive my tractor perpendicular of a slope until I felt that I was almost exceeding my comfort zone (pucker power). I used a protactor with a "bubble" level to measure the angle, which was 20%. I then set the angle to 15% and affixed on both FEL post, a small bubble level I bought at Walmart 2 for $1. These small level help easy my mind when I operated my tractor on an incline.

 

[Seon]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( QUESTION: If I got a Tiltmeter how would I know what angle(s) puts me in the danger zone?


Advice?

Ken K. )</font>

I live on top of a hill. I didn't find this site until just recently, so when I bought my 4210 some 5 years ago I was on my own. What I did was drive my tractor perpendicular of a slope until I felt that I was almost exceeding my comfort zone (pucker power). I used a protactor with a "bubble" level to measure the angle, which was 20%. I then set the angle to 15% and affixed on both FEL post, a small bubble level I bought at Walmart 2 for $1. These small level help easy my mind when I operated my tractor on an incline.