Mowing Using a FEL while mowing on a hill

[DennisArrow]

I mow about 5 acres on a 15-25 degree hill......yes I use a dual axis tilt meter.........I have read on here about the dangers of rolling over are raised by using the FEL on slopes etc............so I take it off when mowing.........I then loose steering because of the weight differential........so yes, I put a couple hundred pounds of weights on the front......but the steering is still light.............
What I wonder is.......if I keep the bucket LOW....is it really that dangerous to mow on a hill with the FEL still attached?......any help you can give will be appreciated......thanks....

 

[Henro]

Dennis,

First question is are you going up and down, or across?

I don't have a lot of experience mowing hills, but I do have 20 degree slopes and when I go up and down I am totally comfortable. Going across is different...I don't like it.

I measured the slope with a carpenter's level and did the angle calculations...possible when a tire sinks in I actually tilt more than the slope calculates at...

If the pucker factor is great...cut up and down if possible.
That would be my advice...

As far as the loader goes...up and down, probably is an asset...going across, if you keep it low it probably doesn't hurt...

 

[Kelvin]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have read on here about the dangers of rolling over are raised by <font color="red"> using </font> the FEL on slopes etc )</font>

I think that "using" is the key word here.

Rule #1: The higher the FEL bucket the greater the tractor's instability. Put weight in the bucket and the problem is magnified.

I have not performed any engineering calculations to back this statement up, but my guess would be that a tractor's center of gravity (CG) is at or above the level of the operator's feet. As long as the bucket is at or below that level, then the the tractor's stability should be about the same as if the FEL were removed.

In making this statement, I must add that an unknown factor for me is "how much of the FEL's support structure is mounted above the tractor's CG", which implies that the FEL structure itself may add to the tractor's instability, regardless of bucket position (rule #1 still applies).

Personal Experience: I usually mow with my FEL on, because I have to mow up hills with a rear mower and want the extra weight on the front end for safety. However, when I go across smaller hills the heavy mower has a tendancy to pull the rear of the tractor downhill, so I have to be very careful. The FEL's weight makes the tractor's rear end lighter thus adding to this problem. My rear AG tires currently do not have fluid, but I am getting ready to add some soon.

Kelvin

 

[BB_TX]

The danger of an FEL is in keeping it too high and raising your COG. If you keep it low there is no problem. I keep mine on but keep it only a few inches off the ground when mowing, or even when driving across the pasture. I mow across a slope that is 20 degrees in a few places.

 

[JerryG]

I do quit a a bit of steep mowing. I always leave my loader on. The thing that has made the most difference for me was adding 400 lbs of wheel weights.

 

[Slamfire]

If in keeping the loader low you manage to hit something solid like a stump or rock, I don't think that will improve your stability. If you don't hit any thing it would most likely help.

 

[frank_f15]

NO PROBLEM LEAVING THE FEL ON as long as u leave it low and go slow.

 

[DennisArrow]

Its the turn-around at the top of the hill that I worry about.......but slowwww is the word to go by I have found......there is a thick tree line at the top where I need to turn and perhaps the extra length of the FEL causes some extra grief; but having the weight should give steering to get through or around those problems..........rear traction isnt bad.....tires are loaded and they tend to dig in when going uphill if they hit a slick spot or a SMALL obstruction......thanks

 

[EagleEye]

Leaving aside the COG issues being discussed, I also use the bucket while I bushhog. I use it as a early warning system of any unknown stumps, rocks, etc. .... I also use it to push over brush before my tractor drives over it.... I keep the bucket very low... Now in that position, your bucket plows through the grass and knocks everything in the grass off and much of it falls in your bucket.... The other day I bushhogged like this and when I was done at about 10pm at night, I proceeded to clean off my bush hog and park it in the garage. The next morning I walked into the garage and heard, saw, and felt and jungle of arachnids, grasshoppers, and various other insects. Apparently, I forgot to dump the bucket and every huge (in the north, huge is relative /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif) insect under the sun showed up in my garage.... I have to admit, while insects don't bother me, in this quanity and proximity, I was actually creeped out (especially the 3 large spiders that looked just like black widows but with white spots vs. red. Well, after 10 minutes of bug squashing, I took out the really big spiders and went about my day. I still have an over abundance of wild life but am no longer bothered by it.

As for using a bucket on hills, as long as you keep it very low, and you're going up and down vs across, you shouldn't have any problems... turning on a hilll is a bad idea so don't do it if you don't have to.... have fun! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[garchib]

I just bought a 410 loader for my 2 year old JD 4100 hydro and the sales
guy told me not to mow with it on.......he said it is unnecessary wear-and-tear on the front end of the tractor and he would recommend
removing it before mowing, as it only takes 2 minutes to remove a JD loader. The guy is known to be very knowledgeable about tractors, but
I also see an awful lot of owners mowing with their FEL(s) attached

 

[BubbaJr]

If it were me, I would think about two options. 1, wheel weights on all four wheels. Or 2 leave the FEL on and close to the ground. One side benefit of leaving the loader on, is if you are headed down the hill and your gear range selector pops out of gear ( it does happen rarely, once to me) you will not be able to put it back in gear until you stop. While tractor brakes work halfway decent on the level, they are not all that effective going downhill. With the loader on the front, you have a last chance emergency brake before something really nasty happens. You can either just drop it to the ground and let the extra friction slow you down, or if you are on a steep incline, you might want to put a toothbar on and use it to dig in for extra stopping power. As I said this would be a last resort as it will probably damage the FEL. But the FEL can be replaced, can you be replaced? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Good Luck and keep your safety foremost on your mind.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I've heard both sides, too. I've heard about taking off the FEL to save the wear and tear but I also like the idea of running it very low as an early warning system against rocks, stumps, etc. when I brush hog. At this point I think I'll live with the wear and tear in exchange for the safety factor in protecting my mower. Finish mowing something more yard-like might be a different story. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[RoyJackson]

"I've heard about taking off the FEL to save the wear and tear but I also like the idea of running it very low as an early warning system against rocks, stumps, etc. when I brush hog."

I always remove the FEL for mowing improved areas (lawn), mostly due to the Center Of Gravity concern (even keeping the bucket low doesn't help the large mass of FEL frame above the axles). But I do leave it on for at least the first time I bush hog an acre of improved land. As Gary and others mentioned, the bucket helps knock stuff down and can give you a warning of obstacles.

Just one more opinion, folks...

 

[frank_f15]

turning around on a hill, is a bit trickey. really depends on the hill don't do anything unsafe, if u don't feel comfortable don't do it!!!!

 

[mgrick]

I've got a 66" QA bucket.I've found that just taking the bucket off to brush hog makes a world of difference in stability.The weight of the arms gives me enough counterbalance.Not only that but I can see better and I'm not catching the side of the bucket on trees.I know where I'm mowing so I don't need the bucket to find things first.

Rick