When does a tractor roll?

[PhilipB]

Specifically a massey 135 with an 8ft mower on the back?

We've lately taken on some rough grazing that has slopes that are steeper than I'm used to.

How would I know the point where safe operation becomes risky? (apart from some innate 'feel' for tractor driving)

 

[Selectamatic]

If your having to question it, its too steep.

Your only here once.

 

[Ashtree]

Specifically a massey 135 with an 8ft mower on the back?

We've lately taken on some rough grazing that has slopes that are steeper than I'm used to.

How would I know the point where safe operation becomes risky? (apart from some innate 'feel' for tractor driving)

I’m not a tractor driving expert by any means as a very much part time farmer. I have numerous slopes I avoid tractoring on, due to my innate cautiousness or nervousness if you call it that.
Experienced lad working for a contractor decided to pull a loaded dump trailer across one slope at an angle he thought safe. The tractor ended up balanced on the two wheels on the lower side of the slope, held precariously by the hitch to the trailer. I think the driver soiled himself several times, as he waited for the track machine to get as far as him to extract him from his bother.
Moral of story, err well on side of caution.

 

[Andrew]

Specifically a massey 135 with an 8ft mower on the back?

We've lately taken on some rough grazing that has slopes that are steeper than I'm used to.

How would I know the point where safe operation becomes risky? (apart from some innate 'feel' for tractor driving)

I would imagine a 135 is not going to roll very easily. Be more likely to lose grip and slide first, then roll, which will be harder to predict. If you’re unsure, don’t do it.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

8' topper?
Offset or on line?
Thats a lot of machine for a 2wd little tractor on anything but easy going.
As above, if you're asking the question its more than likely too steep.

 

[Henarar]

Specifically a massey 135 with an 8ft mower on the back?

We've lately taken on some rough grazing that has slopes that are steeper than I'm used to.

How would I know the point where safe operation becomes risky? (apart from some innate 'feel' for tractor driving)

You would be surprised how far you can push it

 

[Hilly]

At 45.5 degrees .

 

[Poorbuthappy]

You would be surprised how far you can push it

Yes indeed, but steep ground is not for the inexperienced.

 

[DrWazzock]

Going straight up down isn’t so bad but at some point you usually have to make a turn. That’s when it gets interesting. If working across a slope start at the bottom and work up then you aren’t throwing even more weight onto the downhill tyre when you turn at each end. If things are getting too bad you will usually find one of the driving wheels has so little weight on it it loses traction and spins. Time to creep back and abandon the job then IMO.
Make sure your brakes are in good fettle and generally should be coupled and applying even braking otherwise you can end up with one wheel rotating backwards coming down a slope. Safety cab or anti roll bar must be in good condition, not a corroded heap of scrap in case the worst should happen.
But if in doubt don’t do it. It isn’t worth the risk and an overturn or worse a roll down a hill never usually ends well.
I have had it happen once, one of three times in my life when I thought I was most probably going to die and once it gathers speed there is absolutely nothing you can do but hold on and pray.

 

[Still Farming]

Most hill farmers know their land and extra tricky areas and those areas to avoid and get hook out???

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Going straight up down isn’t so bad but at some point you usually have to make a turn. That’s when it gets interesting. If working across a slope start at the bottom and work up then you aren’t throwing even more weight onto the downhill tyre when you turn at each end. If things are getting too bad you will usually find one of the driving wheels has so little weight on it it loses traction and spins. Time to creep back and abandon the job then IMO.
Make sure your brakes are in good fettle and generally should be coupled and applying even braking otherwise you can end up with one wheel rotating backwards coming down a slope. Safety cab or anti roll bar must be in good condition, not a corroded heap of scrap in case the worst should happen.
But if in doubt don’t do it. It isn’t worth the risk and an overturn or worse a roll down a hill never usually ends well.
I have had it happen once, one of three times in my life when I thought I was most probably going to die and once it gathers speed there is absolutely nothing you can do but hold on and pray.

Yes, perhaps it should be highlighted that the chances of rolling from purely the steepness are a lot lower than rolling following losing control from a loss of traction

 

[Nithsdale]

If its and offset topper you can go whurish steep!
That's an 8ft counterweight, keep it on the high side.

If it's inline behind the tractor, just reverse up the hills. Only issue being when the wheels/brakes lose the fight with gravity...








But in all seriousness, go steady. Do the gentle bits first. Get a feel for the machine on hills.

Safety first - If in doubt, stop.



If the topper is kept on the ground, the tractor is much more stable

 

[farmgineer]

Rent a robo mow for a day and thrash back whatever you need to from the relative safety of a long way away. We use them at work to mow the man made steep banks which are probably around 60 degrees

As said before, if you think it’s dangerous with your current method then think of a safer way to do it!

one of these

ROBOCUT Hire | Plant Hire | ROBOCUT Hire North East | Colin White Tree Surgery

ROBOCUT – Slope Mower – Steep Bank Mower Versatile and efficient, it is capable of tackling slopes of up to 55 degrees. The ROBOCUT opens up many sites to machine usage where before the only option would have been manpower. It thrives in the toughest terrain and ensures safe, productive working...

www.cwts-hire.co.uk

 

[Andrew]

At 45.5 degrees .

Not necessarily. The 135 has quite a low centre of gravity, if it’s on extra wide track width I would say it would be capable of more than that.

Fit a heavy cab and some narrow track wheels and it’ll roll well before that.

 

[PhilipB]

Yes, perhaps it should be highlighted that the chances of rolling from purely the steepness are a lot lower than rolling following losing control from a loss of traction

This is a very good point.

 

[Red Fred]

Even if the slope is safe, you can come unstuck if you hit a hidden badger hole or drain which momentarily pushes it beyond its safe angle. I wrote off a brand new round baler when I was a student- it seemed stable on the slope, but when the back went up in the air to let the bale out, over she went

 

[DrWazzock]

Yes, perhaps it should be highlighted that the chances of rolling from purely the steepness are a lot lower than rolling following losing control from a loss of traction

Quite right. I made the mistake of driving forwards down a very steep grass field with a rear wheel drive beet harvester. All the weight shifted to the unbraked front wheels and the rear wheels lost grip. I should have reversed down. My biggest concern was overturning as it gathered speed but fortunately it kept reasonably straight. My heart raced like it had never raced before with the Adrenalin rush. It came to stop when the field levelled out just short of the bosses brand new double gates. Somebody was looking after me that day.

 

[DrWazzock]

I used to spray off OSR on the wolds with row crops with the hi lo with boom right up and 2 ton of spray sloshing about in the tank. Never rolled it but had to back away from some bits when a wheel came off the ground. Soil erosion boffins insistence that tramlines run across slopes didn’t do me any favours and you had to watch out for terraces. That old air cooled deutz made a lovely note climbing those hills.

 

[dudders]

Quite right. I made the mistake of driving forwards down a very steep grass field with a rear wheel drive beet harvester. All the weight shifted to the unbraked front wheels and the rear wheels lost grip. I should have reversed down. My biggest concern was overturning as it gathered speed but fortunately it kept reasonably straight. My heart raced like it had never raced before with the Adrenalin rush. It came to stop when the field levelled out just short of the bosses brand new double gates. Somebody was looking after me that day.

Times like that, banging on the diff lock can bring grip back again.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Dual wheels.