Looking at a Ford 3910, need some advice please…

[Raise]

Fellas i really appreciate all your help and good info. Just so i understand this concept, please correct me if im wrong. With a 2wd tractor, if a hill is too steep to drive across sideways, and I have to go straight down it:

-Obviously check first for holes or rocks or anything else that would be a tip over or roll over hazard
-Stay in a high gear like 1st or 2nd, and stay in high range for better traction

Do i have the range and gearing correct?

 

[Texasmark]

Your worst enemy, if you are going sideways on a hill that makes you feel somewhat uncomfortable, is going too fast and hitting a hole on the up hill front tire and causing the tractor to bounce on the uphill side.

The 8 speed has 4 in the low range, slow work, and 4 in the high range, faster. Don't get in too big a hurry and keep your eyes peeled for things that would cause a bounce as described.

On going up and down, the front end is basically lighter going up and heavier going down. That improves your 2wd traction going up but lessens it going down.....and that affects your braking/rear tire traction ability. If you are mowing with a shredder, the mower tail wheel needs to be on the ground at all times except when you are at the top of the hill and the ground levels off causing the tail wheel to become airborne.

 

[wh]

Steepness of hill and thickness of what you are cutting will determine what speed to go. You can go too fast more than you can go too slow IMHO! It is a learning curve. Especially if you have never used a tractor.

 

[Texasmark]

Steepness of hill and thickness of what you are cutting will determine what speed to go. You can go too fast more than you can go too slow IMHO! It is a learning curve. Especially if you have never used a tractor.

I never worried about going too slow mowing my pond banks since 1978. Most of the time, determining speed, was the time it took to look for things that would cause the up hill front tire to bounce the times I went parallel to the slopes.

 

[Raise]

Your worst enemy, if you are going sideways on a hill that makes you feel somewhat uncomfortable, is going too fast and hitting a hole on the up hill front tire and causing the tractor to bounce on the uphill side.

The 8 speed has 4 in the low range, slow work, and 4 in the high range, faster. Don't get in too big a hurry and keep your eyes peeled for things that would cause a bounce as described.

On going up and down, the front end is basically lighter going up and heavier going down. That improves your 2wd traction going up but lessens it going down.....and that affects your braking/rear tire traction ability. If you are mowing with a shredder, the mower tail wheel needs to be on the ground at all times except when you are at the top of the hill and the ground levels off causing the tail wheel to become airborne.

Ok just so i have it right, when going straight up or straight down hill, I will want to be in a low gear and in low range, such as low range 1st or 2nd gear. Is this correct? Also, are you saying that the front tires will have better traction going up hill and less going down hill? Whats the best way to mow a steeper slope, going up hill or down hill?

 

[Raise]

Steepness of hill and thickness of what you are cutting will determine what speed to go. You can go too fast more than you can go too slow IMHO! It is a learning curve. Especially if you have never used a tractor.

Ok thanks. So if i need to take it slow on a steep hill, whether im going up or down, do i want to be in low range gears?

 

[Jim.ME]

Ok just so i have it right, when going straight up or straight down hill, I will want to be in a low gear and in low range, such as low range 1st or 2nd gear. Is this correct? Also, are you saying that the front tires will have better traction going up hill and less going down hill? Whats the best way to mow a steeper slope, going up hill or down hill?

You have it backwards.

Uphill = light on front with better traction on the rear drive tires, especially when pulling something.

Downhill = more weight on front, less traction at the rear. Hitting the brakes or using too low a gear can lead to the rear wheels sliding.

It would be best to be in low range even if you use one of the higher gears in low range. You need to find the sweet spot where the rear tires hold their grip and don't slide.

 

[Raise]

You have it backwards.

Uphill = light on front with better traction on the rear drive tires, especially when pulling something.

Downhill = more weight on front, less traction at the rear. Hitting the brakes or using too low a gear can lead to the rear wheels sliding.

It would be best to be in low range even if you use one of the higher gears in low range. You need to find the sweet spot where the rear tires hold their grip and don't slide.

Im confused now. Are you talking about going forward up hill or backing up the hill? And are you saying to go forward down the hill or back down the hill?

 

[a49deere]

Im confused now. Are you talking about going forward up hill or backing up the hill? And are you saying to go forward down the hill or back down the hill?

You may want to hire it done!

 

[Texasmark]

Ok just so i have it right, when going straight up or straight down hill, I will want to be in a low gear and in low range, such as low range 1st or 2nd gear. Is this correct? Also, are you saying that the front tires will have better traction going up hill and less going down hill? Whats the best way to mow a steeper slope, going up hill or down hill?

As Jim said, you have it backwards.....think of it this way: If you raised the front end from horizontal to vertical, all the weight would be on the rear tires which are doing the traction function. So you have the best traction going up. When going down hill if you raise the rear of the tractor to the vertical position all the weight would be on the front wheels which are only steering....no brakes, and no V shaped tread for traction. Going down you have the least traction....I realize what I said is an extreme but it's trying to get you to see why you had it backwards.

On going up hill, with most of the weight on the rears, you have the best traction so you could go a little faster if the conditions warrant. On going down hill with most of the weight on the front, your traction tires which are also your tires with brakes, are the least effective so you need to be more careful and go slower....meaning low range and I prefer a lower gear. As Jim said, trial and error will help you to "find the sweet spot" on speed and gearing.

Remember, the object of your effort is to get the grass cut with no mishaps......speed (how fast you will get the job done) is your least worry....if you hurry up and have a roll over or other mishap, what did extra speed do for you?

 

[Texasmark]

Im confused now. Are you talking about going forward up hill or backing up the hill? And are you saying to go forward down the hill or back down the hill?

I have never backed up a hill.

 

[wh]

You may want to hire it done!

Safest thing for him to do is buy some goats.

 

[Texasmark]

You may want to hire it done!

That's a good idea for the first cutting at least and watch the person doing the mowing and what he is using for a cutter/power source, and how it fits the terrain, mowing speed and other things you need to know.

On the goats comment, the problem I had when I first started trying to make my place a workable farm was I couldn't afford cattle so I bought goats.......goats do everything you don't want them to do....instead of mowing the weeds out in the pasture, they snuck through the fence and were up at the house eating shrubs and decorative trees, and using the car and truck for a mountain to climb.

 

[Raise]

As Jim said, you have it backwards.....think of it this way: If you raised the front end from horizontal to vertical, all the weight would be on the rear tires which are doing the traction function. So you have the best traction going up. When going down hill if you raise the rear of the tractor to the vertical position all the weight would be on the front wheels which are only steering....no brakes, and no V shaped tread for traction. Going down you have the least traction....I realize what I said is an extreme but it's trying to get you to see why you had it backwards.

On going up hill, with most of the weight on the rears, you have the best traction so you could go a little faster if the conditions warrant. On going down hill with most of the weight on the front, your traction tires which are also your tires with brakes, are the least effective so you need to be more careful and go slower....meaning low range and I prefer a lower gear. As Jim said, trial and error will help you to "find the sweet spot" on speed and gearing.

Remember, the object of your effort is to get the grass cut with no mishaps......speed (how fast you will get the job done) is your least worry....if you hurry up and have a roll over or other mishap, what did extra speed do for you?

Trust me bud, I am in no hurry. I want it done but i want it done safely. I understand not having as much traction going downhill. So is backing down hill ever a good idea? I would think as long as you have enough weight on the front, this method would give you the best traction. Am i thinking correctly?

 

[Raise]

That's a good idea for the first cutting at least and watch the person doing the mowing and what he is using for a cutter/power source, and how it fits the terrain, mowing speed and other things you need to know.

On the goats comment, the problem I had when I first started trying to make my place a workable farm was I couldn't afford cattle so I bought goats.......goats do everything you don't want them to do....instead of mowing the weeds out in the pasture, they snuck through the fence and were up at the house eating shrubs and decorative trees, and using the car and truck for a mountain to climb.

I am actually having the JD 2020 owner, who is the one that sold me the farm, cut it for me the first time. He is also going to take me around on it to show me what it can do and cant do, and show me the safest way to navigate the farm with the tractor. I am actually a very good driver with trucks, forklifts, pulling trailers, etc. I have just never driven a tractor except for about 30 minutes i spent on a 2355 but that was flat land. Anyway, im just trying to pick your guys brains to figure out the safest methods to navigate slopes. Obviously most of my learning will be time in the seat. I just wanted to wrap my mind around the uphill and downhill situation, whether to go forward or backward, and what gear/range to be in.

 

[Texasmark]

Trust me bud, I am in no hurry. I want it done but i want it done safely. I understand not having as much traction going downhill. So is backing down hill ever a good idea? I would think as long as you have enough weight on the front, this method would give you the best traction. Am i thinking correctly?

"So is backing down hill ever a good idea?" I'd think not. Would be for me for sure....looking over my shoulder from a tractor seat is getting painful and I can only see part of the rear view unless I turn around and then the steering and gearing get in the way of my legs.

 

[Mnethercutt]

Having read all of your replies on here, it sounds to me like you don't have very much experience driving a tractor, at least on a hill. My advice, whenever you get the tractor, would be to start in a flat area and get used to how the tractor operates and any quirks with the machine.

When you are ready, mow the hilly areas straight up and down using a low (1st or second) gear. When you get ready to go down, pick a spot where there is ample flat space at the bottom of the hill for you to regain control if you were to start sliding, and just take it slow. If you start sliding, just ride it out. There really isn't that much technique to it, just take it slow, stay calm, and keep the wheel straight if you do start sliding. As you get more comfortable you can use higher gears.

Don't overthink it or psyche yourself out; a little patience and common sense goes a long way.

 

[showcrop]

Fellas i really appreciate all your help and good info. Just so i understand this concept, please correct me if im wrong. With a 2wd tractor, if a hill is too steep to drive across sideways, and I have to go straight down it:

-Obviously check first for holes or rocks or anything else that would be a tip over or roll over hazard
-Stay in a high gear like 1st or 2nd, and stay in high range for better traction

Do i have the range and gearing correct?

First and second are usually considered low gears. I recommend lowest gear until you learn the ground.

 

[showcrop]

Safest thing for him to do is buy some goats.

think about operating a post hole digger on a steep hill.

 

[wh]

think about operating a post hole digger on a steep hill.

One i always used has 2 wooden handles. Or you can drive steel post in. High power electric fence would not need many post, even for goats.