Grade for 8n

[Gina's little cows]

After reading flip-over and sliding tales, I have the hee-bee-gee-bees about doing some disking on our new pasture. It is about 15-20 percent grade. The tractor runs great, but do not know if we should consider roll-over bar. Does anyone have photo of this on 8n, or suggestions? Am not pulling stumps, going fast, or anything like that, but the pasture is pretty bumpy in some places. Thanks much.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Hee Bee Gee Bees is ok - keeps you alert and on your toes. Best thing to do is widen your wheels real wide - they will go out till the tires are over 6 feet wide. Put some ballast on the tractor - fluid in the tires or cast iron wheel weights will make for a Much more stable platform.
Together they will make your N cling to a hillside like a spider on the wall.
And don't forget that for every tractor rollover there are a thousand ducks to quack aout it.
Yes it can be dangerous driving a tractor but so can driving a car.

 

[old]

Run up and down the hills never side ways on a hill. Never turn one around on a steep hill wait till you get to the top of bottom then turn around.

 

[don t-9n180179]

"should consider roll-over bar"....if your not belted into your seat, a ROPS (Roll Over Protection System) may be of little help.

Just my $.02....don t. ....

 

[countryboy 243]

Safety should always be a concern with any piece of equipment. I would also be concerned about what might happen to those hills should you get heavy rains before you get good regrowth on the grass. Might make the ground rougher than it already is.

 

[Paul in MN]

A 15% or 20% grade is not all that steep for a 8N with its wheels set wide. Some people confuse % slope with angle. For example, a 45 deg angle is a 100% slope. The % slope ='s the number of feet of rise per 100 ft of horizontal distance.

But most important is that you feel safe, and you are safe. So follow the other poster's advice and set the front axles wide, and set the rear wheels wide. The owners manual tells how in some detail. Keep the center of gravity low (no front end loader, and if you have one...keep the bucket down!). Keep your speed down and steady. Travel uphill and down hill. If you keep the plow or disc in the ground, it is nearly impossible to roll it over. If you get on too great a slope with wide set tires, they will begin to slip on the ground. If you get into this situation, immediately turn the steering wheel so the tractor is now aiming downhill. If the slope is so steep that the tires are sliding, the brakes are then useless, so keep it aimed downhill and ride it out (unless there is some big ditch or river at the bottom). This may sound scarry, but it is best to know how to recover if you should ever get into this bad situation.

I have had my 8N for more than 40 years, and have been in some pretty scarry places with it. Like UltraDog has said, it sticks like a spider on a wall. I have never rolled my 8N (or any of my other tractors) but the 8N is probably the most stable compared to all my other tractors on steep slopes. I hope this puts your mind a bit more at ease.

Best Wishes,

Paul in MN

 

[Dell (WA)]

Gina.........time to re-post these interesting pictures. NOTE: 4-wheel 8N did NOT turn over on 23* slope but the 3-wheel John Deere did on 14* slope. BTW 23* is about 40% grade.

Bottom line Gina, yer 8N is VERY STABLE even on steep grades. And iff'n yer going side-grade, ALWAYS turn DOWN-HILL. And surprizingly enuff, iff'n it gitts too-steep side-wize, guess what??? You'll slide outta yer butt-buckett. ........ol'pucker muscle Dell
8N tractor stability picures

 

[oldtanker]

(reply to post at 10:05:40 04/22/11)

Gina while a ROPS (roll bar) system is not a bad idea it is a system that includes a drivers restraint or seat belt. When the Army finally put ROPS on all the jeeps before the HMMV was issued we still had soldiers dying in vehicle roll overs, most of the time not wearing their seat belts. They would come out of the seat far enough for the roll bar to roll over their heads.

If you ain't sure of it or get nervous on a hill stay off of that hill!

Rick

 

[Gina's little cows]

Thank you ALL for this great advice. I am feeling more confident, especially seeing comparison of JD and 8n, and JD was on a milder slope at that. I am going to accurately measure the slope, widen front wheels, add weight, and follow driving instructions. We are dry as dust here in Texas. Prayerfully, rains will be coming soon, so will get on with this project! Thanks to all and have a great Easter. Photo from parade entry last year.

 

[Pooh Bear]

Just pay attention to your puckometer. It's built right in to the seat of your britches. The higher the puck factor, the more you shouldn't be doing it. Of course their's some crazies out there that their puckometer is wore out and nothing makes it pucker anymore. Stay away from that crazy bunch.

Now that I've said something completely red neck,
here's a helpful chart that shows percent grade and angles of slope.
At 30% grade I have to hold on to keep from sliding out of the seat.

Pooh Bear

 

[Gina's little cows]

Thanks, Pooh Bear. This is great chart -- I see that grade is actually higher than angle. I think I may have closer to 30 percent in some places. I am going to go up and down, and not sideways, and take wide turns. I have experienced tractor friend delivering 4-foot disk, so I will get his advice as well, since he can look at pasture. The reason we tilled (crossways with larger tractor) and now want to disk these areas is so that grass seed & water will stay put, and not roll off...

I forgot to say that I love this little 8N machine... and all that she represents.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 11:04:20 04/25/11) Thanks, Pooh Bear. This is great chart -- I see that grade is actually higher than angle. I think I may have closer to 30 percent in some places. I am going to go up and down, and not sideways, and take wide turns. I have experienced tractor friend delivering 4-foot disk, so I will get his advice as well, since he can look at pasture. The reason we tilled (crossways with larger tractor) and now want to disk these areas is so that grass seed & water will stay put, and not roll off...

I forgot to say that I love this little 8N machine... and all that she represents.

On an N I actually worry more about runaway than I do about rollover. With a 2WD rubber tired tractor grass is slippery, wet grass is very slippery, and it's pretty easy to find spots where the tractor will simply slide - down, sideways or both. Once it gets started it is sometimes very difficult if not impossible to get it to stop. A ground engaging implement like a disc makes an excellent sea anchor and helps to lower your CG when it's on the ground. In the transport position it raises your CG and adds braking load to the tractor. Try to avoid transporting on slopes.

Above all else be safe - if you are nervous it's time to back off before your nervousness turns to panic. Unfortunately I've ridden an out of control N down 15% slopes more than once and it's most definitly a job well suited to brown pants.

TOH