Is this a bad idea?

[Caryc]

Was doing some work with the 8N today cleaning up around some trees. Where the trees are is flat but about ten feet further starts down hill about 30 degrees. I couldn't get the tractor close enough because of the trees so I just drove it straight up the hill.

This put the bucket right at the start of the flat area where I needed it. Here's my question. When I parked it I put the box scraper down and the bucket was resting on the edge of the hill. I locked both the brake pedals.

Then for extra measure, I put the trans in first gear. The tractor was held there by the brakes on it's own before I put it in gear. If the tractor were to slip back a little could this somehow screw up or lock up the trans?

I used to hear stories about the old automatic transmissions when people parked on a hill and did not use the parking brake. The parking pall would lock up in the transmission because of the weight against it. I don't know if there was any validity to that story.

So just to be on the safe side is there any danger of using the trans as additional brake holding power like that?

 

[blitz]

if it let loose could the box blade dig in and flip it over? what's to stop the transmission from turning the engine backwasrds??
just curious!

 

[old]

Using the tranny is just fine but can cause problem if you do not have the correct starter switch and you try to start it when standing on the ground like I do most of mine but I do it for a reason like I'm working on them

 

[Anonymous-0]

an automatic trans in a car is much difrnt than your manual trans n i would love to see you put a 8n in park...........
on car you can park on a hill put it in park and yes when you let off the break the car will roll back putting pressure on the parking paw making it get stuck in park sometimes they pop out sometimes they break when you try to force em out of park not sure about newer cars(havn't driven one with an auto trans in a long time)but either way it does not apply to a manual trans especially an n series tractor. push in the clutch and its free

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 15:15:11 04/26/10) an automatic trans in a car is much difrnt than your manual trans n i would love to see you put a 8n in park...........
on car you can park on a hill put it in park and yes when you let off the break the car will roll back putting pressure on the parking paw making it get stuck in park sometimes they pop out sometimes they break when you try to force em out of park not sure about newer cars(havn't driven one with an auto trans in a long time)but either way it does not apply to a manual trans especially an n series tractor. push in the clutch and its free

I don't believe I was stupid enough to look for the "Park" position when I got that tractor. I just used that as an example of what got me to thinking about using the gear as more holding power like that.

I hardly think the box blade would cause the tractor to flip over backwards. If so, I t would be too dangerous an implement to even use on the tractor. Besides with all the weight of that Davis loader that thing was not about to flip over backwards. If it dug in it would just hold the tractor in place.

I do have the correct starter switch so can not start it in gear.

Now about the thing turning the engine backwards if it started to roll...remember guys, I locked both brakes had the box blade and the bucket resting on the ground.

How many of you guys lock your breaks every time you get off your tractor? Guys can be pretty picky but how many of you do things that are not exactly the safest thing to do?

I didn't exactly say it was the safest thing to do, I just wanted to know if it could hurt the transmission in any way.

Thanks for the answers guys. :wink:

 

[Anonymous-0]

Cary, nothing can be hurt by your using 1st or reverse. It is the higher gears that "could" possibly allow it to roll.

 

[36 Coupe]

I have had the transmission lock up while baling hay down hill.A slug of hay would stall the engine.The transmission is stuck in first gear and you cant start the engine.Lock both brakes, pull the insulator back on the starter switch and ground the terminal with a pocket knife.This will let you start the engine.Hold the clutch down, release the brake locks and release the brakes .If you stall the engine it will always need a little choke to restart.

 

[DanH01]

Anything could happen and you could "if" yourself somemore gray hairs on parking like that. However with the bucket and boxblade down tranny in 1st and brake pawls on even though there is always risk seems like you minimized it pretty good. Couple of things I"ve learned on my place where the only level spot is a concrete pad I poured is to carry a couple of large chunks of tree I cut to block the rear wheels and to carry several bungee cords to use on the brake pawls so they don"t accidently disengage. Go slow-be safe.