Safe slope

[BillH-HT]

Not having my "sea-legs" with the tractor yet but needing to mow on side slopes on my property, I am taking the cautious approach and bought an inclinometer/tiltmeter for the tractor. The scale suggests 15* as the yellow caution zone and above 15* as the red danger zone. I'm not so much wanting to push the envelope into a caution zone as much as just getting a feel for the tilt of the tractor.

They wisely suggest "checking with the manufacturer to see what the safe limits are". Not mentioned in the Yanmar OP Manual I have. So I'm here looking for guidance: YMG1800, rear wheels reversed, no wheel weights, no extra front weights. I'll be using a bush hog of unknown make (lots of heavy repairs and reinforcements) or a Sitrex finishing mower (48", I think). No roll bar, 'cept'n for my punkin' haid. What sort of side slope limit is recommended? I'm inclined to be cautious at 10* or above and be chicken nearing 15*.

Thanks,

--Bill

 

[winston-HT]

I scanned through an operational manual on a US sold Yanmar and also for a grey market model. I could not fine any information indicating a certain "safe" angle in either manual. Also did a little googling on the subject and have concluded a certain # on your meter is not going to keep you safe. Too many variables can happen. To make it as safe as possible a rop would be in order. I don't have one either and mainly because I mow under a lot of low hanging trees and the additional height is to much.

 

[BillH-HT]

Agreed, and that is what my web-reading suggests, too. Too many variables to put a "this is safe" value on any one number. But on the tractor, being way up tall, even a small side slope feels enormous. At least with a riding mower, I've had 17 years to get used to what it feels like and I can lean upslope to counterbalance it on a bad area. I don't even think that using "body english" on a tractor would do any good. But I think the tiltmeter will be useful by giving a reproducible value, as long as I don't consider it a gospel-number.

Agreed, too on a ROPS, but with all my startup expenses on a new, used tractor it's not budgetable at this time. I've got feelers out, though...

--Bill

 

[winston-HT]

Well best of luck to you, sounds like you are safety conscience and that is a good thing. <E>:mrgreen:</E>