'51 JD A with Roll-O-Matic - what is safe operation

c.d.1951

Member
1951 John Deere A with Roll-o-Matic & novice driver here, what is the safe operating limits climbing hill angle and side hill angle to avoid front lift off and side roll over.It's not mentioned in owners operator's manual. Thank You from Hillsboro New Hampshire.
 
Common sense. Oh that's right that doesn't exist anymore. Will go anywhere a wide front will with no more problems. Will fit in the shed better.
 
We typically design a 3 to 1 (1 foot of rise per every 3 feet) slope max for mowers to be able to function safely on a slope. I personally would not want to go up or along a slope much deeper than that. I loaded my old '44 A onto a buddies gooseneck trailer one time and the ride up and on about scared the crap out of me.
 
(quoted from post at 13:05:19 06/20/18) We typically design a 3 to 1 (1 foot of rise per every 3 feet) slope max for mowers to be able to function safely on a slope. I personally would not want to go up or along a slope much deeper than that. I loaded my old '44 A onto a buddies gooseneck trailer one time and the ride up and on about scared the crap out of me.

I meant steeper, not deeper.
 
thanks meangreen - i have a family reunion coming up soon and i'll be getting tips from my cousins and aunt who have been John Deering since the 1950's on a up state NY farm. This is my first tractor - a tribute tractor for my late uncle who gave me rides on his A and B when I was 5. I bought it out of Ohio with a No.5 7' mower attached.
 
Way too many variables involved. Rear tread width is a big factor. As would be if you have rear mounted equipment and no weight on the front end.
I'll take my JD B anywhere you can go with an 8N Ford. I have the rear wheels out wide and some weight on the front.
 

Keep in mind that nearly every farm tractor has approximately 70% of its weight ON the rear tires. The configuration of the front end has very little to do with stability.
 
thanks Mike, wheels are at the max width at rear. No weights on front. No.5 sickle mower attached. This part of New hampshire my fields are hilly and many boulders. Thats while this area was mainly sheep in the 17-1800's.
 
I have a 51 jd A had it for the last 35 yr,s very safe up to a point like any outher tractor. just do like gene sad and youll be good to go. Bob
 
Morning pic, wheels out to Max end of axles, 88" to outside of tires. Is there much diff in side-to-side stability felt if I move tires in to 80"? And any comments about down the road driving w/ wheels set in vs out at Max 88" ?. Thanks
 
(quoted from post at 15:42:42 06/20/18) Morning pic, wheels out to Max end of axles, 88" to outside of tires. Is there much diff in side-to-side stability felt if I move tires in to 80"? And any comments about down the road driving w/ wheels set in vs out at Max 88" ?. Thanks

Not much. As others have said, most of the weight is on the rear. That is especially true of the JD 2 cylinder tractors like the A. They are a stable tractor. You'll find yourself being uncomfortable, because of the lean angle, way before you actually approach the tipover point of the tractor. Don't worry about it and enjoy your tractor.
 
(quoted from post at 07:42:42 06/20/18) Morning pic, wheels out to Max end of axles, 88" to outside of tires. Is there much diff in side-to-side stability felt if I move tires in to 80"? And any comments about down the road driving w/ wheels set in vs out at Max 88" ?. Thanks
mvphoto18564.jpg
 
Any time you are on a hill, keep your sickle bar up-hill. I mowed a lot of highway right-of-ways and this was mandatory.
 
thanks Ronnie, my past life road racing motorcycles was that balance of leaning up to that edge with not so forgiving fall off and sometime high-side!!
Being old (67) and wise I dont want to be added to that list of Tractor/Farming accidents. In all my research and reading about JD tractor design and history
I haven't seen any mention about field engineering related to hills & slopes for the "A"s and "B"s. Thanks if anyone knows of such articles.
 
Just use common sense and watch close for any holes. Those are what gets you. I have seen tricycle A,s on hillsides I would be nervous on with a crawler.
 
Whether a tractor is safe or not depends about 95% on the operator,Ralph Nader admitted he couldn't safely drive a Corvair at any speed, I had one I'd run 60 MPH never had any problem.
Some people break out in a cold sweat when they see a tricycle tractor just got to know your limitations.
 
Thank you all for your good advice and opinions - it adds good basic limits and precautions operating potentially dangerous equipment. I do have respect for its hazards and I am learning S L O W L Y. I will not be testing Max lean/climb. I wanted to know what the original grand father Deere engineers did in testing development. Remember this was the state of the art at one time with no roll bars and just good mature 'common' sense, heeding the "WARNING" decals on the steering post and rear PTO housing. I look forward to participating with this group and sharing my experience as I master this Green Monster. I have spent many hours on other message boards and been the one with many years expertise and thousands of reply's helping others in my motorcycle and auto fields. You always enjoy sharing your passion with other's who love their machine as you do. Have a great (Green&Yellow) day. C.D.
 
Like driving any vehicle, conditions affect the limits of safe operation more than the vehicle itself. Mud, wet grass or frost can make surfaces slick enough that it is no longer safe to drive where it had been OK to drive a few hours ago. It takes some time to learn to judge conditions and the safe limits of your tractor.
 

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