Mowing on hillside with a TO35

Fitted a folding ROPS last year - its OK except when mowing under low trees(!) so now I have learned to look up, forward, back and sideways simultaneously . . . . . . I feel like a nodding dog in a car window.

If the suction between you and the seat gets too high for your personal comfort level, slow down, throttle back, and plan a safe route out. Above all do not panic.

Others on here have commented on mowing sideways on hills whilst sitting on the topmost edge of the seat - with wheels at full extension with no problem. Personally I do not think it is worth the risk. Buy a couple of goats instead :)

Someone once told me that if you are traversing a hill and the back end starts to slip that it is a natural reaction to turn 'uphill' which is the worst thing to do, as it makes the angles worse - apparently you must remember to turn downhill. Don't know, never tried it, never want to.

HTH

http://www.bare-co.com/

The thing can still flip over backwards and kill you pretty easily. Some front wheel weights will help, but they aren"t foolproof.

A rigid top link setup on the mower might prevent you from going over backwards. It would certainly be better than a piece of chain, as I often see on mowers.

The ROPS is by far the best protection. But I"ve never seen a 35 or any similar models with one yet.

Set the wheels out as far as you can to help the lateral stability. 6' on the outside of the wheels will still fit in the width of the brush hog (and if the wheels snag on trees, then you know the brush hog won't go between those trees). Since you are running over what you are about to mow it doesn't matter if the wheels are set even wider than the brush hog for lateral stability.

It is possible going up a steep hill to lift the front and have the tractor roll over backwards. That's not survivable either.

Look for a ROPS with seat belt for better safety. There is a web page in Wisconsin that has listings of makers, and its probably not available from MF, probably if at all from after market like Saf-T-Cab.

Gerald J.