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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

brush hogging with a narrow front?

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chris sweetland

07-26-2005 09:44:08




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i am looking at a narrow front jd 2010 i have a fergie to-20 i was wondering if i could brush hog with the narrow front or will it flip too easily if i hit a rut or a hole? thanks chris




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Burnie

07-27-2005 05:49:11




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 Re: brush hogging with a narrow front? in reply to chris sweetland, 07-26-2005 09:44:08  
When a tractor rolls over, it rotates around either the left or right tipping axis. On wide front tractors, the axis lines run from the outside of each rear wheel (where they touch the ground), and meet at the front axle pivot pin. On narrow fronts, the lines run from the same points at the rear,to the point where the outside of the front wheel/s touch the ground. In this case the lines will meet at a point just forward of the tractor. When viewed from above, the two lines form two sides of a triangle. This is known as the tractor's "stability triangle".
When a tractor's centre of gravity moves outside the stability triangle, the tractor rolls. The larger the triangle, the more stable the tractor.
So it doesn't matter whether you have a wide or narrow front, the way to improve stability is to increase the rear wheel spacing.
The stability triangle is only part of the story. We all know about things like high centre of gravity, high speeds and sharp turns. As pointed out in the other posts, rollovers can happen with any tractor. The issues with narrow fronts is that they may have a high centre of gravity and are capable of very sharp turns. Have a look at the "stuck and troubled photo gallery. One picture labled 'Rollover Farmall B' shows what can happen with a sharp turn on a slope that wasn't particularly steep. This could have happened with any type of tractor and I don't mean to single out narrow fronts (or their operators). If you know the capabilities and and limitations of your tractor, operate correctly with common sense,you should be able to avoid the dreaded rollover. A ROPS is your last line of defence and I wouldn't operate in rough or steep country without one.

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Kevin Bismark

07-26-2005 20:21:30




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 Re: brush hogging with a narrow front? in reply to chris sweetland, 07-26-2005 09:44:08  
Seen plenty of wide front tractors roll over, but the main reason I like a wide front tractor with the brush hog is to help kind of bull doze the small trees over then let them get chewed up, the old john deere brush hog we used to have had eaten a lot of 4 inch popal trees over the years wished it had never been sold.. Just remember you are not driving a bull dozer and have to kind of know how big the stuff is and what type of tree it is so the the 4 inch ones I tried to keep close to the center to keep from breaking something, we had 2 identical tractors and only one had the brush hog on it, that axle is still just fine but the other one that never pushed a tree over but had the axle broken when it got "borrowed" and a guy hit a dead furrow with it..

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chris sweetland

07-26-2005 19:45:29




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 Re: brush hogging with a narrow front? in reply to chris sweetland, 07-26-2005 09:44:08  
well thanks for all the comments while i am aware that any tractor can roll i rolled a mf 241 wf once and i am just asking as i have never run or used a narrow front i am extreamly cautious so with the great responces here i will think more about the tractor



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Mark - IN.

07-26-2005 18:36:03




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 Re: brush hogging with a narrow front? in reply to chris sweetland, 07-26-2005 09:44:08  
I agree with the others, any tractor can go under the right conditions, N or WF.

As a kid I grew up on a Farmall H and put that thing in places that I wouldn't be comfortable with anymore, but never had a problem, or maybe was lucky. Not long ago I was heading down a road and watched an old farmer hogging the length of one of the sides of a cuvert with a NF Farmall like no one's business, no trouble. A couple of years ago my brother tried to talk the owner of a NF Ford 4000 into selling it to me just to get it off of his church's property after setting for years. They'd always used it for hogging, but the guys were getting older, and tinkering with it after setting out every winter got to be not worth the hassle, so they got a couple of lawn tractors, and as far as I know, there she still sets - the guy won't sell, and I really don't want it.

Now, as far as loaders go, might be concerned there. But, I know where there's another NF Ford setting for sale with one of those. But, can argue to keep the loader low. Besides, can't you move the rears out on a 2010 if makes you feel more comfortable? Not sure.

No matter what you do, always try to think ahead of the tractor, because they're stupid and will try anything.

Mark

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MarkB_MI

07-26-2005 18:03:08




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 Re: brush hogging with a narrow front? in reply to chris sweetland, 07-26-2005 09:44:08  
Any increased tendency for the tractor to roll over will be offset by improved maneuverability. I routinely brush hog rough terrain with my row crop Ford 4000, which is probably more tippy than a 2010.

Make sure the tractor is properly ballasted. Chloride ballast in front and rear tires will help a lot.

If you're concerned about rollover, I imagine you can get a ROPS canopy for the 2010 without too much trouble. Under the wrong conditions, ANY tractor will roll; ROPS is the only sure protection.

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1945 A

07-26-2005 13:19:39




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 Re: brush hogging with a narrow front? in reply to chris sweetland, 07-26-2005 09:44:08  
I brush hog with my JD 45 "A", all the time, pulling a 6' FMC drag type mower with no problems.
However, I always make it a point to walk the area before I mow to check for any new ruts, holes, etc. I also tend to do everything pretty slow.



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Brian in NY

07-26-2005 11:08:10




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 Re: brush hogging with a narrow front? in reply to chris sweetland, 07-26-2005 09:44:08  
Narrow front will be fine as long as you work within the confines of the machine. I wouldn"t be concerned in the least.

Narrow fronts pose difficulty in deep, wet snow (front end catches/plugs with snow) and deep wet mud.

Other than that....business as usual. Your brushhog won"t notice.



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Lou

07-26-2005 13:39:28




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 Re: brush hogging with a narrow front? in reply to Brian in NY, 07-26-2005 11:08:10  
Ive talked to several farmers who ran narrow front ends with no problem, However if you had a choice with the evidence out there , why would you expose yourself to the risk? Just my 2 cents. Lou



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RustyFarmall

07-26-2005 14:02:39




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 Re: brush hogging with a narrow front? in reply to Lou, 07-26-2005 13:39:28  
Statistics don't tell the whole story. Just because you have a wide front doesn't mean the tractor will not upset. I did some research on this issue about 2 years ago, the only reports and photos of tractor accidents that I could find all pertained to tractors with wide front axles. It has more to do with operator skill and common sense than anything else.



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wayne Stewart.

07-27-2005 02:56:30




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 Re: brush hogging with a narrow front? in reply to RustyFarmall, 07-26-2005 14:02:39  
I think most of us are more cautious when using a narrow front when working because they might be easier to roll. I brush cut with one regularly but I am careful!!
Wayne



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