Almost rolled my tractor today

Dumb question, how much do you figure your ballast box weighs. I’m using 14-42# suitcase weights and brackets for them. I do not run filled tires or weights. I don’t feel like I have too much. 3 point weight is more effective for loader work.

MattL said:

Glad you're OK. What on the path caused the tippiness? Pothole? Root? A balanced load and proper ballast shouldn't cause tipping but unexpected holes, etc can. Was it a front or rear feeling?

Asking to see if wheel weights will help.

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I think the ballast box may have been too high. I had it all the way to the top. Going forward, when working on that property, I am going to keep it low. It could have been a root. Path is somewhere 5-10 degrees sloping side to side and goes at 45 degree angle down the hill. I might cut him a path that is straight down the slope. Don't want to get into the same thing ever again. This neighbor is elderly, so I like to help him, cause neighbors helped my late mother. Karma thing you know. So got to make sure I have safer passages on his several acres.

ironpony said:

an OH CRAP moment and tipping the tractor are pretty far apart. And with only a couple of hours operating it I would personally say it was an OH CRAP and a long way from tipping. It takes some seat time to be able to know where the limit is.
Glad you are safe and the tractor is right side up.

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I used to race cars... done testing limits Do need to invest in forks. Doesn't help when the bucket obstructs the view forward.

I have rolled rental mini skidsteer before couple years back (had to use winch to right it), so I had the instinct to jump off. Which I did. Fortunately, lowering the FEL as I was jumping off stopped the issue

c40-8w said:

Dumb question, how much do you figure your ballast box weighs. I’m using 14-42# suitcase weights and brackets for them. I do not run filled tires or weights. I don’t feel like I have too much. 3 point weight is more effective for loader work. View attachment 805653

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I have the standard JD ballast box. I don't know what it weighs, I just know I fit exactly 500lb of sand in there (10 bags of 50lb)

We have a million threads on here about the correct amount of ballast and counterweight. I’m pretty sure it includes filled tires and wheel weights. It’s pretty surprising how much it is. Pretty hairy when it happens. I know I’ve had a rear wheel it two off the ground. No harm no foul though.

Sounds like you used up some of the luck bucket. A Friend told me about two buckets when you start riding motorcycles. One called luck thats full and one called experience that's empty. The goal is fill up the experience bucket before you empty the luck bucket. This applies in tractoring too- Check out, and ideally participate in the what did you do with your scut thread, there's a ton to learn from there and it's generally good banter as well! Thanks for sharing your experience.

PS: Side hill'ing is sketchy, try and minimize it, even more so when fully loaded. 😀

theduke said:

Where was BB ?
down low or up high?

Is BB mounted to a I maych type quick hitch or pinned to arms?

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Pinned to arms. It was at the top of the 3-point range. Even after reading tons of threads here and hours of safety videos before I bought the SCUT, looks like minor details still can bite you.

I would add some wheel weights also. Some people like Rim Guard and it is good for adding additional weight to the wheels, the only problem is it is almost impossible to remove the weight if you need to. With the Cast Iron Wheel Weights, you can remove the bolts and the weight comes off when needed.

agurkas said:

Pinned to arms. It was at the top of the 3-point range. Even after reading tons of threads here and hours of safety videos before I bought the SCUT, looks like minor details still can bite you.

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No need to be up all the way....but dragging the ground can bite you too.

Get a quick hitch...moves it back 4" which will help plus its a handy tool.

Find your tow chains and whatever other heavy stuff and toss in BB or hang it on the back.

You could pronly add another 100 lbs +++ pretty easy.

Know "That" feeling and how to react quick...well its good practice...if you never know it you'll find it the harder way.
been there and did it...got the T shirt.

theduke said:

Know "That" feeling and how to react quick...well its good practice...if you never know it you'll find it the harder way.
been there and did it...got the T shirt.

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At least in my race club, when you were new, your mentor would purposely instruct you to do something that would cause a spin. Instructors would hit a specific area of the track with water, so there was no way you could recover. And when you have been around for a while and finally were allowed slicks, they would do same ish to cut down on cocky behavior. I still remember mine when I lifted mid-corner on a downslope and hit that patch of water. Experience today will be equivalent of that for tractors.

OK so as I understand it you picked up a 6 foot log 24” around right?
Then you chained it to your loader bucket
You say there’s 500 lbs of sand in a 150 pound ballast box with loaded tires
And you hauled it on a 5-15 degree side hill

My thoughts
If you can pick it up, it’s your load. Period. It is under your control and you and only you are responsible for it.

Wheel weights or more weight in your box but you should be packing another hundred pounds on the rear regardless of how high it sits

Plan your moves when doing picks. If your going to be traveling down hill and leaning to the right, maybe position the log to where it offsets 6” or so to the left on your bucket.

If you can lift a log 10” off the ground it’s not that heavy

I don’t even want to comment on you jumping out of a skidsteer that is about to tip over

Wear your seatbelt snd make sure the Rops are up.