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csvt99

Improving Slope Traction?

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csvt99

I recently picked up a 314-8 with a 42" rear discharge mulching deck that is now my primary yard mower. I have a slopped section that is 3.5:1 or about 16-17 degrees. I typically mow when the grass is dry but in the evening. There are a few spots where I loose traction along the slope and it spins and I get in a bind depending in conditions. I can mow straight up and down but it will sometimes freewheel on the way down. 

 

Do you recommend wheel weights or ag tires? Any other suggestions?

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953 nut

Liquid filled tires and wheel weights will add traction and stability.

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The Tuul Crib

I have the same conditions and l like wheel weights and ag tires. I have never been a big fan of fluid filled tires. But thats 

my opinion.But they say opinions are like a.. holes everyone has one !!! Lol

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csvt99

Will ag tires chew up my grass? I've never mowed turf with them on a small tractor before. thanks!

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pacer

 I have become quite PO'd at turf tires and them slipping. I have some slight slope and a bunch of trees and when trying to get around the trees the turfs will lose traction because of the tight turn and .....  As of last week I now have Ags on everything. Yeah they are a bit harder on turf, but honestly its very little more than the spots where the turfs would spin.

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csvt99
3 minutes ago, pacer said:

 I have become quite PO'd at turf tires and them slipping. I have some slight slope and a bunch of trees and when trying to get around the trees the turfs will lose traction because of the tight turn and .....  As of last week I now have Ags on everything. Yeah they are a bit harder on turf, but honestly its very little more than the spots where the turfs would spin.

Okay, maybe I should try weight first and see how it does.

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WVHillbilly520H
19 minutes ago, csvt99 said:

I recently picked up a 314-8 with a 42" rear discharge mulching deck that is now my primary yard mower. I have a slopped section that is 3.5:1 or about 16-17 degrees. I typically mow when the grass is dry but in the evening. There are a few spots where I loose traction along the slope and it spins and I get in a bind depending in conditions. I can mow straight up and down but it will sometimes freewheel on the way down. 

 

Do you recommend wheel weights or ag tires? Any other suggestions?

 

4 minutes ago, csvt99 said:

Will ag tires chew up my grass? I've never mowed turf with them on a small tractor before. thanks!

No the bar/AG tires having more grip will be less damage to the turf than turf tires loosing grip/traction..and I have 3 :wh: with fluid filled AG tires and cast iron weights, it really is the best way to achieve maximum traction on steep slopes while mowing.

IMAG6031.jpg

IMAG5493.jpg

IMAG3951.jpg

IMAG3175.jpg

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csvt99

WV hillbilly do you live near Harrisonburg? I see my last name on the back of one of your tractors. Kreider machine shop is owned by my distant relatives, and boy do you have hills down there!

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dcrage

“sometimes freewheel on the way down.”

 

Doubt that you are freewheeling. When this happens to me on my 310-8 it is a complete loss of traction with the tractor sliding while the wheels are still turning. And when this happens DO NOT disengage the clutch and hit your brakes. The quickest way to gain control is to ride it out letting the tractor weight regain traction. 

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WVHillbilly520H
15 minutes ago, csvt99 said:

WV hillbilly do you live near Harrisonburg? I see my last name on the back of one of your tractors. Kreider machine shop is owned by my distant relatives, and boy do you have hills down there!

Yes sir, Staunton 20 minutes south of Harrisonburg, been working in Harrisonburg since 1990, and Kreider's is now a machine shop as well as an outdoor power equipment dealer repair shop...small world ain't it.

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csvt99
42 minutes ago, WVHillbilly520H said:

Yes sir, Staunton 20 minutes south of Harrisonburg, been working in Harrisonburg since 1990, and Kreider's is now a machine shop as well as an outdoor power equipment dealer repair shop...small world ain't it.

Sure is! I went to college down there at Bridgewater. I will definitely try and get some ag tires and wheel weights. Thanks for the tips!

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troutbum70

On my 417 I have AG tires, cast iron weights and run chains all year. I mow a lot of side hill and even with all three I still have to shift body weight to upper wheel to prevent spinning. Dang 17 horse Kohler just has to much torgue hi hi. And any time I have fluid in the tires I put the fluid in tubes.

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Rfp55

I have not had one with ag tires - but I do have the same hill terrain. A big Ford LGT I bought had snow chains on the rear wheels, and the previous owner had used the tractor for mowing and snowblowing year around - and never removed the chains. Cheaper than 2-$300 loaded ag tire experiment. You might be borrow a pair if don't already have.

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Tractorhead

AG Tyres give some more traction against Turfs,

but if the rearweight is less, they begin diggin.

 

a good choice at my site was improoved rearweight and AG Tyres in combination.

 

 

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csvt99

Any recommendations on wheel weights? I have no experience with them. I've see black wheel horse ones that look nice. Do I have to worry about them scratching the rims?

IMG_20190505_085633.jpg

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Sparky

 Weights will scratch the rims a bit, no harm in that. And if the weights stay on the machine tear round you’ll never see any scratches :lol: !

  I think any brand wheel weights sized for a 12” rim will work, you don’t have to use weights with the WH emblem on them.

 

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troutbum70

I have seen weights mounted on the inside of rims, have no idea if they are commercially available or diy's. Once again chains pay for them selves over and over. And if you have ones with ice cleats may even with lawn irrigation.

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richmondred01

F79AC3FE-B90A-49DC-8E13-1A1B907A5CC4.jpeg.753135c1142db232b86f8a665f4186ce.jpeg6BA5F33F-F969-4DCD-9D8F-E0DDFF804E34.jpeg.79e1e08011f4c39a195ce31ca1915262.jpeg

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dcrage

One comment about using chains when mowing. They do give you maximum traction. BUT when you lose traction and start spinning your wheels you inflict maximum damage to your yard. 

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WVHillbilly520H
3 hours ago, richmondred01 said:

F79AC3FE-B90A-49DC-8E13-1A1B907A5CC4.jpeg.753135c1142db232b86f8a665f4186ce.jpeg6BA5F33F-F969-4DCD-9D8F-E0DDFF804E34.jpeg.79e1e08011f4c39a195ce31ca1915262.jpeg

 

5 hours ago, Sparky said:

Or get something less aggressive than Ags and more aggressive than standard turfs. Then add some weights. 

   Like these....

2D77D2E8-7D1B-43A6-89F7-17F0A1D37DB3.jpeg

Like Mark and Sparky,I too have a set of the Farmall/Cub Cadet weights on the inside of my wheels (25# each) plus a set of hard to find Massey Ferguson split weights (35#) hiding behind my custom powder coated wheel covers...

IMAG3089.jpg

 

IMAG5491.jpg

IMAG3486.jpg

Edited by WVHillbilly520H
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csvt99
18 hours ago, dcrage said:

“sometimes freewheel on the way down.”

 

Doubt that you are freewheeling. When this happens to me on my 310-8 it is a complete loss of traction with the tractor sliding while the wheels are still turning. And when this happens DO NOT disengage the clutch and hit your brakes. The quickest way to gain control is to ride it out letting the tractor weight regain traction. 

I believe you are correct. And yes I just ride it out. Otherwise it could be a disaster. I feel all the brakes are good for is coming to a complete stop when I depress the clutch on slightly u even ground when trying to switch gears.

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shallowwatersailor
21 hours ago, csvt99 said:

Any recommendations on wheel weights? I have no experience with them. I've see black wheel horse ones that look nice. Do I have to worry about them scratching the rims?

 

Wheel weights will scratch your rims. The only ones that won't are the type that use free weights om spindles that are bolted to the rim. You stack smaller diameter weights on the inside graduating to larger weights on the outer portion of the rim. Not as "glamorous" but far easier to load and just as heavy.

 

That is my former 518xi on the left with the free-weights.DSCN2884.JPG.e54dec6c82487d46cc20261c26625a84.JPG

Edited by shallowwatersailor

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ebinmaine
15 hours ago, csvt99 said:

feel all the brakes are good for is coming to a complete stop

It can be a bit of a challenge getting the brakes set just right.

I DO use my brake just like a road vehicle, to slow the tractor going down hill when loaded.

That is actually one of the primary reasons why I prefer the later tractors to the 60s ... Two pedals. I can stay in gear And slow down.

 

Lots of great advice above.

I run tractors with AG and turfs, both with chains.

We have very little grass. Almost all travel is on dirt.

I love the look of AG tires and without chains they are clearly superior in traction.

With.... ?

I honestly don't know....

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Pullstart

Filling tires doesn’t take much work, if you have a spare air tank.  I’ve even seen vessels built from PVC pipe.  I put tubes in my tires, then filled a portable air tank with used antifreeze through a funnel in the gauge port.  I then pressurized the air tank with 20-30 psi and flipped it over before filling the tubes as usual.  It took a few charges or air and I bled the little bit of air pressure out of the tubes a few times to get them as full of fluid as possible.  I kept the tire and wheel at about a 45 degree angle, with the schrader valve on the top side of the wheel. There is virtually no air pressure in them and I have had them loaded for 4+ years at this point.  Lower pressure typically means more contact patch also.  The fluid helps keep the bead seated by pressing outward constantly.

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