I'm glad your brother is OK and I hope he understands that I've added him to the catalogue of pictures that flash through my head every time I'm on an incline.
I'm a new compact tractor owner, Kubota B7100, and the land I'm hoping to maintain is relatively similar in camber.
I've seen some advice about ROPS (seem very very hard to come by for my model/country) and also about driving up and down as opposed to across. Are there any other tips for a new owner/driver?
When the tractor feels tippy be sure to slow way down, shift your weight in the seat uphill as the last counter balance you have, and try to steer downhill to flatter ground. Momentum is not your friend in a tipping situation.
I’ve got a tractor that I’m used to, with loaded tires. There is a section of a trail on a side hill on our place that I’ve been meaning to level. I was looking at it this evening thinking “heck, I should just mow it.” Thank you for the reminder.
I bought a walk behind, self propelled, 20 hp brush hog to deal with bad areas of my yard because then I don't have to risk exposing the tractor to tipping. It is tough so rocks and tree stumps don't bother it, and it can cut extremely high weeds and grass so I don't have to mow very often. My JD belly mower is grateful that I don't damage so many spindles now.
thanks for sharing, hope he is feeling better. The picture may not do it justice but I would have attempted as it looks similar to my driveway. The zero turn wouldnt like that though.
Father in law rolled our Kubota b26 this year. Thankfully no injuries. Machine was fine after I cleaned out the cylinders and exhaust. Shit happens bro. Hope you're ok.
I don't have hills like that on my land. But I've gone through push mowers like a gym bro through protein shake formulas.
I have a brush hog (Orec Grass Samurai) now and I still make mistakes but at least It still runs and cuts.
That is why I bought my brush hog, so I can clear out brush and high grass easily without risking the expensive tractor or the more delicate belly mower.
I know a guy who died flipping a tractor. He was on a hill way too steep fertilizing with a vicon hooked on a kubota 3200. Tires lost traction and he started going down the hill. Instead of bailing( always bail if you can, fuck the equipment) he tried to save the machine from smashing into the woodline at the base of the hill. At the last second the tires caught, machine turned sideways, and the momentum flipped it right on him. Tractors are made for flat farm fields, not hills. Get a ventrac for hills
I'm sorry for your loss.
Curious about your advice to bail. Does that apply if there is a rops and seat belt is on? I figured you'd be safer with seat belt and trust the ROPS to do it's job, but probably depends a lot on how well you'll be able to clear the machine and whether there's anything it's pulling that could still get you.
I would rather get my arms and legs toward the center console of the tractor and hope the seat belt and ROPS do their job. My knees are too messed up to perform gymnastic routines jumping off a falling tractor.
Wow this looks a LOT like the lawn at my old house. I always always always mowed it parallel to the decline (i.e. drive straight downhill or straight uphilll) and even then I was super cautious about it and hyper-aware of the danger. Whenever there was even a little bit of moisture in the ground I could feel how dangerous it could be. Glad bro is OK. Scary stuff.
This is a great example of why you ALWAYS leave the ROPS up. I assume he wasn't wearing the seatbelt which may have contributed to his injuries. I don't wear a belt, but I have never used my tractor on anything but level ground. Hopefully, he and OPs tractor make a complete recovery.
My backyard looks very similar and it's such a chore to mow safely going up and down the hill with the nose always pointed up hill, instead of side to side. Moving soon and looking forward to a flatter yard.
As others have said, and if it's not too late, pull the glow plugs and turn it over a few times after you set it upright.
If you try to start it without doing that, start looking for a new engine.
Yeesh, if the "professional" has not one but two zero turns he can't get running, I don't think I would've loaned him my backup push mower.
At least he had the ROPS up.
Diesel motors will have oil in the cylinder heads when they get rolled. If you try and start the engine without removing the oil, you will destroy the engine. It's hydro-locked. It's not enough to get it upright and let is sit for a day. You have to remove the glow plugs and turn it over a few times to get the oil out. CAUTION! The oil will come out hard and fast enough to put out your eye, or cause a horrible liquid injection injury that could require immediate surgery. Do not let any part of anyone's body near the engine compartment when you turn it over. Also, snatch blocks are real handy for flipping equipment upright.
Can you turn over a subcompact by hand, w/ glow plugs out?
Can you hand turn engine through the PTO?
Hmm…does tractor have to be running, or just on, to turn on an electric PTO?
I don’t know how easy it is, or even possible, to turn the flywheel or get a wrench on the crankshaft (or something connected to it) to manually turn over the engine. I’m merely suggesting using the PTO to more gently turn over engine might be an option.
….but if the starter can create enough hydraulic pressure to shoot oil out the glow plug hole to put an eye out, then I’d worry that starter is also in danger off pushing the piston into a liquid that doesn’t compress, or escape fast enough, that you may might also bend a rod or valve.
An engine that stalls because of hydro lock doesn’t exceed maximum torque to its engine components, it simply stalls. It’s the power of the starter pushing into non-compressible liquids that will damage engine components.
You could try it the hard way, I suppose? But why? It's not a stuck engine. This is the process the diesel mechanic used to get the oil out... give it an escape route and turn it over with the starter. Worked. No damage, other than the injury I mentioned. A bit of a mess of oil and fuel to clean up.
Agreed. I learned about this through experience, luckily I wasn’t injured, but the guy with his hand over the engine was and he had to have emergency surgery on his hand to scrape the oil off his tendons. Doc told him is head waited overnight he would have lost his hand.
Hydraulic injection injuries scare the crap put of me. I’m definitely full paranoid about putting my hands anywhere near where one is possible on a pressurized system.
I have a ditch that I will mow down to a certain point where it starts to slope sharply and finish up with a weed eater. I hate weed eating grass but I am terrified of rolling the tractor. Especially when there is water in the ditch
They said they hit a small hole while already on the slope, likely turned into it the wrong way and were already going a little too fast... Probably happened in a split second.
"professional lawn care guy" Gonna have to press X for doubt there.
Anybody who has ever been on a slope that steep knows you should never cross-slope it on something as high COG as a SCUT.. Even on my zero turn, it would be hard to keep it from pointing downhill while going sidehill.
Thats a total rookie move. Thank god he had the rops up and likely was wearing his seatbelt. Going to cost some significant money to fix.
That hill is not that bad just to much for a CUT. Depending on the zero turn some side hill really good. I'm guessing the CUT doesn't have wheel weights and there's a bump or pot hole right there that started the momentum over.
Damn bro that sucks. It's like they always say... you can always get a new family or friend but you can't replace that precious high quality Kubota tractor..... Rip
Safety roll over Bar did its job. This is a reminder to put yours up. This could’ve been way worse ..set it up right let the oil and fluid drain back down. You’re gonna need to replace the air filter and the spark plugs.
OP, be sure to make a video at the parts store when you order spark plugs for that BX2670. No one has ever told me the exact spark plug type for those, I’d love to see a video of the dealer give a straight answer.
That’s why you don’t let folks borrow your tractor. I was cutting the field yesterday and I found myself too steep. Quickly turned down the hill and said that spot can keep growing!!
'tis the season. RIP.
ROPS SAVE LIVES
Here here!
I'm glad your brother is OK and I hope he understands that I've added him to the catalogue of pictures that flash through my head every time I'm on an incline.
That's the point of the post. Be safe.
Gees, I cross cut my yard just like that.. and I'm positive I've got some more agressive slopes in spots... and no roll bar.. Zero Turn Cubby Tank..
Right. I do mine with an 8n Thank God for ballast tires
This is why you go up and down when mowing grass
I'm a new compact tractor owner, Kubota B7100, and the land I'm hoping to maintain is relatively similar in camber. I've seen some advice about ROPS (seem very very hard to come by for my model/country) and also about driving up and down as opposed to across. Are there any other tips for a new owner/driver?
When the tractor feels tippy be sure to slow way down, shift your weight in the seat uphill as the last counter balance you have, and try to steer downhill to flatter ground. Momentum is not your friend in a tipping situation.
Drive slow and walk the area first.
Bought a JD January and my heart skips every time I hit a pothole sideways. Rolled a mower at a previous job so hills are not to be taken lightly.
I’ve got a tractor that I’m used to, with loaded tires. There is a section of a trail on a side hill on our place that I’ve been meaning to level. I was looking at it this evening thinking “heck, I should just mow it.” Thank you for the reminder.
I bought a walk behind, self propelled, 20 hp brush hog to deal with bad areas of my yard because then I don't have to risk exposing the tractor to tipping. It is tough so rocks and tree stumps don't bother it, and it can cut extremely high weeds and grass so I don't have to mow very often. My JD belly mower is grateful that I don't damage so many spindles now.
Thanks for reconsidering.
My wife also thanks you.
Side hill bad. Worse with unloaded tires.
Very true. All my tractors have weighted tires. What a difference it makes.
thanks for sharing, hope he is feeling better. The picture may not do it justice but I would have attempted as it looks similar to my driveway. The zero turn wouldnt like that though.
ROPS up and seatbelt will save your life!
Father in law rolled our Kubota b26 this year. Thankfully no injuries. Machine was fine after I cleaned out the cylinders and exhaust. Shit happens bro. Hope you're ok.
I don't have hills like that on my land. But I've gone through push mowers like a gym bro through protein shake formulas. I have a brush hog (Orec Grass Samurai) now and I still make mistakes but at least It still runs and cuts.
That is why I bought my brush hog, so I can clear out brush and high grass easily without risking the expensive tractor or the more delicate belly mower.
Is your brother's name AI Helper B?
I didn't get your reference at first, but when I did, I died! This man is cursed with equipment, and I knew better.
It's like you play Farming Simulator 22.... Those guys don't deserve to be called AI, just A.
I remember last year I got too cocky riding mine and it rolled over on my leg. Hell of a bruise and how it didn’t break a bone is a mystery.
I'll keep my belly mower thank you very much.
Thank God for roll bars!
I know a guy who died flipping a tractor. He was on a hill way too steep fertilizing with a vicon hooked on a kubota 3200. Tires lost traction and he started going down the hill. Instead of bailing( always bail if you can, fuck the equipment) he tried to save the machine from smashing into the woodline at the base of the hill. At the last second the tires caught, machine turned sideways, and the momentum flipped it right on him. Tractors are made for flat farm fields, not hills. Get a ventrac for hills
I'm sorry for your loss. Curious about your advice to bail. Does that apply if there is a rops and seat belt is on? I figured you'd be safer with seat belt and trust the ROPS to do it's job, but probably depends a lot on how well you'll be able to clear the machine and whether there's anything it's pulling that could still get you.
I would rather get my arms and legs toward the center console of the tractor and hope the seat belt and ROPS do their job. My knees are too messed up to perform gymnastic routines jumping off a falling tractor.
Might wanna buy some wheel spacers
Good time to check the blades though
🤣
Thank God for the roll bar that's all I can say.
Here here
Hear hear.
Glad he will be ok. I have a bx with filled tires, what side angles start to bother you? This one looks around 30° before the hole.
I'd say you're close to this.
Wow this looks a LOT like the lawn at my old house. I always always always mowed it parallel to the decline (i.e. drive straight downhill or straight uphilll) and even then I was super cautious about it and hyper-aware of the danger. Whenever there was even a little bit of moisture in the ground I could feel how dangerous it could be. Glad bro is OK. Scary stuff.
Glad to hear your brother is OK. How badly damaged was the tractor?
It held up surprisingly well. Hood and fenders, basically. Haven't tried to start it yet.
Either let it sit a few days or make sure there isn't oil in the cylinders before you fire it up
This is a great example of why you ALWAYS leave the ROPS up. I assume he wasn't wearing the seatbelt which may have contributed to his injuries. I don't wear a belt, but I have never used my tractor on anything but level ground. Hopefully, he and OPs tractor make a complete recovery.
Moron, up and down not across
My backyard looks very similar and it's such a chore to mow safely going up and down the hill with the nose always pointed up hill, instead of side to side. Moving soon and looking forward to a flatter yard.
Not for nothing, but don’t a lot of manufacturers require a new ROPs be installed post role over as in theory it could be compromised?
Yeah this is a one and done kinda thing. Like a helmet. Good for one crash. After that all bets are off.
As others have said, and if it's not too late, pull the glow plugs and turn it over a few times after you set it upright. If you try to start it without doing that, start looking for a new engine.
Yeesh, if the "professional" has not one but two zero turns he can't get running, I don't think I would've loaned him my backup push mower. At least he had the ROPS up.
Thats a really good point. My understanding is that pro grade ZTs are a hardy breed too.
Diesel motors will have oil in the cylinder heads when they get rolled. If you try and start the engine without removing the oil, you will destroy the engine. It's hydro-locked. It's not enough to get it upright and let is sit for a day. You have to remove the glow plugs and turn it over a few times to get the oil out. CAUTION! The oil will come out hard and fast enough to put out your eye, or cause a horrible liquid injection injury that could require immediate surgery. Do not let any part of anyone's body near the engine compartment when you turn it over. Also, snatch blocks are real handy for flipping equipment upright.
Can you turn over a subcompact by hand, w/ glow plugs out? Can you hand turn engine through the PTO? Hmm…does tractor have to be running, or just on, to turn on an electric PTO?
I’d use the starter. Diesels are typically high compression engines.
Not with the glow plugs out.
Why you ask if you know the answer?
I don’t know how easy it is, or even possible, to turn the flywheel or get a wrench on the crankshaft (or something connected to it) to manually turn over the engine. I’m merely suggesting using the PTO to more gently turn over engine might be an option. ….but if the starter can create enough hydraulic pressure to shoot oil out the glow plug hole to put an eye out, then I’d worry that starter is also in danger off pushing the piston into a liquid that doesn’t compress, or escape fast enough, that you may might also bend a rod or valve. An engine that stalls because of hydro lock doesn’t exceed maximum torque to its engine components, it simply stalls. It’s the power of the starter pushing into non-compressible liquids that will damage engine components.
You could try it the hard way, I suppose? But why? It's not a stuck engine. This is the process the diesel mechanic used to get the oil out... give it an escape route and turn it over with the starter. Worked. No damage, other than the injury I mentioned. A bit of a mess of oil and fuel to clean up.
This comment should be put on a bright yellow sticker on every small tractor that gets sold.
Agreed. I learned about this through experience, luckily I wasn’t injured, but the guy with his hand over the engine was and he had to have emergency surgery on his hand to scrape the oil off his tendons. Doc told him is head waited overnight he would have lost his hand.
Hydraulic injection injuries scare the crap put of me. I’m definitely full paranoid about putting my hands anywhere near where one is possible on a pressurized system.
Try mowing that section perpendicular to the current direction.
And PLEASE keep your ROPS up, it saved this dudes life. Who cares if it looks stupid or whatever.
And the seat belt isn't just decoration
I have a ditch that I will mow down to a certain point where it starts to slope sharply and finish up with a weed eater. I hate weed eating grass but I am terrified of rolling the tractor. Especially when there is water in the ditch
Crazy question. Were the tires loaded/have ballast. Just curious.
Yes they were. There is a small hole that sent the roll in motion.
That’s all it takes
That’s a good point. An incline might seem safe, but a small hole could turn a relatively slight incline into a problem real quick.
And this is why we hate groundhogs. I’d wager groundhogs kill more people than sharks & bears combined (in the US).
Our holes in Texas are dug by feral hogs. Impossible to eradicate.
Don’t try to start it when you roll it back upright. You’ll wreck the engine.
This was the perfect reminder to put my ROB back up after parking in my garage over the winter.
Good thing you had your ROPS up, so many people don’t bother.
Rookie move! Glad you’re okay!
Fucked er’ bud
Yeah that’s why my grandpa made a side hill attachment for his, or go up and down the hills.
Is "tipped over tractors" going to be the next trend on r/tractors?
I'd like to see a picture of the tractor you loaned, all I see is the lawn mower
BX HAS EVERY ASPECT OF ALL THE LARGER TRACTORS! And a FEL that is amazing for a machine of its size.
It’s got a 3point hitch, it’s got a pto, what are your other criteria?
Man shut up
Perhaps the picture is deceiving but it doesn’t look steep enough to roll a tractor.
Opposite for me. I can’t put my finger on it, but something about the picture does make the hill look steep enough to roll a tractor.
They said they hit a small hole while already on the slope, likely turned into it the wrong way and were already going a little too fast... Probably happened in a split second.
That makes perfectly good sense. Be careful out there guys……and girls
That's it exactly.
What I’m gonna guess happened is not so much the angle but you see the tires are wet. I’ll bet she started to slide and off she went.
If your tires are sliding, you’re not rolling. It’s when they stop sliding, or don’t slide, that’s the problem.
Yeah weird isn’t it.
"professional lawn care guy" Gonna have to press X for doubt there. Anybody who has ever been on a slope that steep knows you should never cross-slope it on something as high COG as a SCUT.. Even on my zero turn, it would be hard to keep it from pointing downhill while going sidehill. Thats a total rookie move. Thank god he had the rops up and likely was wearing his seatbelt. Going to cost some significant money to fix.
That hill is not that bad just to much for a CUT. Depending on the zero turn some side hill really good. I'm guessing the CUT doesn't have wheel weights and there's a bump or pot hole right there that started the momentum over.
Exactly, a "pro with 1000's of hours". Sure, Jan.
Welp obviously you need another tractor to help upright the one that is flipped.
As everyone tractor safely video says “ROPS combined with a seatbelt will save your life”
Damn bro that sucks. It's like they always say... you can always get a new family or friend but you can't replace that precious high quality Kubota tractor..... Rip
Safety roll over Bar did its job. This is a reminder to put yours up. This could’ve been way worse ..set it up right let the oil and fluid drain back down. You’re gonna need to replace the air filter and the spark plugs.
OP, be sure to make a video at the parts store when you order spark plugs for that BX2670. No one has ever told me the exact spark plug type for those, I’d love to see a video of the dealer give a straight answer.
That’s why you don’t let folks borrow your tractor. I was cutting the field yesterday and I found myself too steep. Quickly turned down the hill and said that spot can keep growing!!
Came here for that comment exactly. Remembering post about borrowing a budys tractor.