Case 446 - Compensating for Operating Changes

Your judgement, based oli operating experience is the final word in decidi ng if you
should negotiate any given hill or ·slope. If you are in doubt about safety - STAY OFF
THE SLOPE .
Unde r no circumstances should an inexper i enced operator attempt to use your trac-
tor on slopes or hillsides.
You may encounter some terrain on which your tractor cannot be operated even if a
different piece of equipment has operated there in the past.
Learn
to Compensate for Changes in ORerating Conditions :
Adding
or removing attachments or ballast (such as wheel weights or fluid) change the
weight and weight distribution of your tractor and, therefore, change your tractors opera-
ting characteristics.
Be alert to these changes. Practice, operating the tractor after each change has been
made.
Adding an attachment (weight) to the rear of the tractor reduces the weight on the
front axle. Adding an attachment (weight) to the front of the tractor reduces weight on
the rear of the tractor. You must add counterweight to the fron t if a rear mounted at-
tachment is installed. You must add counterweight to the rear if a front mounted at -
tachment is installed.
Tractive conditions will vary with weather and terrain and equipment.
Areas wet with dew, rain or snow will be more slippery than when dry. Areas covered
with loose gravel are more slippery than firm dry ground . Greater stopping distances are
required in these slippery areas.
Spinning rear wheels tend to move the tr actor sideways . The addition of tire chains
will provide more traction to the rear wheels in the forward -reverse direction but less sta-
bility in the sideways direction. Chains will cause more abrupt starting and stopping .
The final
word in safe tractor operation rests on your judgement .
If in
doubt of your safety - STAY OFF THE SLOPE .
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