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How hilly is hilly?

#1

D

DanCollins

Howdy, I'm in the market for a lawn tractor. I have a narrow deep suburban lot with a walkout basement in the back. I like what I've read about the advantages of a hydro, but some have warned against it for hilly property for performance and reliability reasons. Is my property hilly enough that I should avoid a hydro?


#2

M

mechanic mark

Not necessarily, I would seriously consider looking at twin cylinder lawn tractors vs. single cylinder. Do your research online then narrow it down to a couple and go take a test drive.


#3

gfp55

gfp55

DanCollins said:
Howdy, I'm in the market for a lawn tractor. I have a narrow deep suburban lot with a walkout basement in the back. I like what I've read about the advantages of a hydro, but some have warned against it for hilly property for performance and reliability reasons. Is my property hilly enough that I should avoid a hydro?
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Are you looking for new or used? Can you post some pictures of your hills to get some idea of the hillys your talking about? Some people like hydro some gear. It kind of like cars/trucks automatic vs manual. I work mt tractor hard and a hydro has never lasted with me. I have 8 speed 4hi 4lo gear transaxle with external clutches and I can haul wood, cut grass, plow snow, blow snow, etc. and I have zero problems. I can say much about the new stuff thats out there because I'm trying to be nice. Like someone posted before shop around, do your home work. Good Luck


#4

S

SeniorCitizen

Mow and exercise simultaneously with a nice walk behind. It probably won't turn over on top of you.


#5

S

Shughes717

SeniorCitizen said:
Mow and exercise simultaneously with a nice walk behind. It probably won't turn over on top of you.
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No, but a friend of mine just lost a couple of toes. He was mowing his yard and backed over his fire pit. He fell backwards and the mower took his big toe and shredded the others. Lucky he didn't get hurt worse. He has a sense of humor about it though.


#6

S

SeniorCitizen

There are people that have no business with a mower at all of any kind. And then some of those same people involve alcohol in the mix.

Years ago I was acquainted with a foreign gentleman with a PhD in economics. Sober, never drank and never owned a mower before. He purchased a push mower with one of those whirley blades underneath that was recommended to him by my brother. First use, that paper coffee cup in the lawn just keeps being rolled by the deck. OK, let's evaluate the situation.:laughing: The cup is now behind the deck and if I lift up with the handle I can kick that cup under to see if the whirley blade will shred it. Yes sir, sure did and a good portion of the big toe cut off :licking:. by that whirley blade. Well DUH


#7

LazerZLandscaping

LazerZLandscaping

Usually hilly is considered a 15 degree angle or slope.


#8

D

DanCollins

LazerZLandscaping said:
Usually hilly is considered a 15 degree angle or slope.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. My backyard is probably 12 feet lower than the front, and it makes that transition over the width of the house which is about 30 feet, so I guess I'm exceeding 15 degrees. But given that the yard is narrow, I'll only have to make 2 passes on each side to do the side lawns. If that's going to wear out a hydro on a typical mower from Sears/Home Depot/etc, that's just sad. I think I'll be looking for an automatic. Thanks again.


#9

LazerZLandscaping

LazerZLandscaping

DanCollins said:
Thanks for the info. My backyard is probably 12 feet lower than the front, and it makes that transition over the width of the house which is about 30 feet, so I guess I'm exceeding 15 degrees. But given that the yard is narrow, I'll only have to make 2 passes on each side to do the side lawns. If that's going to wear out a hydro on a typical mower from Sears/Home Depot/etc, that's just sad. I think I'll be looking for an automatic. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Usually more than 15 degrees I'll mow with a push mower.

I don't want to put my lawn/garden tractors or my ZTs at risk of tipping.


#10

Carscw

Carscw

DanCollins said:
Thanks for the info. My backyard is probably 12 feet lower than the front, and it makes that transition over the width of the house which is about 30 feet, so I guess I'm exceeding 15 degrees. But given that the yard is narrow, I'll only have to make 2 passes on each side to do the side lawns. If that's going to wear out a hydro on a typical mower from Sears/Home Depot/etc, that's just sad. I think I'll be looking for an automatic. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

If I am thinking right it would be about 40 degrees


#11

D

DanCollins

LazerZLandscaping said:
Usually more than 15 degrees I'll mow with a push mower.

I don't want to put my lawn/garden tractors or my ZTs at risk of tipping.
Click to expand...

I don't think tipping would be an issue as I would be riding the mower up and down the hill not along side it. And I'm no risk-taker so tipping isn't really a concern. My concern is the performance and durability of the hydro unit that some have mentioned in hilly situations, and I'm just wondering if a regular average normal typical suburban house with a walk-out basement and grass lawn constitutes a property that is hilly enough that I'll regret buying a turbo because it'll burn out due to the hills. I understand the hydros on higher end mowers are durable, but there seems to be a lot of conversations on the net about how the low-end market lawn tractors have hydros that are basically throw-aways. And I'm not sure if that's because of abuse or whether it really is the case that they can't even handle a hill as ordinary as one would find in a house with a walk-out basement.


#12

LazerZLandscaping

LazerZLandscaping

Carscw said:
If I am thinking right it would be about 40 degrees
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Enough to tip a mower.


#13

S

SeniorCitizen

40° is also plenty of slope to cause the rears to loose traction going down providing an out of control ride until more level ground is reached, or until the front hits a tree or goes in the pool.:laughing:


#14

S

Shughes717

SeniorCitizen said:
There are people that have no business with a mower at all of any kind. And then some of those same people involve alcohol in the mix.

Years ago I was acquainted with a foreign gentleman with a PhD in economics. Sober, never drank and never owned a mower before. He purchased a push mower with one of those whirley blades underneath that was recommended to him by my brother. First use, that paper coffee cup in the lawn just keeps being rolled by the deck. OK, let's evaluate the situation.:laughing: The cup is now behind the deck and if I lift up with the handle I can kick that cup under to see if the whirley blade will shred it. Yes sir, sure did and a good portion of the big toe cut off :licking:. by that whirley blade. Well DUH
Click to expand...

My friend wasn't drunk. He had mowed that yard for years. His wife and 11 year old daughter were standing there. He was going to mow around the obstacles before letting his daughter mow. She won't touch that mower now. Lol


#15

Carscw

Carscw

I say you are doing fine with what you have so just stay with it.

You could go with a cub cadet auto.

You still press the pedal like on a hydro but without a hydro.


#16

D

DanCollins

LazerZLandscaping said:
Enough to tip a mower.
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So the answer to the question of how much hill will affect the performance and longevity of a hydro is equivalent to how much hill would make it tip?


#17

gfp55

gfp55

DanCollins said:
So the answer to the question of how much hill will affect the performance and longevity of a hydro is equivalent to how much hill would make it tip?
Click to expand...
Their just being smart, use common sense on hills. To get back to your question on performance and longevity. If the specs on any new tractor/zero turn says it will do this or that, just figure that you will need a little more then they say. They used to build overkill into things back in the day, but today things are built with just enough to get the job done and with no overkill. Most manufactures don't want their stuff to last a lifetime because you won't be back to buy another in a few years. If you go with a hydro make sure you get one that has a filter and one that you can change the hydro fluid. Keep the cooling fins and cooling fan clear of dirt, grease and stuff. You can make your zero turn/tractor much safer on hills by putting ballast in you tires. Ballast will help with traction also. Keep us posted on which way you go, there are some on this forum that will give you the strait info without all the smart azz remarks. I have to admit I've got a smart mouth on me at times. "But thats just me"


#18

Carscw

Carscw

I know a hill is to steep when the engine starts running bad and puts out a lot of thick smoke. But I will still finish mowing and just add some oil when I get done.

My cub cadet would stick any hill you was brave enough to try.

I get calls all the time from guys want me to cut hills for them.

We just trade yards.


#19

P

pottsy38

DanCollins said:
Howdy, I'm in the market for a lawn tractor. I have a narrow deep suburban lot with a walkout basement in the back. I like what I've read about the advantages of a hydro, but some have warned against it for hilly property for performance and reliability reasons. Is my property hilly enough that I should avoid a hydro?
Click to expand...

When you dig ditches up and down the hill to plant potatoes . At harvest time open up the rows at the bottom end and let the taters roll out.


#20

gfp55

gfp55

pottsy38 said:
When you dig ditches up and down the hill to plant potatoes . At harvest time open up the rows at the bottom end and let the taters roll out.
Click to expand...
I can tell by your answer that you rode the short bus to school. How many fingers do you have on each hand?


#21

Carscw

Carscw

Today must be skip your meds day.


#22



DJlawnboy

gfp55 said:
I can tell by your answer that you rode the short bus to school. How many fingers do you have on each hand?
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Interesting comment coming from you.


#23

D

DanCollins

gfp55 said:
I can tell by your answer that you rode the short bus to school. How many fingers do you have on each hand?
Click to expand...

Classy guy. Thanks for showing us who you are.


#24

D

DanCollins

gfp55 said:
Their just being smart, use common sense on hills. To get back to your question on performance and longevity. If the specs on any new tractor/zero turn says it will do this or that, just figure that you will need a little more then they say. They used to build overkill into things back in the day, but today things are built with just enough to get the job done and with no overkill. Most manufactures don't want their stuff to last a lifetime because you won't be back to buy another in a few years. If you go with a hydro make sure you get one that has a filter and one that you can change the hydro fluid. Keep the cooling fins and cooling fan clear of dirt, grease and stuff. You can make your zero turn/tractor much safer on hills by putting ballast in you tires. Ballast will help with traction also. Keep us posted on which way you go, there are some on this forum that will give you the strait info without all the smart azz remarks. I have to admit I've got a smart mouth on me at times. "But thats just me"
Click to expand...

Thanks for the good info. (Seems like too many other folks like to listen to themselves type.)


#25

LazerZLandscaping

LazerZLandscaping

Carscw said:
Today must be skip your meds day.
Click to expand...

Or take your meds to the police day, where they will 'properly handle them', they'll find their way back on the street....


#26

P

pottsy38

DanCollins said:
Classy guy. Thanks for showing us who you are.
Click to expand...
Common sense should tell someone how Too steep of a hill is and not have to ask a stupid question like How Hilly is Hilly. Such a jackass question. Poster must have been about as bright as a burned out light bulb.


#27

gfp55

gfp55

pottsy38 said:
Common sense should tell someone how Too steep of a hill is and not have to ask a stupid question like How Hilly is Hilly. Such a jackass question. Poster must have been about as bright as a burned out light bulb.
Click to expand...
If someone doesn't know something, the smart thing to do is ask someone who may know the answer. Not everyone can put pen to paper so to speak, so the question may read silly because they can't find the words to express their thoughts on a forum. "But thats just me"


#28

M

mcfish

It's interesting that the smart people who don't ask stupid questions did not answer the question. No one else did either. The OP wants to know how to measure the slope, and at what angle does it become dangerous. OP at least understands to measure rise and run; front part of house meets the ground at the top of basement. The rear part is 1 foot lower than floor of basement. With 9 foot floor to floor, plus 1, the rise is 10. If house is 40 feet from front to back (for easier calculation, not realistic) then angle is 11.25 degrees. 10/10 = 45*, 10/20 =22.5*, 10/40 = 11.25* My Craftsman manual says 15 to 20 * is too steep to mow across; up and down is different. See cautions about losing traction; especially on wet grass or slippery clay. I am uncomfortable in the turns at the top/bottom of hill at 20*, but haven't tipped.


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