D17 II On Hilly Terrain

You'll pucker up for a while, but after a while, you be running in the hills just like a champ. Widening out the rears would probably be a good idea. Darrel

Thanks.  I have small JD 2320 that I was not too impressed with on the property.  Of course, I was using forks to carry around some implements for the AC and kept wanting to raise a tire of the ground, lol.  

Make sure your brakes are in good condition and adjusted properly.

Eldon (WA) wrote: The front and rears should go out to 8' wide. I do a lot of bush hogging in the hills around here so I set my 175's out to at least 8', the one on the left is at 8' 6". Make sure your eccentrics or tight and the tires are properly inflated.

I know I've been needing to get some tires but have been putting it off. I'll set the wheels to 8'. Thanks for the advice.

I have a d17 in new hampshire we have plenty of hills. I keep my power adjustable wheels pretty tight to keep them out of the hay when I bale. I believe the outside to outside on mine are about 7 feet. I have 16.9 28 for tires. It has been used like that since the 60's here by my grandfather.   Never had a problem with the d17 just watch how side ways you get on the hills. I try to go as straight on them as I can. Now the old farmall h is a different story she has been on her side many a time I am told by my uncle.

High center of gravity and I think my grandfather was famous for turning the narrow front end on the h about as sharp as he could to get down off the side of the hill before it stalled out for lack of power. The h never handled the change in load well. The AC governor on the d17 will open up before you know the tractor is on the hill. That quick power boost makes all the difference in the world. At some point I might restore the H then I can see for myself.

University of Kentucky ROPS application guide is available online.  Here in Vermont, the state ran a program a couple of years ago that would subsidize the purchase of a roll bar if one was available for your older tractor.  I wouldn't be suprised if other states have/do that as well.  Might be worth checking.

DaSquatch wrote: University of Kentucky ROPS application guide is available online.  Here in Vermont, the state ran a program a couple of years ago that would subsidize the purchase of a roll bar if one was available for your older tractor.  I wouldn't be suprised if other states have/do that as well.  Might be worth checking.   I do believe that they're a good idea.  In my 30 years of fire dept service, I've been to a few tractor accidents, and at least a couple of them have been had by older guys on tractors, and land, that they've owned for decades.  Bad stuff can happen to anybody, and a roll bar may not save you, but it might.

ROPS were never available for a D17.  One from a 170 or 175 might fit with some fender modification, but those are very hard to find.  I don't think there are any aftermarket ones made specifically for the D17 and CERTIFIED to protect the operator in the event of a rollover.

Move your wheels to the widest position and use good old common sense when on the hills.  Always use the "what if" scenario.

One other piece of advice if God forbid she ever does go over on you jump off the uphill side better to risk bumping a tire in the air then having the tractor land on you. Never been there but my grandfather would stand when he thought the h might go over and he did jump off a few times. Always easier to deal with a running tractor then a hurt person.

Orange Blood wrote: 1st of all welcome to Colorado! yes she is a bit more hilly than Indiana!!  LOL What part of the state are you in? Let's be careful at first, are you in the mountains or the plains with actual hills?  You comment about lifting a tire has me concerned.