Go Bottom

Shibaura SL1643 REAL UNSTABLE HELP

View my Photos
vettespeed
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2 Olympia, WA
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster

2008-08-11          155998


I'm a real tractor rookie and just wanted something small to do a little work around my .75 acres which is partially on a grade. I found a real nice Shibaura SL1643 (19hp, 1500 lbs, 4WD) w/loader that I thought would work nicely. I got it home and before I even got near the steepest area of the property I damn near tipped it over. It seems to have a loader that is a little too large for the tractor (5 ft. wide) which puts a lot of weight on the front tires along with the fact that the front differential pivots it wants to tip right over. Do these little grey market tractors only work well on level ground or do I need some ballast in back to improve weight distribution and get the weight on the back tires? Do some tractors not pivot at the front differentials? Are the modern Kubota type tractors with the squatty little tires have a much lower center of gravity and perform better for what I need to do? I was thinking about making a big concrete ballast to hang off the back of the 3pt hitch, how much should I make it weigh. Is there an ideal weight distribution I should shoot for (ex. 50/50 between front and back wheels)? Thanks, Mike.



Reply to | Quote Post Reply to PostQuote Reply | Add PhotoAdd Photo



Shibaura SL1643 REAL UNSTABLE HELP

View my Photos
earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster  View my Photos  Pics

2008-08-11          156029


All tractors have to have an articulating front axle.

Only a bobcat (skid steer) has solidly-mounted axles that don't pivot.

Yes you need rear ballast--how much? Don't know---not familar with your machine.

For ready-made ballast, if you have a brush cutter (rotary cutter, brush hog) that will work great: from a leverage and weight aspect and being slung low will greatly lower the center of gravity. I can regularly cut drainage ditches having 45 degree sides with only the brush cutter as ballast and front suitcase weights. If I strat sliding sideways, a gentle touch of the cutting brakes corrects that. (Not sure if you have left and right cutting brakes)
Speaking of gravity and a loader...keep the loader bucket as low as possible to the ground, never ever drive diagonally or parallel to the hill side. If you have to drive with a load, back down the hill. If you have drive loaded, drive with the loaded bucket low and facing the top of the hill (some may not agree with this but this is how I do it). ....


Reply to | Quote Post Reply to PostQuote Reply | Add PhotoAdd Photo



Shibaura SL1643 REAL UNSTABLE HELP

View my Photos
bursell
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3 Montana
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster

2008-09-01          156436


I have a small P175F which is about the size of yours. I took some wheel weight off a parts tractor, about 200# apiece, and made an adapter to fit them on the tractor. I can lift a full bucket of wet dirt now without it becoming unstable. I never could before. Look into it. I also live on a sloping piece of ground.
....


Reply to | Quote Post Reply to PostQuote Reply | Add PhotoAdd Photo


   Go Top


Share This







Member Login