420 roll-over angle

[ggfossen]

Anybody know if there are any published stats on what the roll-over angle is for a 420c with a ROPS/FOPS, and what the angle might be???

I am going to put some sort of protractor/plumb bob thing on it so I can see were I am. I'm curious.

Gary

[FarmLife]

I don't know the spec, but this would work for the inclinometer gage,



Here is a link to it,

http://www.quadratec.com/products/94050_00.htm

[ggfossen]

Farmlife,

Thanks for the link. That was a somewhat illusive thing for which to search. I wasn't having much luck, and after 4 store stops in town, I quit looking locally.

Thanks,

Gary

[Tigerhaze]

Hi Gary-

I think I remember seeing those types of specs somewhere, but will have to look for them. I know CAT published them for their machines. I'll look here later today.

[ggfossen]

Tigerhaze,

I, too, saw them someplace, but I have been unable to locate them on searches. I did find something about 45 degrees, or 100 percent. I suspect most may be unwilling to nail it down completely because of so many variances in operating conditions.

I think I will end up just hanging some sort of home-made plumb bob, and some crudely scratched angles. I should be able to get within a few degrees, and that will at least tel me where I am.

The question remains...how far can I go??

Thanks,

Gary

[Tigerhaze]

The CAT Performance Handbook recommends no greater than 100% grade (45 degree slope) for their dozers because of lubrication issues (fluids not reaching pumps or bearings) and not necessarily tipping/rollover issues. I could probably do some simple statics problems and figure a maximum slope angle out for this.

I do oversight of large mine reclamation projects and have watched D9s/D10s work some pretty steep slopes- I don't know that I would have the intestinal fortitude to try that.

The key is to always work perpendicular to the hillside and keep your bucket or blade low- crossing hillsides at an angle puts a lot of stress on the downslope undercarriage and leaving the bucket or blade high raises the center of gravity of the machine.

[ggfossen]

I have watched them work slopes that I would have thought totally impossible, but they were experienced ops. I know that I do not have the guts to ride one horizontal on anything approaching 100%, but I am curious as to max, and I am curious as to just how far I am going.

I'm going to rig a gauge. It can be quite crude, but gravity doesn't lie.

In this part of the country (Southern Oregon), it is almost impossible to work primarily up/down slope as everything is steeper than a cow's face, and there is always a lot of large timber.

I did install the heavier 350 ROPS/FOPS, and it has a quite large Holt blade. The ROPS works against me on the slopes, but the heavy blade, when kept low, may be an advantage as it is sure to lay below the CG

[Ray III]

I must know this too... There's a hill I want to make a pass across, I wouldn't say it's 100% grade but pretty close to it. Don't want to end up as raymond pancake or dent my shiny muffler.

[gus]

I have worked some very steep slopes with a wide track D4. Slid down a couple sideways. Greased the seat the first time, but after that it was just turn back uphill go back and finish the job. The only one I ever saw brownsided was when there was a drop off at the bottom of the slope. I would NOT try that steep a slope with my 420!! Those days are probably behind me as most of my trails are now built and only cleaning them is left every year or two.
Gus