"It'll never happen to me..."

[lakebota]

worth mentioning is to make sure tire pressures are correct.
It's amazing how tire pressure being a little low, especially on one side, can effect handling of weight carried in the fel.

 

[armylifer]

I was out on the back forty today, half working/half playing around on the B7510. I was moving some brush around with the FEL, and before I knew it, I found myself flying sideways off the seat with a tractor barrel rolling right behind me. THANKFULLY, I was able to get out of the way of the mass of machinery in time. By the time we were able to get it rolled back over, it had run all the engine oil out, but the other fluids seem to be good, and I did have the forethought to get the tractor shut off quickly after I bailed, so I don't believe there's any air in the fuel line. The tumble was of the slow roll variety and the ROPS took the brunt of it, so there also doesn't seem to be any structural or even cosmetic damage, so it could have been a LOT worse.
What gets me, though, is that I KNOW BETTER. Even though I only have a whopping ten hours of seat time, I've spent literally hundreds of hours reading manuals, watching videos, and absorbing everything I can from the collective wisdom of OTT. I KNEW not to be working the loader that high up on that steep of a hill. I KNEW I should've had some counterweight in the back. I KNEW not to be running around in high range, especially after being awake for 30+ hours. But somehow, I thought I KNEW better, and it almost killed me.

So for you other newbies who think the rules, advice, and words of wisdom don't apply to you: STOP. LISTEN. PAY ATTENTION to the warnings. It just might be the difference between life and death...

You mentioned one of the most important things about working with a loaded bucket. That is, don't be in high range. Things happen way too fast when you are in a hurry. I don't know that you were in a hurry but you were in high range. In my opinion and experience, all work should be done in low range. The hydraulics work much better for you in low range anyway. I am glad that you are safe and your machine is okay.

 

[ShaunRH]

Kind of a note there but high range isn't necessarily the culprit. It was just one link in the accident chain. Note all the links:

• High FEL
• Steep Hill
• No Counterweight
• High Range

... and what is probably the most important factor:

• 30+ hours awake (High Fatigue)

Being awake for more than 20 hours straight generates as much lack of judgment as being drunk. Some studies showed that after 26+ hours, you are almost incapable of making any decision that is not impaired in some fashion. Mythbusters took this one on and their findings were shocking ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkGVwsJkXt0 ).

If he had run his FEL down, minded his slope well and had the tractor properly weighted, he likely wouldn't have tipped over.

So, what is the solution? We all learn the same lesson, operate safely, even if we are under time pressures. Dead or injured operators produce nothing and time goes on.

 

[TJBG]

Very glad you didn't get hurt or that your tractor wasn't damaged worse. Thank you for sharing this experience. As a brand new owner of a tractor myself (also have about 10 hours) I constantly find myself in situations that really shake me up. Up until a couple of days ago I didn't even know I was supposed to use low range when climbing up inclines or on uneven or poor quality ground conditions. Thanks to OTT I learned that. I have found myself with the FEL too high a couple of times and had things fall down on me, or the tractor begin to tip backwards. And too many times the BH has caught on things when I'm climbing and I've gotten stuck in mud. I feel like I'm constantly learning how not to kill myself or damage my tractor.

I really wish there were weekend courses for home-owners/hobby farmers where experienced operators put on workshops at a farm or other spot where new owners could get out and practice controlling their tractors, basic FEL and BH operation and safety techniques. Without having to enroll in a heavy equipment operator course. I would not mind it even if it were a requirement that tractor owners had a permit of some sort.

If we have to take courses and get licensed to operate cars and motorcycles it sure seems like it'd be smart to have some kind of safety course available that wouldn't cost an arm or a leg.......so you wouldn't lose either of those later!

Anyway thanks again for sharing. It's way too easy to forget the safety measures when you're on your own property having fun.

 

[Daren Todd]

I really wish there were weekend courses for home-owners/hobby farmers where experienced operators put on workshops at a farm or other spot where new owners could get out and practice controlling their tractors, basic FEL and BH operation and safety techniques. Without having to enroll in a heavy equipment operator course. I would not mind it even if it were a requirement that tractor owners had a permit of some sort.

If we have to take courses and get licensed to operate cars and motorcycles it sure seems like it'd be smart to have some kind of safety course available that wouldn't cost an arm or a leg.......so you wouldn't lose either of those later!

Anyway thanks again for sharing. It's way too easy to forget the safety measures when you're on your own property having fun.

Here's a couple links to check on. They may offer adult courses as well or maybe point you in the right direction for a course in your area.

Contact your local ag council as well, or the local high school ffa or 4h program

Oops, they snuck in penn state

http://extension.psu.edu/business/a...-safe-tractor-and-machinery-operation-program


http://ehs.wsu.edu/ohs/factsheets/FAQTractorSafety.html

 

[TJBG]

Thank you Daren

 

[D2Cat]

TJBG, you mention. "If we have to take courses and get licensed to operate cars and motorcycles it sure seems like it'd be smart to have some kind of safety course available that wouldn't cost an arm or a leg.......so you wouldn't lose either of those later!"

How about legislate for a first time tractor purchase you can't take delivery of any attachments, including front end loader until 50 hours of seat time?

If we're going to have a license for everything, how about one for being a parent?

In this information age we need to take some responsibility for ourselves.

Don't buy a 10 speed bicycle and go for a ride down a mountain switch back.

I don't know, somehow we need to be able to function without the government telling us every detail of our lives. I don't know about you, but I pay enough taxes for the ineffective government we have. I don't want more.

If we're not competent about something let's figure it out for ourselves, and go about the process to become competent.

 

[Bulldog]

D2Cat, you forgot to mention anything about not hurting any ones feelings!!!

 

[D2Cat]

Ok, I apologize for being too plain.

Here's a sample of video lessons available for all tractor owners. Bit of advise, go to Youtube and type in something of interest about tractor function/safety.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG0wA_hTDGk

 

[Tallahassee Kubota Man]

Thinking like a businessman, a dealer could offer hands on classes for novices and pick up a lot of sales to boot. Maybe even save some lives.

I'm with ya D2Cat, no more government in our business. Before long they'll figure out how to tax us for the air we breathe........and write laws to regulate it.