I don't take delivery of my first tractor until next week (read newbie) but I keep coming across threads about someone knocking their FEL quick attach lever loose when operating the tractor. Like this one, "In my case I caught the quick attach handle on a limb using a grapple, lifted, grapple came loose on one side only and twisted the torque tube.
I saw this video of a grapple come off over a burn pit and dangle by the hydraulic lines! Check 44 seconds into this video!
Is this a rare enough event that I shouldn't worry about it? I know their is some dumb*** component on the operators part but I can see how using a grapple on branches could dislodge one of the levers. I could not find any proactive preventative measures. I think a metal or cable loop keeper would make it much less likely to have a branch unhook a QA lever. I don't think it would be too much of an inconvenience to have to use 2 hands to operate the lever like you do on a rolling door on the back of a box truck. The hook lever on those always has a lockable swing away keeper.
I know if my tractor was already delivered I would be out using it rather than bothering the OTT members on rare events but perhaps it will at least focus attention on the levers when operating to note if one gets dislodged. Perhaps wrap the handle with a contrasting color tape to really notice if its vertical rather than in its locked horizontal position.
I saw this video of a grapple come off over a burn pit and dangle by the hydraulic lines! Check 44 seconds into this video!
Is this a rare enough event that I shouldn't worry about it? I know their is some dumb*** component on the operators part but I can see how using a grapple on branches could dislodge one of the levers. I could not find any proactive preventative measures. I think a metal or cable loop keeper would make it much less likely to have a branch unhook a QA lever. I don't think it would be too much of an inconvenience to have to use 2 hands to operate the lever like you do on a rolling door on the back of a box truck. The hook lever on those always has a lockable swing away keeper.
I know if my tractor was already delivered I would be out using it rather than bothering the OTT members on rare events but perhaps it will at least focus attention on the levers when operating to note if one gets dislodged. Perhaps wrap the handle with a contrasting color tape to really notice if its vertical rather than in its locked horizontal position.
