NY woman dies in tractor accident

[Grrrr]

When I was learning to use machinery I was always taught that a FEL was one of the most dangerous implements because you do not really think it is dangerous. With a mower, or a chipper or anything else with blades you can see how it could hurt you. However, a new tractor owner might not realise the implications of raising it up high on a slope and tipping the tractor over or raising it too high and rolling things on to yourself. The article does not say how experienced the woman driving was or what sort of tractor was being used. It would be interesting to know. Perhaps a good practice when using a FEL is always to keep it as low to the ground as you can. A good reminder to always work safely.

[Youare]

A very similar thing, I think, happened to a friend of mine except he is alive to tell about it. He was moving downed trees with the bucket of his Ford 1710. While pushing the tree out of the way a large branch caught on an obstruction.

He keep pushing thinking it would come loose, when it did because he had the loader lifted off the ground a few feet the top rocketed up along the loader arms and hit him square in the head. The force of the blow split his skull and knock him out briefly. Some how he made it back to his house covered in blood.

That little experience left him with some cronic problems for about a year. He consideres himself lucky to be alive.

Randy

[tallyho8]

A kind of similar situation happened to me a while back. I was carrying a tree trunk in my fel which I had very close to the ground for safety sake. I was driving very slowly past some trees with low branches and I ducked my head while I went under a branch. When I looked up 2 seconds later, my fel was almost fully up with the tree trunk about to roll off on me. A branch had grabbed my fel control and was raising it as I drove. Thankfully, I was able to stop just in time before it came tumbling down.

[riptides]

Originally Posted by tallyho8

A kind of similar situation happened to me a while back. I was carrying a tree trunk in my fel which I had very close to the ground for safety sake. I was driving very slowly past some trees with low branches and I ducked my head while I went under a branch. When I looked up 2 seconds later, my fel was almost fully up with the tree trunk about to roll off on me. A branch had grabbed my fel control and was raising it as I drove. Thankfully, I was able to stop just in time before it came tumbling down.

That's interesting. I have a FEL lock, not sure what to call it. It is a plate that slips down over the lever. I use it in the woods a lot. Actually I use it because the rattle of the level, when in idle, gets to me!

-Mike Z.

[Dougster]

Originally Posted by tallyho8

A kind of similar situation happened to me a while back. I was carrying a tree trunk in my fel which I had very close to the ground for safety sake. I was driving very slowly past some trees with low branches and I ducked my head while I went under a branch. When I looked up 2 seconds later, my fel was almost fully up with the tree trunk about to roll off on me. A branch had grabbed my fel control and was raising it as I drove. Thankfully, I was able to stop just in time before it came tumbling down.

It's certainly easy to visualize how this could happen. I've had small branches hit the FEL control lever before... fortunately never while carrying a potentially dangerous load. Usually happens when traveling through the woods to a place where I'll be working. It would be great if there were a way to disable the FEL control lever while traveling through heavily wooded areas. I'd love to see a picture of that FEL lever lock mentioned in the previous post.

Dougster

[riptides]

Originally Posted by Dougster

I'd love to see a picture of that FEL lever lock mentioned in the previous post.

Dougster

Certainly, when I get home tonight, if it is not dark I shall pic and post.

-Mike Z.

[N80]

Mine has one too. Mine is just a little lever next to the joystick. The main thing to remember (especially for new users) is that this only locks the joystick. It does not prevent leakdown or sudden hydraulic pressure loss. It only prevents unintended movement of the joystick.

[Colin Giersberg]

My take on this is that the tractor ran over her, then continued on for the next 100'.

Regards, Colin

[gemini5362]

it said something about wedgeing her in the wheel well I am wondering if she was wedged in and crushed by the tire moving within the wheel well.

I have a cab that does a very good job of protecting the FEL joystick from branches. Actually protects me too for that matter.

I am looking at getting a set of forks to put on my FEL quick attach style. I noticed they have a steel back that should solve the problem of trees rolling off of them backwards into the tractor cab.

[IslandTractor]

I "third" the grapple suggestion. The grapple as a safety device is not what we usually think of but when it comes to lifting logs it is sure nice to have them under positive control (clamp) rather than depending on gravity alone.