ASV face down

[Robbie Hegwood]

This is the end result of inexperience, a one ton head, and a two foot ditch. Gravity helped too! It was no fun climbing out the VERY SMALL back window!

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Robbie, nice to hear that you were able to crawl out the window and leave the ROPS cage with nothing injured more than your pride.

There is currently a new thread on TBN about a guy who intentionally cut 10" off of his ROPS bar and another guy who installed a shorter ROPS bar. After your experience, I wonder if you think that altering safety features is a good idea?

Here is the thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/92614-rops-modification-lights.html

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Thanks, me too. It would have been much less eventful without the tree through the front window. With no tree I could have simply raised the lap bar and crawled out. But when the tree came in it pinned the lap bar in the down position, so I was trapped for a couple of minutes. I was able to wiggle out from under it and out the window.
As far as the rops I have thought of adding saftey features, definitely not removing. I hope no one makes the mistake I did, they would think twice after it happened to them though. It doesn't take long for things to go south!!!
But to ASV's credit all we did was pull her down onto the tracks, bleed the front two cylinders and start it up. When then drove it out and onto the low boy and to the shop. It took a week and 6000$ to fix.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

It took a week and 6000$ to fix.

As educations go, that's pretty cheap considering you're OK.

For me, the education of seeing your pictures is even cheaper, thanks for posting them. Pretty scary stuff.

Glad you survived,
Cliff

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

If posting can help somone avoid this happening to them than I'm glad I could help. Yes that's what insurance is for.
I was pretty upset with myself for letting that happen. But you live and learn. I keep God busy looking out for me. I'm trying to give him a break these days.
The lesson here is unless you are on completely level ground keep the head atleast two feet from the ground. It will and can pull you over. Proofs in the pictures, right? Robbie

 

[burnetma]

Robbie,

Dang! That is probably the scariest accident that I have ever seen. With the tree penetrating the cabin, you are an awful lucky soul. Thank you for posting that ego bruising, but potentially life saving series of pictures. Rest assured, I have taken notice.

Mark

 

[Egon]

That sure is a neat way of getting a picture of the bottom of the machine.

Glad you had no injuries, that is the main thing.

 

[BTDT]

Pretty amazing. Glad you weren't hurt. So, is the wife going to continue to let you do this kind of work?? Always expect the unexpected.

 

[milkman]

Glad you're safe, if your ROPS had been shortened 10", that stick would have went over the top instead of coming through the front, I'd be breakin out the sawzall.

 

[QwikDraw]

Wow..

Glad to hear you are safe...something like that is bound to shake you up.

Ted

Man, I just looked at those pictures again...that tree coming through the cab....that could have been so much worse...scary indeed.