Runaway tractor nearly killed me yesterday!

[miltrade]

My first near-death tractor experience happened when I least expected it and I wasn't doing anything particularly dangerous. I had about and hour to spare so I thought I would go out into the pasture and pop a large trunk and rootball out of the ground with my JD 3200 tractor using the fork attachment. The stump had already been dug out with a small backhoe and was lying loose in the bottom of a 3.5 foot deep hole that is about 5 feet in diameter. The hole is located on a flat portion of my pasture but just on the other side of the hole the pasture drops off at a medium grade and then picks up to a slightly steeper grade. At the bottom of the hill, about 150 feet away, is horse fencing. Of course, there are several large trees along the way, but no brush whatsoever. So, I get on the flat part of the pasture, facing toward the downhill but clearly on the level side of the hole. I had no plans to even deal with the hill. I was just going to drive up, dip the forks in the hole, pop the trunk out, back out, and leave. Well, the stump was heavy as a mother, so I had to finagle it. By the time I finally managed to get it out of the hole it fell about 2 feet on the other side and stopped rolling, so it didn't go down the hill or anything. Well, now the problem is that my front end is stuck in the hole and I cannot back out. I try everything but I have dug down in the mud. Tried pushing out with the forks, locked the wheels, put chains down, nothing worked. All I'm carrying on the back is a rake, since I wasn't going to do any lifting anyways. Well, I realize that if I take the rake off, I can just drive through the hole and out the other side no problem. So I do so. As I slowly come out the other side, the stump is in the way. I decide to gently nudge it by slipping the forks under and pushing it forward, NOT lifting it. Well, I got the forks under, and using the hydraulic level I TILT the forks forward. Well, the 1/2 inch of lift that is created when I do this pulls the stump off the ground and BOOM, I'm off to the races!! The tractor takes off down the hill going no less than 30-35 mph! Everything happened in a span of about 12 seconds. I have a roll bar but the tractor goes up on two wheels twice as I swerve to avoid major trees. In the short span of time I try the foot-brake, nothing. I try the emergency brake, nothing. I briefly consider slamming the forks down, then for some reason I'm able to visualize flipping forward and crushing myself from the top. The amazing thing was that in the short span of time I was also able to contemplate whether I would break my arms or my legs, and which would I prefer. Arms, by the way, in case you were wondering. Well, the tractor is completely out of control but for some reason manages to take a leftward angle down the hill, I miss one more tree by inches, then crash through a fence post and crush 16 foot of fence. The stump hits a second post and stops. The tractor stops and the back wheels are about a foot off the ground. I quickly slammed the forks down and my wheels are on the ground. After checking to see if I needed to change my shorts, which I didn't, I was able to wrestle free from the stump and drive away. Well, I was barely able to, as my foot was shaking so bad I couldn't maintain pressure on the pedal. And I've been in combat, so this was no joke! I decided to hang it up for the day, put the tractor in the barn, and went to fly a kite with my kids instead.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Thanks for being so honest about what happened. I am glad all clothing articles were not soiled. And that just adds a bit more to the wisdom that I am gaining from this site. The collective wisdom among you all would fill volumes. And some of the stories on here would make some big bucks either on Amercas funniest home videos, or the Darwin awards.. Believe me I have met the requirements for a Darwin award more than once. I'm glad that you and the tractor are well. The kids probably appreciate the kite flying time!

 

[miltrade]

I think that actually what happened is that since I was on the crest of the hill, even though I did not lift the stump, when I pushed it forward the fact that the front end of the tractor was approaching a grade, as the ground went downward it effectively equalled me lifting the stump by an inch. In retrospect I am pretty sure that's what caused the event.

 

[AlanB]

I think that is the trick that get's us all at some times, while you are making the decisions, none of them seem that bad, but in hindsight, you wonder how you made that string of decisions to get you there.

It sure does happen faster then you would think it could.

Glad you ended up OK.

 

[Dyer retired]

miltrade,

That was interesting reading, but my blood pressure was going up as I read through it. I'm glad it all worked out and you weren't hurt, but it sure had the makings of a disaster.

I remember taking a ride when I was a kid with my dad down over a hill in an old Willys Jeep pickup that lost the brakes as we headed for the Main intersection in the town I grew up in. It is a steep hill to the intersection with a sharp curve at the foot of the hill with a steep hill going up on the other side. We made it through the intersection without getting killed and the incline of the hill on the other side allowed us to get to the top on the other side and coast to a stop on a flat spot. I remember being scared, because it was the first and only time I saw my Dad scared. I got that same feeling all back reading your post.

I know what happened to the Jeep brakes, but did you figure out why no reaction on your tractor... or was it just too fast in the wrong ground conditions to get any grip?

Thanks for the scare. Dyer, retired

 

[miltrade]

Dyer, retired

The brakes and the emergency brake both work perfectly. In fact, the tractor was fully serviced literally the day before, as were my gator and riding mower. The tractor simply had too much momentum and thousands of pounds on the front. It was unstoppable at that point. I only have turf tires and it was damp from rains last week. I don't have tractor tires because frankly, I don't get into any heavy agricultural work. Just lifting some logs here or there, always on level ground. It was a miscalculation on my part. I didn't think to consider that the downgrade + forward momentum + no lowering of the forks = relative "lifting" of the rootball and stump in relation to the ground.

 

[jk96]

You probably took off because you lifted the rear, or lifted enough to loose your braking ability. (no brakes on the front). Ask me how I know. If you were in 4 wheel drive and low gear it probably wouldn't have happened. I learned this going down our drive with a bucket full of gravel. It can happen in a flash as you found out. Glad your ok.

 

[brandoro]

Kite flying can be relaxing, depending on the kite
I have a 3.8 sq meter traction kite that I take out on the (frozen) lake in the winter to entertain the neighbors. In learing to sort of control it I have been dragged across the snow on my feet, on my back, on my chest and, after I got smarter, on the toboggan. One day I plan to build a sled that I can steer with my feet. The kite can be tacked much like a sailboat so theoretically I should be able to travel up and down the lake.
But getting back to tractors, I bought my first tractor to fill in a 20 X 40 backyard pool. The first few FEL fulls of sand into the deep end were no problem but, after a bit of loose sand was spread on the slope the rear wheels didn't have enough traction to hold the tractor back and it and I skidded down the slope mostly out of control. Since I was carrying the bucket low it hit the soft sand at the bottom and stopped the tractor fairly quickly and with no damage. Much shorter slope than you describe and no trees so I only had a glimpse of what you experienced. No articles of clothing were soiled during that experience. Since then I connect the front axle for extra traction going up or down any slope.

 

[Dyer retired]

Dyer, retired

The brakes and the emergency brake both work perfectly. In fact, the tractor was fully serviced literally the day before, as were my gator and riding mower. The tractor simply had too much momentum and thousands of pounds on the front. It was unstoppable at that point. I only have turf tires and it was damp from rains last week. I don't have tractor tires because frankly, I don't get into any heavy agricultural work. Just lifting some logs here or there, always on level ground. It was a miscalculation on my part. I didn't think to consider that the downgrade + forward momentum + no lowering of the forks = relative "lifting" of the rootball and stump in relation to the ground.

Thanks, that all makes sense, although it didn't lessen the scare for you. I'm glad it worked out the way it did. Plus, you got that stumped moved!

 

[teg]

Now, I run 4WD all the time, I don't care if anything wears out... Once I went down a gravel path in 2WD... (didn't think about it) rear wheels were sliding instead of braking. Never again.