Fatal tractor rollover

[Cidertom]

Not trying to hyjack the thread, but I'm thinking we should have a firefighters forum on here. To discuss how to get the folks out of the binds they got themselves into. There are enough tractor/ag related incidents, from lawn mower injuries to rolled 8 wheelers.

 

[Mousefield]

Abbotsford News July 20 2010
A former Matsqui alderman was killed Monday afternoon in a tractor accident.
Abbotsford Police said James McDonald, 87, died after the tractor he was in rolled down a hill on property at 4745 Mt. Lehman Rd.
Const. Ian MacDonald said the tractor was equipped with a roll cage, but the victim fell out and was pinned by the vehicle.

He was pronounced dead on scene.

James McDonald was a former alderman for the City of Matsqui. He was first elected in 1967 and served, off and on, for 11 years. His final term ended in 1981.

Sadly another one. Saw the pics on tv. Seemed to be a fairly good slope and the grass is very dry so may have slid on it and then rolled.

 

[eepete]

(in a post, I mentioned using the backhoe bucket to pull stuff)

Not sure I would count that has being all that safe

Excuse me for getting back to this a little late in the game.

I'm just curious what others think of this technique- if it's a bad idea I need to do something else. The B21 TLB is such that it would be a pain (or 15 minutes or so) to remove the backhoe to get to the drawbar point.

So what I do is extend the bucket out about six feet from the rear of the tractor, and about 6" above the ground. I then take the chain and come out around the bottom of the bucket to whatever I'm dragging. If the thing I'm dragging gets snagged, the backhoe pulls down as the tractor pulls up and everything comes to a halt. The pull point is further below the rear axel than the drawbar, and you have this big 6 foot thing behind you to keep you from rolling up/popping a wheelie. If the terrain is not flat, I'll have the outriggers about 3" above the ground. Yeah, I'm going slowly enough I can ride the outriggers and boom/bucket height to make it work.

I guess if needed I could rig it up and take some pix, but hopefully my description is clear.

Pete

 

[kebo]

I don't see why that technique would be unsafe as long it's done on level land, or at least pretty close to level. I don't think I would risk it with the tractor sitting on unlevel land (from side to side moreso). Even with the outriggers set out, if it ever started to go over the pad could land on a soft spot and sink in. Also, I would be mindful of the limitations with using the bucket as a pull point. It's not going to be as stout as the drawbar would be. Seems like you've thought it out pretty good.

 

[20 20]

I'll agree with Kebo and would like to add, a BH is for digging while stable and level on the ground, not for skidding logs. I would also be worried about all of the different conections, cylinders, pins, bushings, hoses, busting and possibly causing an accident. With that said I have used a BH to pull a log out of a tight area. I would setup just like I was going to dig extend the bucket out hook a chain then work the BH to pul it closer to the tractor or area I could get to it. It is a slow process but did work well. IMO a tractor with a BH is somewhat unstable especially side to side, pulling logs with it would just make it worse. Just my 2 cents worth, it sounds like you've had luck and seem to feel safe, so do what is needed??????

 

[eepete]

kebo, 20 20 any tilt more than 6 degrees would be a show stopper on this technique, but I would have the outriggers out at more than a few degrees. BH is great for pulling trees out of tight areas, have done that a lot to clear storm damage. It's in "backhoe mode" (outriggers down) when I do this. Also great for holding the tree so you can cut it up and be sure you don't pinch the saw. It's hard to describe when to cut, and what is too much to try to drag. Next big storm, I'm looking forward to using the 4520 to pull from the drawbar. More pull, more weight.

If the log is pulling to the side, I have compensated by swinging the boom.

20 20, I like the "it sounds like you've had luck and seem to feel safe". If this method of dragging is based on luck and a shaky sense of security, sounds like I need to think long and hard about it.

So maybee it's OK if you're really comfortable with your backhoe and go real slow, but looking at your comments I wouldn't recommend it for someone new to tractors.

Amazing how hard it is to explain knowing your equipment and seat of the pants feel... tnx for your comments.

Pete

 

[dave1949]

I think skidding could be hard on the backhoe unless done in moderation with light stuff. I don't like the idea of driving around with the stabilizer pads down. That seems like damage waiting to happen. Better to leave it lay until you have the right implement mounted if at all possible. I can usually shove things out of the way with the FEL bucket and go back later.

Anything small enough to skid that way might be better off chaining to the FEL bucket and driving backwards? I'm sure you aren't doing this often or with big logs.

I have gravitated to mounting the backhoe, doing a list of things with it, then take it off until I just have to have it, or the list is growing and the weather is right.

That's my .02
Dave.

 

[CurlyDave]

I think skidding could be hard on the backhoe unless done in moderation with light stuff...

It seems to me that the backhoe is designed to dig into the earth and exert tremendous pulling forces on the bucket in order to get that earth into the bucket.

So long as the skidding force is less than the digging force, I do not see how the backhoe can be harmed.

 

[dave1949]

It seems to me that the backhoe is designed to dig into the earth and exert tremendous pulling forces on the bucket in order to get that earth into the bucket.

So long as the skidding force is less than the digging force, I do not see how the backhoe can be harmed.

I was thinking more of the lateral forces which will act on the cylinders and linkages that swing the hoe arm left & right than the bucket itself. Anytime the tractor turns, there will be sideways forces applied there that could amount to more than the cylinders themselves are able to apply.

Yes, a backhoe is fairly rugged, and you could lock the swing, but you are still torsioning the dipper/digger arms. Just seems like it is something that might be better avoided for the most part given the price of backhoes.

Your JD 110 TLB is probably a good bit more rugged than the typical CUT backhoe.

I did say it was my .02 :laughing:
Dave.

 

[20 20]

Dave1949, that is a very good point, allmost every excavator and or BH operator I've talked with{including myself} give a huge NO NO :thumbdown: to side to side force with these machines.