Is 2-wheeling irresponsible?

[TripleR]

Drove tractors that way more times than I can count. When I was growing up on a farm "removable weights" often meant someone riding on the hood. Now I definitely don't recommend anyone on the hood, but see no problem with an experienced operator using their equipment as you describe.

 

[tungularafishcamp]

:laughing:Remember when I was a punk kid laying sewer/water line in Or. We had to get a backhoe back across a muddy field. The front end kept boggin so the operator turned around and ran the backhoe to keep it in a wheelie while I sat on the fender and steered with the brakes. I thought it was a hoot but the operator was not impressed at all. Am now glad it was on someone else's equiptment.

Rick

 

[Soundguy]

if the front end were bouncing up and down it could get brutal.. but.. if you can keep the abuse to a minimum, and productivity high, and safety within some realm of possibility.. I'd say we've all been there.

I routinely move round hay bales on my old frord 850 with a 1-arm loader. even with 3pt weight, it still tips the tractor forward and to the left a lil, meaning right rear tire is sometimes a lil shallow on traction.. thus i keep my foot near the right brake in case she starts to slip.

ideal? no.. gets the job done though..

soundguy

 

[Johndeere3720]

I have had my Yanmar on 2 wheels before. Usually with a heavy implement the back and engaging in a high gear. But there have been times where I had to much weight on the 3 point and lifted the front of my tractor off the ground. Most recently I was trying to pick up my large pallet that I stack fire wood rounds on and figured I'd see if I could move it with the tractor. So i got the forks (3 point) on and backed into the pallet, lifted and put into 1st gear. At the first movement my front tires were 1 foot off the ground. So that was that and I lowered my 3 point. When i got my tiller i backed the forks under it since the hitch was not at the time imatch adaptable and I had to use my steering brakes to get it out. That was even with 200 pounds of extra weight on the front too. I got it home but i don't really like being on the back 2 wheels for safety reasons and lack of steering, even with steering brakes. Last spring i was clearing a spot to extend our garden and caught on a stump so i lifted my 3 point and up goes the front of my tractor. Scared me at first but I got some pictures really quick for laughs. :laughing: I have had times where i was on the front 2 tires with the 3720 moving pallets of stone and didn't like that either. Thus I put my rear blade on the back for ballast and loaded it up with 8 of the 40 pound weights for ballast. I don't necessary recommend going on 2 wheels but some times it may be something that just happens. In my approach to equipment, it is always safety first. If it doesn't look safe, I'm either going to find an alternative or do it when conditions allow the tractor in the area safely.

 

[mullins87]

I don't any problems with using equipment outside of their design parameters as long as three conditions are met. 1)You fully recognize the manufacturer of the equipment is in no way liable and you may fully void any warranty should something break. 2)There are no bystanders or other persons property within the "danger zone" should something unexpected happen. 3)You are fully liable for any damage/injuries you may cause should something break and parts go flying onto the neighbors property.

I've only had my little John Deere 3038E for about a month now, and just this weekend got ballast in my tires. The first time I used the FEL the back tires were nearly off the ground with every scoop. I drove slowly, kept the bucket low to the ground and 4wd to keep me going. If the tractor started to tip over, all I had to do was drop the bucket.....and that only happened once.:laughing:

We have safety guys at work that will get all over themselves when something of unknown weight causes the forklift tires to lift off the ground. I don't know what they are thinking could possibly happen. The operators just go get a bigger lift.

 

[Soundguy]

i remember when i put a 30" dirt scoop on my yanmar while I was building up the back of my building pad aft of the house for the addition of a lania.. If I got a good full scoop of dirt, and pulled away fast, the front end came up. had to throw some weights up front there to keep the 1700's front end down.. had forgotton about that till I saw your post..

soundguy

I have had my Yanmar on 2 wheels before. Usually with a heavy implement the back and engaging in a high gear. But there have been times where I had to much weight on the 3 point and lifted the front of my tractor off the ground. Most recently I was trying to pick up my large pallet that I stack fire wood rounds on and figured I'd see if I could move it with the tractor. So i got the forks (3 point) on and backed into the pallet, lifted and put into 1st gear. At the first movement my front tires were 1 foot off the ground. So that was that and I lowered my 3 point. When i got my tiller i backed the forks under it since the hitch was not at the time imatch adaptable and I had to use my steering brakes to get it out. That was even with 200 pounds of extra weight on the front too. I got it home but i don't really like being on the back 2 wheels for safety reasons and lack of steering, even with steering brakes. Last spring i was clearing a spot to extend our garden and caught on a stump so i lifted my 3 point and up goes the front of my tractor. Scared me at first but I got some pictures really quick for laughs. :laughing: I have had times where i was on the front 2 tires with the 3720 moving pallets of stone and didn't like that either. Thus I put my rear blade on the back for ballast and loaded it up with 8 of the 40 pound weights for ballast. I don't necessary recommend going on 2 wheels but some times it may be something that just happens. In my approach to equipment, it is always safety first. If it doesn't look safe, I'm either going to find an alternative or do it when conditions allow the tractor in the area safely.

 

[JohninCT]

Nah. I see the fellers at the tractor pulls doing it all the time.

 

[JoeinTX]

Yes, I would say doing this is not a good thing.

Rule #1 that I was taught and live by is to always be in absolute, total command of your machine. In doing what you describe, you are not. You can control this factor fairly easily so there's no reason to violate it. These machines will harm/kill you in a heartbeat........but largely only if and when you allow them to.

Sure, you got away with it this one time. Don't get comfortable in the habit of doing it on a normal basis. You might even get by with the next few times you try it. Fine. It's the next time you do it with a very false sense of what you're doing that you turn that sucker over, hurt yourself, total the wife's new SUV, and leave the hospital with one limb in a cast and a few hundred stitches that it hits you that doing such things isn't so safe after all. And, coincidentally, all very easily avoidable if you decide against tricks that you hope will go okay to save a minute or two here or there. No joke.

The situation you describe? No. The minute I realized my rig wouldn't move it mechanically I'm shutting down the show so that I can figure out another way to do so that doesn't involve serious risk and potential harm.

Just my 2 pesos........

 

[MBDiagMan]

You obviously felt comfortable doing this and it worked out with no ill effect. All's well IMHO.

 

[Raspy]

It's only irresponsible if you think it is. Sounds like fun to me! Heck, I rode my dirt bikes with the front wheel off the ground as much as my skill level would allow. Always.

Sounds like you didn't endanger anyone and you got your project done efficiently. Why shouldn't you have a bit of fun in the process? Plus you improved your skill with the throttle/brake balance. :laughing: