Tractors are not toys! Blowing off some steam!!!

[Learning to Farm]

Nothing makes me madder than when someone does not understand cost of an item and thinks that they are entitled to use it.

The barn manager's (doesn't own farm or equipment) fiancée moved in with her two weeks ago onto the farm. He has since become a real jerk, was ok before. He told me that he HAD to use the tractor to PUSH the little blue truck ( think really small) stuck on the hill full of square hay bales! This was with no tractor training, no supervision, he PUSHED a farm truck with flat tires ( oh yeah, he forgot to fill the tires that leak). This was all while the farm owner was away for the weekend because he is not supposed use the tractor! Also he got offended last time he drove the truck to do this and left hay in it and the farm owner asked him to sweep it out.

So now the FEL is clicking and pssting when it is raised or lowered. Great, maybe getting a chain and pulling it was to much for him to figure out!!!

Also, I was moving a no till drill I rented from the county Soil Conservation Department and I asked him to help me hook it up to my truck ( I was finally was lined up according to him and I got out and the hitch was below both tongue pieces the pin goes through, he didn't know to raise and lower the equipment to get the hitch between them). So I said to him you back the truck and I will hook it up. When I was informed he can't drive a manual.

Now we have a GST Kubota, but there is STILL a clutch and a clutch pedal ( what the heck does he think the clutch pedal was for)!!! He told me that he just puts it to the number speed he wants and drives!

He also wants to use the finish mower that I paid to have fixed! Every (and I mean every) time he uses the riding mowers or the ATV he runs them out of gas and has to walk to the small equipment shed for the gas can! Last weekend the riding mower he was on died and he called it a "piece of crap"! About he finishing mower asked him if he knew how to check the gear oil and grease zerks and he said it was not his job. Fortunately, I think he is smart enough to know he is to stupid to try and hook it up!

Well yesterday I get a call from the other woman that rides my horse saying that he was whipping around the area by the arena with the tractor back filling in a flimsy retaining wall he built and she asked him to stop, so he went and got the ATV and dumped hay in the barn aisle so she could not get the completely tacked up horse out for her lesson she was paying for until she helped him move the hay.

The owner is at work during this so I am pretty sure that he did not have permission to be using the tractor at this time either!

We have a fully manual tractor, so if he breaks the Kubota I will still be able to mow my fields, but the lack of concern pisses me off! I told him to always wear his seat belt even with the ROPS, his response was he doesn't drive crazy like me. I don't drive crazy and ALWAYS wear my seatbelt!

I am going to say something to the owner in passing, he and I have a great relationship. But I needed to vent/see if anyone had any suggestions.

Also, he has made some comments about how I am a woman and should not be farming (bordering on questioning my sexuality, I am happily married {to a man})! I have the lime, the tractor ( if he hasn't busted the FEL) and plenty of places to hide a body, haha! Just kidding!

 

[aczlan]

First, I would not leave the key around anymore (you and whoever else is allowed to use it get a key). I would also find what it will take to fix the loader and give him a bill. Also inform the manager that due to the damages he has caused, he is not allowed to operate the tractor any more.

If that doesn't work, I would add the following
One of these inline between the starter wire and the starter itself (power in comes from the starter trigger wire): 12V DC REMOTE CONTROL RELAY SWITCH 12V DC OUTPUT RM100 | eBay
One of these between the battery and the starter: 12 Volt Heavy Duty Ford,Lincoln,Mercury Solenoid Relay | eBay

Then in order to start the tractor, you have to turn the key to start AND push "ON" on the remote at the same time (jumping across the starter terminals will not do anything)

OR:
One of these on the "power in" for the keyswitch: 12V DC REMOTE CONTROL RELAY SWITCH 12V DC OUTPUT RM100 | eBay

Then the tractor will not run without you turning the remote "on"

Aaron Z

 

[aczlan]

Also, document, document, document.

That way, you can tell her, he did x, y and z on these dates even though he was not supposed to.
Running an audio/video recorder (on your phone or a little tape player) to document him doing these things could also be useful (especially if you are in a one party consent state) in case you end up in court for some reason.

Aaron Z

 

[acme97]

LtF
Just to understand the relationships, a couple of questions. Is the Barn Manager a paid employee of the Owner? Does the new Jerk have an official role? What is your official connection with the property? I don't mean to pry, just understand what some of the options could be. My first one was kick his a@#, but of course that's not the right course of action. As suggested earlier, limiting access to keys, but if he's living with the manager, then I suspect has access. Unless the Owner is going to engage with Manager, the best you can do is keep records of use and give bills to owner. Have other complain to owner, manager whoever about behaivor.

And remember accidents do happen

 

[Learning to Farm]

Aaron and acme,

Thanks for

 

[creekbend]

Are you sure that you aren't talking about one of my SON-IN-LAWS? Just kidding. Good Luck.

 

[rmk700]

Sounds like he's pretty much digging his own grave. I'm sure the owner will pick up on what's happening soon. I'd just sit back and watch.

 

[zzvyb6]

Without you being the owner of the machinery or the farm, I don't believe you have any disciplinay optons other than to let the place slide into disrepair and report who is to blame fo all of it. When the dust settles, he'll be the one to point at and will retaliate in some manner.

Only way to stop him is to scare him into a hurt situation. Let him break an arm or leg or two, tell him you need something welded with a live 220 dryer cord, roll him over on a side slope, or tell his GF that you caught him putting a video camera in your bathroom and report him. Better yet, flirt with him, get him loaded and mess with his mind and let the fiance' become an ex- fiance'.

A horse kick in the head would be my personnal favorite. Sometimes they get smarter, sometimes they bleed from the ears.

 

[deereman75]

what about carrying a .44 magnum in a holster on your belt, doesnt matter if it is loaded or not. He might listen to you a bit more when he sees you with that.

 

[timswi]

They sure aren't toys...I'm very careful on any unfamilar equipment until I get a comfort level...Even then, I'm watching for risks..Perceived and real.