ALMOST rolled it

[JRobyn]

Had an exciting day Monday - the local propane co came to install my underground tank. I was the backfill man. Started by needing to raise/level the bottom of the hole about a foot. In order to get into position, I had to go through the woods to the back side of the hole. I usually don't do anything invovlving the FEL without the box blade on the back, but it was stuck behind the dirt pile from the tank hole. I had NO IDEA just how much difference that box blade made in terms of both counterweight and tip-stability! And my rears are filled! It didn't help that the backfill pile was wet so it was very heavy. Nor that the woods were wet so that the ground was soft. There were several times that it started to tip, but I quickly dropped the bucket and saved it. The last time, I had a full bucket of gravel and had to lift up OVER the propane tank where the boom truck driver had temporarily put it on the lip of the hole. Then found a soft spot in the woods under the left rear!! I had to drop the bucket onto the tank to stop the tip. Scratched it some, but no dent. Probably only lifted the right rear an inch or less, but it felt like a lot more. Brought to mind the stories I've heard here about how quickly a tip/roll can happen.

So I learned a couple of new things:

- Even with filled rears a L4330 NEEDS significant counterweighting in the rear for much heavy FEL work
- A box blade sticking out beyond the edge of the rears REALLY can help with tip control and prevention
- NEVER let stuff get piled in front of your box blade so that you can't get to it!

Stay safe!

- Jay

 

[rsewill]

The biggest machine will be unstable when the loaded bucket is raised. Glad you were alright.

 

[First one]

There's always a level of pucker factor involved when things like that happen!
Glad to hear it turned out ok :thumbsup: When I first got my tractor I didn't realize that by going into a sand bank with the loader and just picking up on the bucket it would pick up the back tires off the ground, I do know pucker factor was around 7 ,didn't take me long to drop the bucket and get it back on all four.

 

[etcallhome]

Yea that pucker factor gets your attention quickly.. Glad you are OK
Had fel on and no ballast box ,,,only needing to carry a few 2x2 for fencing around some apple trees... Tractor sitting across slope ,lifted the bucket about 3' off ground and started to climb in bucket to drive post in ground..upper back wheel off the ground by 6-8" Got my attention real quick..went and put the ballast box on no problems .

 

[Mace Canute]

Had an exciting day Monday - the local propane co came to install my underground tank. I was the backfill man. Started by needing to raise/level the bottom of the hole about a foot. In order to get into position, I had to go through the woods to the back side of the hole. I usually don't do anything invovlving the FEL without the box blade on the back, but it was stuck behind the dirt pile from the tank hole. I had NO IDEA just how much difference that box blade made in terms of both counterweight and tip-stability! And my rears are filled! It didn't help that the backfill pile was wet so it was very heavy. Nor that the woods were wet so that the ground was soft. There were several times that it started to tip, but I quickly dropped the bucket and saved it. The last time, I had a full bucket of gravel and had to lift up OVER the propane tank where the boom truck driver had temporarily put it on the lip of the hole. Then found a soft spot in the woods under the left rear!! I had to drop the bucket onto the tank to stop the tip. Scratched it some, but no dent. Probably only lifted the right rear an inch or less, but it felt like a lot more. Brought to mind the stories I've heard here about how quickly a tip/roll can happen.

So I learned a couple of new things:

- Even with filled rears a L4330 NEEDS significant counterweighting in the rear for much heavy FEL work
- A box blade sticking out beyond the edge of the rears REALLY can help with tip control and prevention
- NEVER let stuff get piled in front of your box blade so that you can't get to it!

Stay safe!

- Jay

Several times??

Apparently you didn't learn the most important thing which was you were taking too much of a load in your bucket. That was indicated the first time it happened (tipping) and the second time it happened should have been the kicker that caused you to open your eyes and quit doing it.

 

[MasseyWV]

Several times??

Apparently you didn't learn the most important thing which was you were taking too much of a load in your bucket. That was indicated the first time it happened (tipping) and the second time it happened should have been the kicker that caused you to open your eyes and quit doing it.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. :confused2:

 

[creekbend]

It's good to hear that everything worked out for the best.

 

[jonyyuma]

Hey, I got the best one..How do you get the tractor off the Hot-shot rig when he delivers it late at night.. The back tires are not filled..What a ride...Didn't know about using 4 wd drive then, but always now and with tiller on rear...

 

[JRobyn]

Maybe it's just me, but I find it kinda hard to know exactly how much wet dirt is IN each bucketful. Easier with gravel, but still not an exact science. With the boxblade on, never had a problem with any % of bucket full as long I kept the bucket low.

 

[Mace Canute]

Get off the seat and go look.