Jury orders John Deere to pay $5 million for Stillwater man's tractor death

   / Jury orders John Deere to pay $5 million for Stillwater man's tractor death #81  
People do it, because they have no conception of the physics involved. Any more than many have driving a car. They just get in/on and away they go.
 
   / Jury orders John Deere to pay $5 million for Stillwater man's tractor death #82  
Well said. I quickly learned on mine carry load LOW. I like the knuckle drag marks expression. I keep my hand on the control the whole time, thinking "what if" something should happen. Never be in a hurry.
 
   / Jury orders John Deere to pay $5 million for Stillwater man's tractor death #83  
Same here. Get into a situation probably a long ways from tipping and I'm lowering stuff already. Just have to be carefull you don't lower it so much as to create another hazzard, namely controlled flight, into terrain! lol
 
   / Jury orders John Deere to pay $5 million for Stillwater man's tractor death #84  
I have owned my Kubota BX24 since 2004 and I am willing to learn. When I use my loader I usually have some ballast on the back. I can see and feel how that gives me front to back stability. But even if I am fully ballasted in back does it really add much to the side to side stability, especially if I fully raise a loaded bucket on a slope? It seems like the leverage in that direction could easily overmatch the ballast.

Doug in SW IA

That depends on the slope and definitely isn’t a recommend practice but it’ll flip faster without ballast vs with it.
 
   / Jury orders John Deere to pay $5 million for Stillwater man's tractor death #85  
Low and Slow... always.
 
   / Jury orders John Deere to pay $5 million for Stillwater man's tractor death #86  
It's also speed/inertia that will get you. If a wheel dips into a rut or goes atop a stone, that can mean a very quick movement of the loader. Why it's important to go dead slow when doing something sketchy.
 
   / Jury orders John Deere to pay $5 million for Stillwater man's tractor death #87  
When I bought my 755, with FEL, midmount mower and rear blade, I had zero experience. I was trying to keep about 10 acres down, some with dicey top of bank situations, running parallel to top of bank, and some steep slope but do-able straight on. the dealer had the rear tires mounted narrowly, not being sure if there would be clearance with wider track given the 60" mower presence. (the rear blade purchase was a mistake, but not a hazard). I reported some uneasiness, that seat of the pants feeling, while mowing along the edge of top of bank. They checked with a professional mower who had been keeping it down before we bought the property, and based upon what he told them about the terrain, they came and picked up the tractor, remounted the rear tires for a wider spread and filled them with calcium solution. no charge. Never mentioned rear weights or ballast box. When I got the tractor back, it felt safe as houses by comparison. I later learned the hard way that hydrostatic drive in 2wd will not hold you back on a steep downhill slope (luckily I had brush piles at the bottom, lowered the bucket and rammed the brush piles, nothing injured other than my pride), and learned to have it in 4wd anytime I was going up or down hill on the steeper slopes. 1700 hours later I have more confidence, am still learning new things to do with the bucket, but would not consider myself to be an expert equipment operator. Handy, but not expert. Have had some of those 'oh crap' moments, but if you take it slow and think about it... I guess my conclusion is that it a dealer should inquire as to a buyers situation, desired work, terrain etc, and then use some judgement as to whether the buyer should just be turned loose. When my dealer heard the nervousness in my voice, they came and did something about it.
 
   / Jury orders John Deere to pay $5 million for Stillwater man's tractor death #88  
Wheel track is another factor. I just got a new to me tractor with loaded tires. It felt very tippy compared to my older unloaded tractor. Same tires, loading only difference but track width was 8 inches wider. Think 8 inches not much ? I can say it made a huge difference. Picture is a 5065 vs 5200 (on right)

IMG_0425.JPG

Changing the wheel spacing

IMG_0430.JPG


Edit to add: looks like the 3038e (in case )rear wheels are fixed. Wonder if spacers are available?
 
   / Jury orders John Deere to pay $5 million for Stillwater man's tractor death #89  
The big question of the day is why on earth would you ever raise a fully loaded bucket on a slope? I don't like raising an empty bucket on a slope. Fully loaded buckets are to be carried a few inches off of the ground. Then when stopped on relatively flat ground OR a slope that that is is in the same direction as your tractor is pointed, you can raise the bucket to dump it in something if needed. never raise the bucket when cross slope. It is just asking for a side roll over. You have to have common sense. Yes I know it is not all that common, but IF you do something stupid and you survive, then LEARN from those mistakes and don't do them again. Do you think I have ever raised tractor rear wheels off of the ground? Heck yes!. BUT LEARN from those almost incidents and don't do that any more.

And, something I've thought about many, many times, if I have my bucket elevated with a load and the tractor starts tipping sideways, and I slam the bucket to the ground after this process has started, will the lowered bucket actually push the tractor over?

These things I think about in the middle of the night. Awakened by a blaring alarm in my head......
 
   / Jury orders John Deere to pay $5 million for Stillwater man's tractor death #90  
And, something I've thought about many, many times, if I have my bucket elevated with a load and the tractor starts tipping sideways, and I slam the bucket to the ground after this process has started, will the lowered bucket actually push the tractor over?

These things I think about in the middle of the night. Awakened by a blaring alarm in my head......

I don’t see how that would be possible. I would have rolled several times if I had done nothing but a quick drop of the bucket prevented it.
 

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