1910 completely rolled over

[scrappy isb67]

I don't know if the engine kept running for a while after it flipped over, but after the tractor was rolled back onto its wheels, there was oil everywhere.

Do these old tractors have any sort of engine cut-off when they roll over? My concern is that if the engine kept running, the oil pump would have started sucking air within seconds I would think. It would probably have taken a minute or more before the engine would have stopped from the fuel pump sucking air.

I figured I should at least change engine oil and filter, and check the coolant level before attempting to start it again. Anything else I should check?

Tragically, the operator died in the accident, which was not discovered until several hours had gone by. The red engine kill knob had not been pulled. The ROPS had been removed years earlier as the tractor would otherwise not clear the garage where it was kept.

sorry to hear about your loss.

as to the tractor, since the fuel tank is a bottom pickup, when it went over it probably started sucking air and died about as quickly as the engine lost oil pressure. like the others said, i would turn it over by hand to see if it is hydrolocked and pull the injectors to be doubly sure.

 

[sweep]

I noticed an "British" style of license plate on the rear. Are tractors required to be registered where you live?

 

[Tx Jim]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your father.

 

[AndyG]

Refill the crankcase with oil and check all of the other fluids. Check the air filter because it may be soaked with oil. Roll the engine over by hand a few times to make sure that the cylinders are not full of oil. Next, crank the engine over using the starter with the kill knob pulled out (no fuel). If the engine turns freely then push in the knob and start as usual. I think that pulling the injectors may be unesessary. It will probably smoke badly for a minute or two then clear up. Keep an eye on the gauges and listen for bad noises. Be ready to shut it down if something does not seem right. To be extra careful you can have something ready to block the air intake for an emergency shut down.

 

[RealJimbo]

Possibly the best thing you can do for your Mom at this point would be to, um . . . FIX THE ROPS???

 

[whodat526]

i would fix it and keep it if it was me that is what i am doing on a really good friend of mines 6610 ford he fliped and got killed on about 3 months ago and it had rops but no seat belt but u can believe its got a seat belt now

 

[pclausen]

Thank you everyone for the continued support.

My father was 78, but in excellent health. He played tennis twice a week and rode his bike with his dog daily. He was semi retired and for the last 10 years or so, worked part time as a real estate broker, and spent the rest of his time maintaining a beautiful 24 acre property in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in central Virginia.

He purchased the tractor brand new in 1985. At the time they lived in the UK, which explains the licenses plate. It even has a Wessex hydraulic tilt trailer with it in matching blue color. I remember driving it down the the local hardware store in the village my folks lived in with the trailer with 3 hours on the clock. Everybody came out to admire it.

My folks moved to Virginia in 1987 and had the tractor and trailer shipped over here with all their other belongings. Dad had a 770 FEL fitted at that time.

The ROPS is sitting in his garage. I'll be bolting that back on for sure!

Tractor has just over 1400 hours on the clock, so that works out to a little over 50 hours annually over the last 26 years. As far as I know, it has never had a problem.

I did contact my folks homeowner's insurance company and it appears that the tractor is covered under that policy. The adjuster is supposed to contact me today.

I took a closer look at the tractor this morning when I was writing down the "tractor number", which I guess is kinda like a VIN number, and from what I can tell, the engine oil seeped out where the head meets the block, so at a minimum, I think I'm looking at a new head gasket.

I do have 3-4 puddles of oil on the garage floor underneath the engine on my shop floor from it sitting there for 48 hours now.

Let's see what the insurance adjuster has to say before I dig further into things.

 

[sweep]

My dad is 81 going on 82 and he uses my tractor to brush hog the fields. I have noticed in the last several years he has become ..I don't want to use the word "careless' but he has become less aware and attentive while driving the tractor. Makes mistakes he never would have done in the past, even 2-3 years ago.

Scares me to think about it as I live in a very hilly region and it does not take much to get into trouble.

I have seriously considered removing the key but I don't know how he would handle that as he is very independent..hard to explain. Kinda like forcibly taking away the car keys of an elderly parent. I have never had to do that, yet, but friends have and it is very hard to do.

I do try and mow the more dangerous parts of the property before he has a chance to and leave the leverler parts for him to do and I do believe he is catching on that we don't want him to do the hilly parts.

 

[cdaigle430]

Sorry for your loss. He died with his boots on.

 

[beppington]

My dad is 81 going on 82 and he uses my tractor to brush hog the fields. I have noticed in the last several years he has become ..I don't want to use the word "careless' but he has become less aware and attentive while driving the tractor. Makes mistakes he never would have done in the past, even 2-3 years ago.

Scares me to think about it as I live in a very hilly region and it does not take much to get into trouble.

I have seriously considered removing the key but I don't know how he would handle that as he is very independent..hard to explain. Kinda like forcibly taking away the car keys of an elderly parent. I have never had to do that, yet, but friends have and it is very hard to do.

I do try and mow the more dangerous parts of the property before he has a chance to and leave the leverler parts for him to do and I do believe he is catching on that we don't want him to do the hilly parts.

As long as you don't think he's going to hurt somebody else, I think you should let him do what he enjoys doing. He's living. We all go at some point. Might as well be while havin' fun, rather than plopped in an old chair staring at the idiot box.

 

[pclausen]

Yes, my father did indeed die with his boots on, which is what he wanted. For the last 5 years or so, he was very concerned with what would happen when he got to the point where he could no longer do what he wanted to do. He could not bare to think about sitting in a nursing home or anything like that, that was just not in his genes/personality at all. He had to always be working on a project (I'm the same way). So yes, while this was very tragic, family and friends find comfort in knowing that he ended his days the way he wanted to.

Insurance company called back and, while the tractor is a personal asset that is covered, the circumstances leading to the damage is not one of the 16 "perils" that are covered. I'm going to let it sit until we get through the funeral stuff and helping mom with all the rest of the paperwork. She's 76 and wants to stay in the house as long as she can. While I support that and think it will work for maybe another year or so, I don't think it will work in the long run. Like my father, she's in very good health, but I feel that from a practical, physiological, and financial standpoint, it's not a good long term solution.

Thanks

 

[expedoman55]

PC, my family and I will continue to pray for you and your mom. My dad is 81 and sometimes a little lackadaisical(sp) so I keep an eye on him but like your dad he is an outdoor guy. His heart has slowed him down. FYI - my brother inlaw was killed in a horse accident little over 2 years ago leaving my sister and her 14 yo daughter. I cannot know what you are going through but can try to only relate. We told my sister at the time to make no fast decisions. just work through the days as they come. Remember the joy your pop had while working outside and the joy he had from playing ourdoors. that may help a little if there is such a thing. All our best. Sharon, Mike and family

 

[pclausen]

Just wanted to make another post to this thread to update you guys who have really helped support me through this ordeal, which is much appreciated.

Dad is now resting in piece and we spread his ashes along the creek where he walked the dogs every day, as per his wishes.

Mom is doing remarkably well, and is starting to come to terms with what has happened and the changes to her life that are a result of it.

I still have occasional flashbacks to seeing him laying there under the tractor, but they are less frequent now, thank God.

As far as the 1910 is concerned, once I topped of the engine oil and bled the lines, it started right up. It smoked for 30 seconds or so, and then settled into the steady idle I have known for 26 years. That 1910 sure is a tough son of a *****!

Here's a picture of it after being all fixed up, WITH THE ROPS BACK ON!

We have decided to sell the 1910 as I don't really need 2 tractors. I'll trailer my JD 4700 over to mom's house to bush hog and what not.

I AM NOW RELIGIOUSLY WEARING MY SEAT BELT WHEN DRIVING MY TRACTOR AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE SAME!!! IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT MY ROPS IS UP ALL THE TIME AS WELL.

My wife is giving me a real hard time right now about doing any tractor work, especially given the slopes on our property. I'm looking at getting a ballast box for additional safety as I'm getting ready to clear slash after having about 20 acres of forest harvested over the last few weeks. Terrible timing I know, but I wanted to keep moving forward an putting the past behind me.

Again, appreciate all the support, this forum sure is home to a bunch of great guys!

Peter

 

[dex3361]

I just ran across this thread about your tragedy. I am sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine the shock this horrible experience must be for you. I will pray for you your mother and your family.