A close call

[cowboy357]

I'll try to get some pictures hopefully before it fills, having a heck of a time with rain. I've got a couple of nice days so I'm draining and digging the best I can. I dug this a couple yrs back with a small BH and didn't have much room around it. This year I took down 20+ trees and pushed things back. It will still be a small pond but should be a lot nicer. My land is full of clay I get sick of the stuff especially when machinery gets stuck in it. It's like getting stuck in glue and suction cups.

Usually the wife only does the simpler stuff like hauling limbs or pulling a small trailer but that day she wanted to help. She has had a lot of time on the tractor, but it still didn't prepare her for the sudden shock of what can happen. She new what to do, but like with most folks panic over-ride logic.

That would be great I,d love to see them . I here Ya on the clay it can be a mess , I just wish I had some I could line the pond with but I,d have to dig it up from elsewhere on the property.

I very seldom panic thats why I can ussually get myself out of about anything . But my wife does when she watches me work in the pond especially , Because I disapear . Its good she keeps a close eye on me though. Lookin forward to the pics . Bob

 

[GreenLawnFarm]

is this why talking on the telly should be banned in automobiles.

 

[LBrown59]

The bad thing is my first instinct was to jump off the low side of the tractor because of the loader controls on the right , which Definatlly was not a good idea if it went over ,
*But at times like That You dont think quite as well as one should, at least in My case .

*That's why I always get off on the high side no matter what.

 

[LBrown59]

is this why talking on the telly should be banned in automobiles.

who was talkin on the phone?

 

[cowboy357]

*That's why I always get off on the high side no matter what.

Not a lot of choice on this one Because of the levers on the high side LB ( see pics ) , Not much chance of Me getting through them , let alone over them .

I,ve got My jeans caught on them before & that didn,t work out so well , which is probablly why my first instinct was to bail to the left . . Bob

 

[Renze]

With a loaded frontloader i often ride on 3 wheels. It doesnt scare me, i just lower it. I have limited the front axle swivel (to keep the powersteering cylinder away from the subframe) and with this angle, its impossible to tip over on flat ground.

I instinctively check my bucket position, check if theres nothing in the way, and just lower it. As soon as its lower than halfway its lift height, the tractor comes back on 4 wheels.

Off course on hillsides, the behaviour of the tractor is not as predictable, so i'd fear too.

In your situation i dont think the dirt in the box blade kept you up, but the front axle swivel end stop.

 

[BigD23]

First of all, thank you for sharing...Personally, I don't carry a cell phone with me (to answer) when I'm tractoring...I'm on call from time to time and check my cell when it's convienient for me...Not criticizing, only sharing how I do my business...Glad everything turned out OK.

Don

 

[Kernopelli]

Cowboy, I have owned a number of grey market tractors and currently own a Mitsubishi. The best thing I ever did to add stability was to swap the wheels around to the wider offset. I see you have yours still set with the offset to the inside. I have heard a few say not to do it on the fronts because it creates more of a strain on the front end of the FWD tractors but I have had mine set this way for probably 5 years and 3 1/2 of those with a FEL on it and never had a single issue. Even with 800# of counter weight on the back I have lifted the rear tires off the ground many times ( did it earlier tonight in fact) and have never broken anything. I am not suggesting that kind of abuse but the point is it has never caused damage to mine and the Iseki's are some tough tractors too.

Especially with the FEL on it, I am certain this wider track has saved my butt on a number of occasions.

 

[cowboy357]

Thanks Guys , Good info . I,m not real sure either Renze what kept it from going any further over , all I know by the time I ran several 100 yards to get the other tractor I was surpised to see it still there & not at the bottom when I got back .


I here You on the phone deal Don , but Since I,m alone out here 75 % of the time & 50 % of that time I,m on one of the tractors , I really need to have the phone as I have several adds for things for sale . Every other time the Phone vibrates , I either get off the tractor or shut it off This one time I did not , Lesson learned .

I had never heard about turning the tires around Darryl , sounds interesting . Any chance You have pics of Yours ? I,d be curious to see how much difference it makes . Thanks again to All for the input . Bob

 

[Charlesaf3]

you've probably looked into this, but any chance you could add roll bars/rops? Seems they have saved a lot of peoples butts on here.

Thanks for posting this.

 

[Kernopelli]

Don't know how well you can tell the difference that the offset makes from the pics but depending upon your rims, I would guess somewhere between a 6-12" track difference which doesn't sound like much but is immediately noticeable. I mow a pond levy with mine that is definitely steeper than what your pics show and swapping the rims around made all the difference. I used to not be able to mow it with the tractor.

When you swap them, you want to put the left ones on the right and visa versa. If you simply turn the rim around and keep the wheel on the same side, your treads will be backwards, so swap them from one side to the other.

Looking at your rims, the rears appear to have a lot more offset than mine, they will probably stick out of the fender wells more than mine so you will occasionally get a little slop on you but I guarantee you won't want to switch them back after you see and feel the difference it will make. It will feel like a different tractor in a lot of situations.

 

[cowboy357]

Once again Thanks for the info & mostlly for taking time to take the pics. It looks like it would make one heck of a difference as well as easier to get to the grease zerts . I might just give it a try . Thanks again Darryl , Bob

 

[Kernopelli]

Cowboy, One other thing I was going to mention that was touched upon earlier in the thread is lack of ROPS ( and seat belt).

Since the grey markets don't come with them, have you considered putting then on your tractors? There are several companies that specialize in grey market rops and is something to strongly consider. Look at it this way, if you can't justify the price based solely on personal safety, consider it a capital investment that increases the value of your machine. If you can't afford to do both tractors, just do one and use it when you are doing anything that may present a greater concern about roll over. Just google grey market ROPS.

I made my own ( which is a hot subject here on TBN). I don't operate my tractor any differently since I put them on, but I feel ( this is also a hot button word since "feeling" and OSHA certified are two different things) much better with it installed.

I attached mine to the rear axle and to the rear transmission case since I read quite a bit about attachment point pros/cons and doing it either way, I just decided to do both and that way there is little doubt about integrity. I gusseted all pieces after welding it together and used similar or heavier material than any factory ROPS I have looked at or owned for a similar size tractor. This was my personal decision and not what I am suggesting you do.

Anyway, enough personal justification on how I built mine for those reading this and are possibly fuming because I even mentioned it. Let your conscience and/or your personal abilities be your guide and consider some ROPS and seat belt.

One last comment about swapping the rims around. If turning the fronts give you concern about any added stress on front spindles or bearings, just swap the rears. Since my first response to you on this subject ( front rim specific now), I have done some reading on here about it and some members have posted that their dealers have recommended doing it and some have said not to and it seems to be a very model specific issue as to whether it is advisable. I have never read or been told that swapping rears can create any problem and is something I would advise without reservation.

 

[cowboy357]

Thanks again Darryl , Yes I,ve looked into the Rops for my bigger tractor . I,ll more the likelly never sell it , So I,m not concerned about what the safety police here or anyone has to say about what i do to MY tractor

The other one i,m probablly going to sell before long , So if the next owner wants to add a rops thats upto them .

That being said I would like to see how You did yours & the mounting points If You wouldn,t mind . I still have quite a bit of work to do by the river at the back of Our property & I have pushed my luck as much as I care to so far , as its about a 20 foot drop . Wether I decide to buy or build myself I still need to see which way is more suitable for My needs .

As far as reversing the wheels & tires I will probally do it on the rears only for now & see what difference it makes before I consider the fronts . But after looking at mine it does look like it would make a Huge difference on the rears as They do have quite a bit of an offset on them .

If You would rather not show pics of your build on this site , I wouldn,t blame you & could PM you my email addy through a pm if you want . Anyway thanks again Darryl for the usefull info . Bob