Does anyone know of any programs to teach new owners how to use a tractor?

[lduren]

I'm new to tractor ownership and loving every new thing I learn. The only challenge is getting someone to show me what and how to do things. These babies are capable of doing sooo much but if you don't know how... The local "grew up on tractors" make things look so easy and they just seem to know what to do to make a burm, dig a trench or clear away land. I was blown away when I found a youtube clip using a box blade to create a dig. He just tilted one side and drug it in both directions to create a ditch. Amazing and after seeing it very logical and common sense. The problem is that there seems to be nothing to educate a new tractor owner.

I can buy a sports car and take classes to learn how to drive fast and safe. I can buy a gun and take classes to learn how to hit something. But when I buy a $17k machine, I pretty much get told "you'll pick it up the more you use it". My local dealer says he sells about 23-30 BX's a year and 90% of them are newbies like me. I wonder how many people would take a class on tractor use. One that explained how the basic techniques like dragging the bucket to smooth or clear brush. I'm talking a half day or full day class for say $100. One that you'd get a chance to really do something and come away proficent at some basics. This is not something a dealer can teach in a 30 minute new owner orientation.

I've spent 25 years as a senior trainer, developing training for the military, and corporate worlds. I've taught everything from digital electronics and optics, to stockbroker license classes (Series 7, 6 etc.). I'm thinking there is a need but I'm not sure if someone is currently servicing our community. Geeze 10 people at $100 a head with their own tractor ... that's $1000 to let them scrape and dig some dirt. Seems like pretty easy $.

This is a quick informal needs analysis to see if there really might be someting or am I just too slow/impatient.

look at this video from youtube: Tractor Safety Training Video from SafetyInstruction.com - YouTube

I am a relatively new tractor operator, I saw some really interesting videos videos I think from this source showing how a tractor can tip over. the video showed a normal size tractor operating on remote control on an incline driving sideways and how it would tip over when hitting a hole. It also had other videos about how one could flip a tractor backwards if you try to pull a stump out of the ground that is too heavy. These videos really demonstrate how important the rops (roll over protection shield) is, and the seatbelt considering how heavy they are. You could find more videos online by googling it and also looking on youtube.

 

[newbury]

Such a training program may be useful but the logistics often outweigh the benefits.
If one does not have an established facility with storage for multiple tractors, a moderate repair facility, plenty of land to grade etc. (such as an ag college would have) I see limited utility compared to having a friend come over and show you what you need to know.
Tractors are inherently kind of big, easy to use, and a lot of the learning is just how to smoothly operate the implements while in motion.

Never having bought a tractor from a "dealer" I always expected that a dealer would offer instruction on it's use if requested. When I bought my BH the dealer rep walked me thru all the functions and had me hook it up, unhook it, hook it up.

Now I could use a night class on how to hook up a TnT.

 

[creekbend]

Everything Attachments has videos of almost every attachment they make/sell. Besides showing how to use the specific attachment, Ted does a great job of showing you what kind of job they do.

I would spend a whole bunch of evenings watching Ted explain things. I've been around tractors all my life and I still enjoy the finer points of things that are taught on those videos.

I agree 100% with bp fick. I was raised on a farm, used my Dad's Farmall and MF and now I have a BOTA. I have watched and enjoyed these videos from Everything Attachments. Very informative, both for novice and veteran alike.

 

[638]

For instance, I needed to make a drainage ditch for my aunt - I wanted a light angle to both sides of the ditch. I set the BH bucket tooth straight vertical (it hangs up less that way) and drug it down the hill twice in the same line. Then I set my wheels in the rut I had made and cut the corner off the rut - with my now angled blade bucket. Set the other side's wheels in the rut and cut the other side, rut disappeared into a nicely angled sloped shallow ditch. (Learned that trick here!) Much faster than cross cutting both sides and jiggling the blade depth and getting 'steps' instead of a sloped ditch.

tshep,

The one thing you really don't want to do, is to engage the backhoe bucket in the ground and drive. You DO NOT have a pressure relief valve in the BH hydralic circuts and can do extensive damage to the BH if it should hang up on a root or rock.

 

[cal1]

Do you mean that you shouldn't try to drag the backhoe like a plow? Or push it forward?

And on the backhoe thing, It's feeling like a pain to turn the seat around so I see why folks just turn backwards (BX24). I tried standing to the side instead of seating in the seat. Boy there are times when the backhoe can really make the machine jump around even with the outriggers planted. Seems like this is really unsafe but ... Are there are times when this is what you do?

 

[JasG]

I haven't read through all of these so maybe these were put out before. Many FFA branches (Future Farmers of America) have safety courses. These go over the many things. NY madates this course if running farm equipment younger than 16 and not related to the farmer.

Our local college has a machinery operation course with a "lab" that you run machinery. We ran everything from lawn mowers to log skidders to plowing snow, etc. I had to take the course for my major in college. Due to the instructor knew some of the people I had worked for and my father. I was able to be a student teach and teach some of the labs which was a good experience for me.

Many dealers will also teach you or if you have a question if you bought the product from them.

 

[grsthegreat]

I haven't read through all of these so maybe these were put out before. Many FFA branches (Future Farmers of America) have safety courses. These go over the many things. NY madates this course if running farm equipment younger than 16 and not related to the farmer.

Our local college has a machinery operation course with a "lab" that you run machinery. We ran everything from lawn mowers to log skidders to plowing snow, etc. I had to take the course for my major in college. Due to the instructor knew some of the people I had worked for and my father. I was able to be a student teach and teach some of the labs which was a good experience for me.

Many dealers will also teach you or if you have a question if you bought the product from them.

When i was a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, more years ago than i care to mention, I had 2 different farm equip classes. We did row crops, backhoe work, bulldozer work, the works. Including how to properly read and use manuals and do routine maint. Was a few of the BEST classes i ever had in college.

 

[JasG]

Do you mean that you shouldn't try to drag the backhoe like a plow? Or push it forward?

And on the backhoe thing, It's feeling like a pain to turn the seat around so I see why folks just turn backwards (BX24). I tried standing to the side instead of seating in the seat. Boy there are times when the backhoe can really make the machine jump around even with the outriggers planted. Seems like this is really unsafe but ... Are there are times when this is what you do?

When running a backhoe any backhoe even full sized. You really should have the ROPS up and seat belt on. Even using the loader you really should be belted in. I have seen all sizes of machine on there side, from small compacts to large construction units. This could be from any number of factors from outrigger letting loose from a blown hose to the ground giving way. I have even seen a few trackhoes flip.

Even a large TLB can get shoved around by the hoe. Depend on what you are doing. It takes time to develop knowledge about proper bucket position. Every now and then a magazine I get on equipment has articles on proper hoe usage. You could probably google it and find out something.

 

[638]

Do you mean that you shouldn't try to drag the backhoe like a plow? Or push it forward?

That is correct.

 

[JasG]

Here is some on backhoe usage.

Dig and Load Faster With a Backhoe's Uniquely Combined Tools | Construction Equipment