Farmall almost bad accident, but squeaked by.

[coffeeman]

Hi all

Just redid a Farmall C that sat for years. Got it running and cleaned and painted it up. Runs like a clock. Even got a new seat, tires and one new rim. Used it with a sickle bar for most of summer. One day while mowing, the base that holds the seat came loose. Driver was going up hill and seat, base and driver fell off the rear of tractor. No warning. Driver, my brother-in-law, fell over the sickle bar and didn't hit anything but the ground. He didn't get a scratch. I'm sure he was sore the next day.

I guess the bolts had 60 years to rust away. Now if I ever redid another one I would check the seats bolts or just replace them. I often wonder what would have happened if brother-in-law would have been pulling a disk. I also remember as a kid; hanging onto the back of Farmall tractors while standing on the draw bar, holding seat, usually one leg up next to driver by big tires. We knew little about safety.

Cheers....Coffeeman

 

[Spiffy]

<font color="blue"> We knew little about safety.
</font>

Did we not know or just not care?! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Probably a little of the former and a lot of the latter from my recollection. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Glad to hear no one was hurt! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Spiffy]

Don't mean to highjack your thread, but my question to your safety note just got some old cobwebs brushed around (I never seem to actually wipe them off /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ) in the noggin.

Anyone else remember the Farmer's Union safety courses for kids? I'm sure I remember something like a week or two summer camp [a few hours a day], complete with saftey coloring books and everything. Ok, maybe I'm going batty, but sure seem to remember it that way. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[beenthere]

What year (or years) was that training?

We rode and drove tractors all the time, most without fenders but some with. In the 60's, more tractors started to appear with fenders. Prior to that time, maybe cultivators and cornpickers were mounted in such a way that fenders couldn't be used.

Problem was getting cow manure on your jeans or bibs when backing too close to the moving tire. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

My grandfather fell off a tractor and was run over by a disc. Left some scars on his legs. That was in the middle 40's. I remember the times when cutting too short when turning and bringing the drag sections up over the rear wheel pretty quickly. Took awhile to unravel them, and hoped one didn't have to also repair the boards the sections were fastened to (were they single and double trees then?).

 

[44trxfun]

coffeeman, thanks for the reminder to think safely EVERY time!

 

[Spiffy]

I'm thinking the 60's and 70's, but no idea before or after; a quick google shows me that NFU (maybe not even the same one I'm thinking of) is more interested in teaching economics and politics than safety, but think those always were the true focus for the group.

A quick side note: I grew up in such an ag community, that when the bank had their logo "Ernie the 'interest' worm" put on our little league jerseys, everybody thought they were advertising root worm control. True story!

<font color="red"> Edit: I miss those days, so please don't think I'm poking fun at any communities who might still confuse such a logo </font>

 

[coffeeman]

Spiffy

While pondering this safety thing, I thought of an industry where lawyers probably helped. I would imagine side mount tractors, roll bars, PTO guards, seat belts and too many other things to mention are partially the result of companies looking for protection from product liability. With all the foreign companies making tractors the farming industry would be one of the last places safety would be considered. Partly because farming enjoys less government control than most other industries.

* Note; this is just a, not real thought out, opinion. Only a rambling thought. Also, I am NOT the biggest fan of lawyers, but they are a necessary evil. (Any lawyers out there, please don't get mad. Some of my best friends are lawyers.)

Cheers...coffeeman

 

[NewToy]

An old friend of mine used to say "Those Farmall's killed more people than the Germans did". It always managed to elicit a chuckle when he was holding court at the old Sohio station.

 

[mffarmall]

I have a SMTA and the seat is on the battery box. I know that after some years it must have acid and rust damage. Would hate to have it and a battery fall on my. You said it was your brother in law. I know that if I thought that I was going to have a problem I would probably have my mother in law sit on it first. Just in case!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[mffarmall]

Farmalls are fast and they have a lot of power. I would never let anyone ride mine until after they have been through my training course. Ever heard of anyone getting suided over being hurt by a tractor?