From 4WD to 2WD in .5 seconds

[TonyC]

This is yet another boring but hopefully useful posts on a tractor near miss. I was working in an open area in the woods scraping up soil to use to fill a hole somewhere else. I had the bucket full and up too high. I started to reverse with the wheels cut full, lowering the bucket as I went. Too little too late...my front tire went in a hole while the bucket was still too high. I went up on two wheels. The only thing that saved me is that the bucket was on the way down and the center of gravity caught up just in the nick of time. Many of you have been through something like this and I don't have to tell you what it does to your heart rate. Strike two was that I had left the tractor just before and failed to put my seat belt back on. Probably subconscious due to the fact that I was on "safe level ground". Not only could that cost me my life but it complicated things as I slid to the down side losing my pedals and hanging onto the steering wheel for dear life. Fortunately I kept the bucket moving down despite this, by pure luck I might add.

So add this to your list of things to think about when you're out there. Hopefully if we keep reminding each others of the dangers we'll eventually get the idea. And for those of you who have been through this...how did you get your butt cheeks apart? Mine are still stuck together!

 

[MossRoad]

<font color=blue>And for those of you who have been through this...how did you get your butt cheeks apart</font color=blue>

Toothbar! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif



I agree that we need to keep reminding each other about safety.

 

[Redfisher]

Yes you can never be too "SAFE"

 

[beenthere]

Comment
It is good you kept your presence of mind and continued to lower the bucket. Sometimes there is a presence of mind in this situation to stop lowering the bucket to counter the reaction of the rear wheels coming up, which escalates the problem.

Question
What did you have on the rear for ballast?

 

[CSAW]

I was digging a hole one time in 4wd. Went down took a big scoop of dirt picked it up put the tractor in reverse and up the rear end went. Good thing the loader was low. Scared the fool out of me. Things happen FAST! The biggest thing is that we learn from our mistakes and don't let them happen again.

 

[EdKing]

Had a similar situation just last week. Was moving a dirt pile the loggers left for me, and when backing out one of the front wheels hit a soft/low spot. Back left wheel came of the ground pretty quick, lucky for me the bucket was just off the ground and stopped the tilt pretty quick. I floated the bucket until I had backed out on solid ground.

 

[Soundguy]

You could use the same 3 tools that every tractor owner has probably used in the past...
Big hammer... pry bar.. torch..

One of 'em ought to do it.

Chris / soundguy



"And for those of you who have been through this...how did you get your butt cheeks apart"