Hate to admit it...

[AHNC]

but I turned the 2660 on its side. I've been removing the current driveway material and have been nibbling away at it with the FEL, box scraper and ratchet rake. I've removed about 30-35 yds of material and have about 20 yes of 1 1/2 river base with fines in. Anyway, the tractor was on the level and I had the loader filled an lifted it to dump higher on the pile. Have been in that exact spot probably 40 times just today. The gravel base gave way at the front rt wheel and it started going. I tried to drop the bucket, but the bucket load shifted right and went with the tractor and I did this slow motion ride off to the right. Had my seatbelt on loosely. As it went over I removed the seat belt and stepped off it as it went over. Had no problem with the loader control arm. Immediately turned and turned off the key. It came to rest just short horizontal. Not quite a 90 deg tip. The roll bar rode against my big Sequoia an skinned the bark. Neighbor came right over with his 3300 and we had it upright in about 20 min. Tractor looks straight and good at first inspection. I was just in the dealers on Fri setting an appt for the 50 hr service and he is scheduled to come out this week. I figured I'd work with him on the first one and be able to do the future services. I'll call them in the am and ask how they want to handle it. I have the Kubota insurance, so I'm not going to rush anything. Unfortunately that includes the job at hand.

All in all, based upon my position at the time I am really surprised that it went over. You get a real appreciation for inertia when you see it happen. This tractor has been great for my needs. Feel bad that I abused it. Guess I'll go apologize to the tractor and the tree. Once again I prove to myself that life is a humbling experience.

Oh, and Happy New Year!

 

[oldballs]

Well, you were not hurt....just your pride. And your BX probably isn't seriously hurt either....just some paint. Thank goodness.

 

[Thomas]

Ding of the pride I'll take anyday...thank goodness for safe ending.

 

[Deano]

I tried to drop the bucket, but the bucket load shifted right and went with the tractor and I did this slow motion ride off to the right.

I always see people writing in their posts that when they "feel" tippy they keep their hand on the joystick to drop the bucket. At the point you realize it is going over, it is too late.

GLAD you are ok!!

 

[k0ua]

I am glad you are OK, and sounds like the BX is probably fine too.
Question, how much ballast did you have on the 3pt, and do you have loaded tires? and how far did the right front tire drop in the gravel base? In other words, would proper ballasting have prevented this incident or was the base giving way just too much to overcome and you already were properly ballasted.? Not trying to make you feel bad, just trying to turn this into a learning experience for all of us. Thanks.

James K0UA

 

[texasjohn]

Thanks for telling your story. First time I realized that footing can dig out and cause a tip.
We can all learn from that.

Glad you are OK and have a plan for checking allover.

 

[AHNC]

I am glad you are OK, and sounds like the BX is probably fine too.
Question, how much ballast did you have on the 3pt, and do you have loaded tires? and how far did the right front tire drop in the gravel base? In other words, would proper ballasting have prevented this incident or was the base giving way just too much to overcome and you already were properly ballasted.? Not trying to make you feel bad, just trying to turn this into a learning experience for all of us. Thanks.

James K0UA

Hindsight being 20/20, I have to attribute this to haste. As I pointed out, I had done this lift for 30-35 yds of material. That is a lot of trips with a 4' bucket. A little drop, a little shift and Bob's your Uncle! I had my box scraper on the back in a high position. The MMM was off, no weights or loaded tires. I do not think either would have helped much once the front tire gave way. The bucket was high and the load shift took this over by the front. Certainly, I can not be sure as that rear weight would have shifted the moment or balance, but the front end was definitely driving this once it decided to go. It was interesting that as I was trying to lower the bucket, and I was and reacted very quickly, as the tractor tipped the loader described a perfect arc around the edge of the pile as it was tipping. The loader actually was pointing straight out on the ground, so it came down quite a bit from where it started. I rode that loader level all the way down while releasing the seat belt simultaneously. I was next to a 4' Sequoia. Had I been 3-4' back that tree would have been in my lap and well, there is just no tellin'. The roll bar against the tree held the tractor up. I cannot tell how far the base dropped out as the tire just cut a clean arc until coming to rest and then I was so busy getting it upright that I did not take time to look. No matter what else happened or how, it was the dope in the seat that put that tractor over. That is my lesson:ashamed:

 

[don white]

I wonder are tractors like bikes. It is not if you are gonna put it down it is when.
I had my 14 year old on the machine this weekend and that was the one thing I kept repeating to him. How easy the machine can tip. How important it is to keep the load low. All the I need to tell him. But I still had one rear tire off the ground yesterday. I hope I never tip.

 

[k0ua]

Well don't be too hard on yourself, stuff does happen, At least you had some ballast on the back, I don't know if the loaded tires would have helped or not, but it doesn't sound like it. I am taking it that the BX wasn't really hurt at all by being stopped by the ROPS hitting the tree? And good thing you weren't in line with that tree.. Yikes! I am guessing you were operating too close to an edge on the base? (by the way, I was just doing that Saturday) That is why this strikes a chord with me. I was building up and extending the edge of my pad, and operating next to a tree. Good luck to you.

James K0UA

 

[AHNC]

Called My dealer this am and was told, on the BX engine, the easiest thing to do was pull the glow plugs and turn it over to expel any oil accumulation. There was little to none. Put it back together and it gave a normal start-up. Got a full days work done on the driveway. Feeling very fortunate:thumbsup:

 

[cannonfodder999]

Bad idea to run a loader without loaded tires.

 

[wcampbell47]

Thanks for the story. I just removed 12 yards of dirt from a driveway without any ballast and was dumping on a slight tilt. Ground was solid though. No incidents. This is a good reminder to me to have ballast. I'm using my 40 gallon sprayer loaded with water.

I have not loaded the tires on this tractor yet. Probably need to.

 

[donn12]

I came to the conclusion that the loader on my BX was worthless unless I had the BH on. It made a HUGE difference.

 

[radioman]

no matter how you slice and dice it, no matter what you are doing, you need to carry/install/add something to lower the COG of these BX's.