IF You are a Tractor Operator in your ROOKIE Season.

[jix]

For rookies, here's another thing to think about.
(It's probably been stated before but...)

Murphy's Law goes something like this -
Murphy's law is a popular adage that states that "things will go wrong in any given situation, if you give them a chance," or more commonly, "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong."

Then there's Murphy's Brother's Law.
This law basically states that Murphy was an optimist!
So be careful out there!

One course I participated in my career was on "Risk Analysis"
I learnt to look outside the box and view things from a different perspective. This involves looking at each task and identifying hazards etc. and asking yourself the questions, what would happen if this or that, broke/moved/rolled/failed/slipped etc. and what would be the outcome.

Look at each job you do and ask yourself similar questions instead of saying -

I'll just pick it up with the corner of the bucket and drag it over there, only weighs twice what I should be lifting but it's such a short distance, "She'll be right eh!"

Then after asking yourself the questions, see what you can do to change or approach the task a different way so you remove the possibility of a hazard or failure.

I intend to remember and apply this knowledge. Thanks fot this post!

 

[k0ua]

Jix, you didn't mention what you had on the 3pt, but you need to have proper weight there too. Keeping the bucket low helped save your tractor. if you had it nicely up in the air like the usual You-Tube video shows you how to operate you would have certainly overturned the tractor. I am so tired of seeing these You-tube videos of the proud new owner of a tractor going around with his/her bucket up in the air illustrating a bad example for all to see and doing it so proudly.

 

[jix]

KOua....good point about the videos...Kiot should review those before they get sued.

My tractor has filled turf tread tires..do I still need more weight on the tph?. I can visualize the effect of more weight back there..it might reduce the forward tipping moment on the front axle in forward downhill situations. Even so, I Think that going down hill on the front axle would not be cool. For sure, I have a lot more to learn that I thought I would....Kioti needs to produce a coloring book set of diagrams if they are going to sell tractors to fools like I have proven myself to be. If there was an operator's course (hands oin, not classroom) I would sign up for it.

Driving a tractor (operating a tractor?) is not as simple as it looks to be...and so I am now the wiser.. but it is not the only way to learn, nor even the best way. It IS the UNFORGETTABLE WAY.. and the most dangerous and expensive way to learn.

So this thread is a really good one for guys like me, who are novice operators.. and who may think it straight forward and simple to do, just because the machinery makes it so much easier and faster to do heavy work. My tractor, a smaller one can exert tons of force fairly easily and quickly, so one does not always consider that forces must be baqlanced, be in equilibrium, and that the reaction of forces needs to be understood and considered before commencing to apply horsepower. Lots of horsepower is definitely equal to lots of danger, if one takes it for granted. Weight, soft ground, sloping gradients, tipping slopes, traction, tipping moments, shifting C of G, Vectors of forces, height of lift. Properties and inflation pressures of tires... all must be considered and calculated Before machinery is set into motion.. Not when things start to go wrong. Then it is often too late. It takes both experience and thought to be a good and safe operator! Over-confidence and haste is a killer.

 

[RaydaKub]

My tractor has filled turf tread tires..do I still need more weight on the tph?. I can visualize the effect of more weight back there..it might reduce the forward tipping moment on the front axle in forward downhill situations. Even so, I Think that going down hill on the front axle would not be cool. For sure, I have a lot more to learn that I thought I would....Kioti needs to produce a coloring book set of diagrams if they are going to sell tractors to fools like I have proven myself to be. If there was an operator's course (hands oin, not classroom) I would sign up for it.

1) Yes, you need more weight. The addition of weight behind the rear axle not only helps keep the rear on the ground, but removes weight from the front axle.
2) I wish there were courses like that also, but I've never heard of one.
3) You're not as much a fool as you think if you recognize you have more to learn. Hang in there, it gets better.

 

[prichard]

I've broke my fair share of straps, ropes and chains while pulling. It's nothing to play with. Consider putting something between you and the danger. A raised carry all with something big strapped to it between you and what you're pulling can offer some protection.

If tractor has FEL wouldn't it be better to pull from the front and use FEL for protection? Or is pulling from behind, better or stronger or what?

 

[CobyRupert]

If tractor has FEL wouldn't it be better to pull from the front and use FEL for protection? Or is pulling from behind, better or stronger or what?

Tractors are made to pull from behind, from the drawbar or the 3 point hitch. Though "probably" strong enough, I wouldn't risk snapping a front axle by putting a chain around it and putting full pulling power forces into it. It's not designed to do that. (But it might work 99.9% of the time depending on what you're pulling, traction, power, safety factor, etc..)

When going downhill with weight in FEL use 4 WD so that you have brake/gear stopping power at front tires.

Don't trust cables or ropes when pulling (some people say chains too). They can (and do) break & whip back with enough force to take your head off. I'm glad my 3pth winch has a cage that protects the operator. While not always practical, sometimes using a pulley to redirect the "fly zone" works. Others say run the cable through an old tire, or place a heavy tarp, jacket etc. over the cable helps (I'd say that depends on the cable and forces involved.)

 

[jix]

When using a strap or a chain... or a cable to pull something.. As you increase the amount of pull, You are storing a lot of energy in that link to the object being pulled. If anything lets go suddenly it acts like a breaking elastic band.. and it snaps back to wards the tractor.. and you. A chain is very strong and also very heavy, so if it staps back it will be very forceful... and deadly. So yes.. a FEL bucket is better than the back of the tractor for protection. There is no perfect answer in every case. Best is to never exceed the breaking point of whatever you use to pull with. another way is to snaffle the tow line with a heavy tire or something else that will absorb the stored energy if the tow line breaks or is torn looee. I use an old truck tire with a bridle the circles the tow line but does not become tight as the tow line is tensioned. If the tow line breaks, the snaffle tire becomes the energy absorber. And I NEVER ever ever use a length of chain added to a strap or a rope in the tow line length. The chain becomes a projectile with fearsome energy if the stretchy part of the line breaks. It can and will kill you.:fiery:

jix

 

[prichard]

...another way is to snaffle the tow line with a heavy tire or something else that will absorb the stored energy if the tow line breaks or is torn looee. I use an old truck tire with a bridle the circles the tow line but does not become tight as the tow line is tensioned. If the tow line breaks, the snaffle tire becomes the energy absorber.

jix

Could you explain that setup a little more or maybe have a picture? I'm not grasping that setup.

Sorry for my ignorance.

 

[prichard]

Duplicate post

 

[AxleHub]

My tractor has filled turf tread tires..do I still need more weight on the tph?. I can visualize the effect of more weight back there..it might reduce the forward tipping moment on the front axle in forward downhill situations. Even so, I Think that going down hill on the front axle would not be cool. For sure, I have a lot more to learn that I thought I would....Kioti needs to produce a coloring book set of diagrams if they are going to sell tractors to fools like I have proven myself to be. If there was an operator's course (hands oin, not classroom) I would sign up for it.

Driving a tractor (operating a tractor?) is not as simple as it looks to be...and so I am now the wiser.. but it is not the only way to learn, nor even the best way. It IS the UNFORGETTABLE WAY.. and the most dangerous and expensive way to learn.

So this thread is a really good one for guys like me, who are novice operators.. and who may think it straight forward and simple to do, just because the machinery makes it so much easier and faster to do heavy work. My tractor, a smaller one can exert tons of force fairly easily and quickly, so one does not always consider that forces must be baqlanced, be in equilibrium, and that the reaction of forces needs to be understood and considered before commencing to apply horsepower. Lots of horsepower is definitely equal to lots of danger, if one takes it for granted. Weight, soft ground, sloping gradients, tipping slopes, traction, tipping moments, shifting C of G, Vectors of forces, height of lift. Properties and inflation pressures of tires... all must be considered and calculated Before machinery is set into motion.. Not when things start to go wrong. Then it is often too late. It takes both experience and thought to be a good and safe operator! Over-confidence and haste is a killer.

Greetings Jix,

I think youve had a couple real nice posts from your "adventure". One of the reasons I started the thread is there is something different in a post written by the person who still feels the adrenalin pumping and the fear fresh in their minds. Its more "real" and usually more direct and forceful.

And your situation had 4 issues all combined.

1. Sure . . Ballast addition on the 3ph would help.

2. Soft ground . . . to me this is a biggee because it changes as you are on it . . A virtual crushing of your safety angle. The slope looks manageable and that soft ground is like a tire losing air.

3. Slope. You were smart to have had your bucket low . . . even smarter to.have been going slow. The bucket saved you . . going slow and quick reactions allowed it to protect you (in scary . . Pucker kinda way). Had you been going faster . . having it low could have been a carteheel effect.

4. Sidehill. That really makes it a show stopper. Ballast on the rear helps for slope . . but sidehill is a different story . . and combined with #2 soft ground makes it exponential.

Reading your fresh account really gives a "FEEL" to the fear potential.