Lesson Learned

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( As one who had never been on a tractor 18 months ago, and now has 500 hrs on one, )</font>

That learning curve isn't only for newbies. Those of us with years++ of tractor experience get hit with a case of the 'stupids' every now and then. It usually involves being in a hurry...

I vaugely remember nearly driving off the front of my trailer while loading my 1954 NAA a few years ago... I was lucky and it only cost me about a 1$ repair.. ( not counting my shorts and being scared outta my wits!! ) and help from a couple people with a big floor jack.

Soundguy

 

[pat32rf]

I am curious as to why you don't want to load the tires. I use wwaf in my 4300 and find that it gives much more stability than a ballast box as the weight is low and wide,yet the tires(R4s) can still be carefully manhandled by one person if you need to remove them.I also have 200lbs of cast iron weights that ride on my 3pth when no implements are installed but loading the rubber made the biggest difference.
One other important thing I was taught is to always rest your right hand on the joystick when travelling with a load. Dropping that big flat bottomed bucket will restore balance real quick! Now if I could just find a joystick heater to keep my hand warm....... Pat /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[tillboy2001]

Don't want to load the tires for a few reasons. One being that we just don't feel the benefits will outweigh the potential shortcomings without the extra weight. What I mean is, we just won't be using it enough and with heavy enough louds to justify the extra weight. Also, I'd like to use this in the lawn as much as I can. Also, there's always the possibility, although slight, that if we get a flat somehow, it's going to be a mess. Mess because of the fluid that would be in the way of fixing the tire, and then the cost of replacing it - which isn't cheap. Finally, no matter how much the manufacturers say the fluid won't harm the tire or rim, we'd just assume not fool with it. Now if we were doing really heavy work all the time and maybe using it commerically, yeah...I'd probably get them filled.

 

[RalphVa]

One reason I went with a tractor with fixed ROPS that would fit underneath the doors.

Am also leaving my new (old) soil ripper on the 3 pt for weight until I get a carryall to weight things back there. Rear tires are filled.

Still, going down the ramp out of the carriage house, I nailed the brakes about medium hard. The rear wheels came up a tad. Learned from that.

When running around the hills, I keep the bucket low. It can also be used as a stump finder when running the bush hog, if kept low.

Ralph

 

[trlong]

pz,

Just to make you feel a little better (and admit my foolishness);

I had never had a CUT 'til last May. With about 25 hr.s on my nice green 4115, I was building a ramp to lessen the grade from my upper lawn to lower. It was atleast 12' drop in 50', with the 1st several feet really dropping steeply. I took it out another 50' to get to less than 15% grade. I had the BH on and was back dragging with the loader, near the steep right edge of the ramp (didn't have a RB at the time). The bank started to slough under my front right wheel. If I hadn't locked down the backhoe I would have swung it out as counterweight and dug in. Instead, I tried driving back up onto the ramp (backing down further would have put the right rear wheel off the edge, for sure). Then the edge under the right rear started to slough and I knew I was going for a ride. As I seemed out of options, I pulled the seat belt tighter and held onto the bottom of the steering wheel. Yup, down we went T, L, B, and me. Fortunately it was a slow roll and came to rest on the ROPS and Grill Gaurd.

First I turned off the key, made sure it was stable on it's side, climbed off the uphill side, turned off the deisel valve, and made sure no fluids were pouring out. Then I went to the shed and got 2 chains and a come-a-long. It wasn't going back up the way it came down. So, I had to roll it completely over, standing behind a big old ash each time it took a quarter turn. It did finally come back up on all four with just two rear lenses broken and a slight displacement of the grill guard (and some paint touch up to do). I let it sit for an hour, checked all fluids, brakes, levers, pedals... turned on the deisel and fired it up. With just a little black puff, it idled up fine. I had a bit of a time (very, very slowly) backing down from where I'd ended up but, I was relieved to have done no major damage to myself of the tractor.

Wish I had a picture to post of me on the tractor, on its side. Embarrasing but a good warning to all (especially new owners). Ofcourse, I wasn't exactly planning on posing for pictures when the ride began!

Bottom line is I had heeded the warnings and PUT THE SEATBELT ON 1ST every time, TAKE IT OFF LAST every time, and I KEEP THE ROPS UP.

BTW, don't listen to Mike...he tried to get me to make him beneficiary too, in the event.... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Boxiej]

Very scary, indeed. I read that story to my son, who is anxious for me to buy a big honkin JD (and a gator 6x4) when we permanently move to rural vermont this summer. I've been reading all the posts on this great site, and you guys are very helpful.