New Driver Tips

bpsooner · Dec 2, 2009

Never get off your tractor with PTO engaged
Always be aware of clearances
If in doubt, STOP!!!!!

Have fun and be safe

tugboat-2 · Dec 2, 2009

fordnh3930: WELCOME ABOARD to you. There are other young lads your age on this forum who take an active part so don't be shy. It's a good place to learn about tractors and implements,...(and any other topic you can think of). Tractor related folk all over the world book in here on a regular basis.

The double-clutching method is the best way for you to learn how to shift your "particular" tractor tranny. As someone mentioned, they are all different and it is a matter of learning the idiosyncracies of yours. (I mean the little freaky things that yours needs to shift smoothly).

Its going to take lots of experimenting and practice, so just keep in mind that those gears,..WILL NOT...be "forced" together. If you try shifting and they start to clash,..let it go, don't try to force it as you will just start chipping the edges off the gear teeth,.. and you DON"T want to do that!

Synchro rings would slow the gears till they slid together,...but you don't have 'em so you'll just do damage forcing them.

Practice on level ground, if it doesn't go in, abort and start over. Remember also that it doesn't take much to burn out a clutch, so don't ride it,...get your foot off the clutch as soon as possible. Either all the way on or all the way off,...but don't ride it!

You are young with time to practice, experiment and learn the best way. In "time", you may get to where you can "feel" your gears in conjunction with your engine speed,.....and can smoothly slide it out of one gear and into the next withOUT using the clutch at all. Just knowing how much to feather your engine speed (during the double-clutching sequence) to line up the gears in the box as you both gear up and gear on down again is what it takes and that is where "careful" experimentation,...patience ....and "a whole lotta practice" comes in! But I promise you it will put a proud grin on your face when those gears start "slipping" in and out with just a light pull or push of your hand,.....(with or without the clutch)!!!

NEW :...Reading this over a couple days later, I realize that is an awful lot to give you in one shot, so just take your time and don't be discouraged,..."PROPER"-Practice-Makes-Perfect) Lots of good luck to you young fella and let us know how you make out with it.

CHEERS!
. . tug

Window Geek · Dec 3, 2009

Fordnh3930, welcome!
A guy who likes tractors more than cell phones and I-pods is on the right track.

Taking time to check out TBN will teach you a lot! The safety forum is good and so are threads like, "The Dumbest Thing I did on my Tractor" (just so long as you don't try the dumb things yourself).

One of the big things is remembering what attachments you have on the 3 point hitch. A lot of them are wider than the tractor. So when you're out mowing, you probably don't want to cut things too close to start out. Your Dad will be much happier if you leave the fence and trees standing. Don't ask me how I know!

If you're turning between buildings and other equipment, remember that the attachments swing a lot wider than you think. Take your time going by cars, equipment, and buildings.

Keep us all posted on how you're doing.

Kenneth in Texas · Dec 3, 2009

excellent adice from everyone, i can only add the old adage "speed kills" which is very true on a tractor, good commons sense and keeps things slow, very slow and you will be fine

Kenneth in Texas · Dec 3, 2009

excellent advice from everyone, i can only add the old adage "speed kills" which is very true on a tractor, good commons sense and keeps things slow, very slow and you will be fine

ToadHill · Dec 4, 2009

It's a joy to see someone your age with a good sense of who he is and who has a good head on his shoulders1

jpm1 · Dec 5, 2009

My Dad put me on his knee on the tractor when I was 6 months old. Fifty years later I'm Still there and loving every minute of it. I operate a crane as a profession but my hearts on a tractor. I worked a farm with my mom and dad for 40 years before we sold the animals, sure do miss em'. I put about 350 hours a year workin my tractor and Its the BEST time of my life. If you like what your doing, keep on doin' it and don't worry about what others might think or say about you.BE YOUR OWN MAN NO MATTER WHAT!

As for tractor operation, follow your gut feeling, if it don't feel right it isn't! and slow and easy will do it every time. Be one with the machine your operating

DanD78 · Dec 5, 2009

Welcome. Never take your tractor out of gear going up or down steep hills. Going fast is fun but slow down to turn, Always look to your left for passing traffic before turning left. When I was a kid our local 4H club had a tractor safety class that tought me a lot because I came from the city and have been on tractors from your age on up.

I don't mean this as a bash but you have said you have problems with writing and speaking. I would make an effort to correct these issues while you are young. Sadly in todays world of shallow people it will make a difference in your future. If your parents pull you off the tractor and make you hit the books you will thank them alter. You sound like a smart outgoing person so take advantage of that.

Dan

Barry Bowen · Dec 5, 2009

Welcome to the addition of farm tractors. You have gotten many good points put forth for your education and consideration in these replies, and it is a lot to assimilate at once. Operating tractors well takes a little time to learn and get the feeling of.

Shifting gears while running is not easy at all with a farm tractor. Big trucks like tractor trailers are relatively easy once you get above 15-20 MPH. You will not get this kind of speed shifting a farm tractor. The only place you will need this kind of shift is on the road in the top few gears, and the problem is that you will not build up enough momentum and speed to do smoothly unless you are going down hill. When you are going down hill, up shifting is probably the last thing you should be doing. Tractor engines are very slow to drop RPM and that is what makes it almost impossible. Tractor brakes are usually pretty poor on the road at any speed. When coming down a steep hill stop when you come to the top of the hill, get in a much lower gear, take your time, and let the engine do most of the holding back. It does not take much more than a 50 yard long step hill to completely loose control VERY QUICKLY!!!!!!!!!!! What ever gear you can comfortable start out on the hill from a dead stop, that is the gear you come down the hill in, nice and slow. Do not ride the clutch, either be using it or get your foot off the pedal completely. Pushing the pedal in just that first inch or so engages the throw out bearing, and in most cases there is no way to lubricate it. If this bearing goes out you will be splitting the tractor in two, and that is a big expensive job. Be safe and careful, and enjoy your tractor therapy.