Older Tractors are More Dangerous

SkyPup · Feb 17, 2005

" The old Ford tractors, commonly known as 8N or 9N tractors, were once used by farmers, but are now in use by many small farm and land owners as all purpose vehicles", Dawes said.

Without an implement on the back, such as a mower or plow, the tractors can easily flip over backward if what they are pulling fails to move, Dawes said.

"People need to know how dangerous they are," Dawes said. "This was just horrible."

Sad story here:

http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-26/1108491606108800.xml

JerryG · Feb 17, 2005

I don't think that the Ns are any more dangerous than any other tractor. The flip overs are caused by the same thing, hooking the chain etc. to the wrong place on the tractor. A friend and I had to save a older gentleman from under his 8N one day. One guess where he had the chain hooked...it was on the third arm attachment.

SkyPup · Feb 17, 2005

No you are right, there just are alot of them out there being used w/o ROPS and seatbelts, or live PTOs.

cowboydoc · Feb 17, 2005

I agree Jerry. It's usually due to people not using common sense more than anything else. That and they should fit the tractor with a ROPS. Any machine is only as dangerous as the person using it. Problem is most people, usually males, think they're too smart to get any education about how to use something.

PineRidge · Feb 17, 2005

If you hook a chain up to the top link of any modern tractor it will walk its nose right up in the air the same way. That's what draw-bars are for.

snorider · Feb 17, 2005

wow that did not happen to far from me. makes me think about all those years my family had an 8 n.

Henro · Feb 17, 2005

<font color="blue"> I don't think that the Ns are any more dangerous than any other tractor. </font>

Jerry,

I think an important point to consider is that the older tractors do not have a seat belt/ROPS in many cases. This is a critical difference when compared to newer tractors.

Having a ROPS and wearing the seatbelt increases one's probability of surviving the effect of his stupidity, so to speak.

Given the choice, I think most of us would choose a modern tractor with ROPS/seatbelt over an older tractor with neither, expecially if there was a chance of a back flip or roll over.

Your point is well taken that accidents like these are most likely due to operator error. But had there been a ROPS/seatbelt on the tractor (and both used) death might have been avoided.

After reading the newpaper article I am not sure those who are putting down the older tractors realize any of this though... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

GeneD14 · Feb 17, 2005

I own, restore, and use antique tractors. I have spent alot of seat time on an old 9N. They are more dangerous than you might think because most of them do not have a drawbar people look for another place to hook a chain onto. and it is usually the axle or top link which results in a flip over backwards. These tractors are also very light so when pulling out a stump the operator is temped to get a running start and jerk the chain which is also the recipe for a roll over. This is compounded by the fact that they are a very short wheel base tractor which also makes it easier for the front end to come up when pulling. That is why tractor pullers try to stretch front end weight out as far as they can, to keep the front end down. There is no question that operator error plays a major role in most of the Ford 8N and 9N accidents but it is also a fact that some of these old tractors are more dangerous than their modern decendents.

JerryG · Feb 17, 2005

Bill,
I was referring to the ability of the tractor to turn over, not some safety feature that could be later added. And do you really think that someone that doesn't hook the chain right is really going to put a seat belt on. BTW, he more than likely drilled holes in his roll bar anyway.

Henro · Feb 17, 2005

<font color="blue"> ...And do you really think that someone that doesn't hook the chain right is really going to put a seat belt on.</font>

Jerry,

That is a good point, and truthfully, who knows?

Still, we all certainly do know that if a ROPS/seatbelt is not availble, it cannot be used for protection.

In the end, an older and newer tractor parked side by side in a field are no more dangerous than the other, until the operator starts working them, that much is for sure... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

If I had a choice, and all things were equal otherwise, I would choose the one with the seatbelt and ROPS, and hope I was smart enough to put the seat belt on.

I would also hope to keep my brain turned on the whole time I was operating the tractor, which is like you imply, the greatest safety feature of all... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif