One foot turnover.

Jag · Dec 21, 2001

Another close call that I did not even think about. Yesterday afternoon I was finishing my pre-winter PM on my dozer. The last thing to do was to top off the fuel tank. Hopped on my tractor and got the 55 gal drum out of the shed with the front end loader... It held about 30-35 gallons at the time. (150-200#) The drum is straped in with a loading strap. The same thing I have done a lot of times. Run out to the dozer, raise the bucket to the right height, hop off, climb up on the tracks, get the hose into the nozzle and start to step on the bucket to pump the fuel. With only one foot it took only about 20 pounds of pressure to pick the far rear wheel of the ground. I could easily pick up the rear wheel about one foot off the ground and hold it where I wanted.

How did this set this up. First usually there is some equipment on the back end of the tractor but not this time. I carried the drun out with the bucket low to the ground so all was nice and stable. There was a slight cross slope where I park the tractor, and the drum was in the low side of the bucket. But the biggest difference over moving it out and unloading was the big heavy-assed counter weight that was in the seat while moving the drum out that was now trying to stand in the bucket.

I hate to think what would have happen if I had just stepped into the bucket. Could I have gotten out fast enough, before the tractor turned over....

Thomas · Dec 21, 2001

Yikes...maybe you shoulfd rename the post..Close Call.
One just never knows.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Anonymous Poster · Dec 21, 2001

I'm so glad you're alright...

Sounds like loaded rear tires would be a great Christmas... and lifetime present... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Bird · Dec 21, 2001

Jag, those kind of surprises we could do without, couldn't we?/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif I unloaded my 55 gallon barrel full of diesel out of the pickup once with bothering to put my box blade on the back of the tractor; lifted the barrel, backed away from the pickup and started making a slow turn when the tractor just stopped moving. I looked down and saw the rear wheels were turning, and they hadn't lifted enough to tell they were off the ground, but were just barely touching the grass so no traction. I had to shift into 4WD to move. But since then, I don't even try to pick up a full barrel without a counterweight on the 3-point.

gerard · Dec 21, 2001

Been there - don't want to visit again!! The cross slope situation is where my rear wheel came up abbout 12 inches. Not a real heavy load but the combination of load on the downhill was all it takes. Combination of factors can really make a difference!! Glad u had a /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif ending!!

Paul_in_CT · Dec 21, 2001

Amazing what alittle change in the center of gravity can do !! That explains why sailboats have large (sometimes weighted keels)

TerryinMD · Dec 21, 2001

Yep, I think that most of us have had a similar experience.

The pucker factor grows geometrically to distance the tires come off the ground. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

As long as you didn't get hurt and nothing else serious happended, add it to lessons learned. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Thanks for passing the info along.

Terry

Harv · Dec 21, 2001

<font color=blue>Amazing what alittle change in the center of gravity can do</font color=blue>

I think I know what you mean. I haven't had both rear wheels off the ground at the same time yet, and I'm guessing it's not just because I always have something on the 3pt, but also because my tires are loaded. Both rears and the spare one around my waist. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

MChalkley · Dec 21, 2001

Harv - Having both rear wheels off the ground can be a little disconcerting, but it's when two wheels on the same side come off the ground that you start losing control of bodily functions. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MarkC

Harv · Dec 21, 2001

<font color=blue>it's when two wheels on the same side come off the ground that you start losing control of bodily functions</font color=blue>

I hate to admit it, but that's a stunt I have done -- more than once. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

I guess we all know why they make tractor seats washable. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif