OPERATIONAL TIPS FOR NEWBIES

[The Haymaker]

When disconnecting skidsteer type QA's, keep a tiny bit of lift on the attachment, release lever farthest from you first, then the one closest. The combination of both will ensure the boom doesn't drop when you release the second lever, and your (sneakered) foot won't be under the wear shoe of the boom tip if it does.

Oh yeah, keep super glue handy in a few weeks when your toenails start falling off.

 

[vpnwiz]

I just wanted to say thanks to all that have posted the safety tips and the unfortunate accident stories. I have a new tractor and have not appreciated the danger that comes along with it. I've already dented the hood with falling logs from the FEL, had the FEL smash some stuff when it was parked for a week in the barn (I had parked it with the FEL raised to fit it the tractor in instead of just moving the stuff in front and when I got back found the hydraulics lowered), almost flipped it with a full load in the bucket and no weight in the back. I also disabled the kill switch on the seat because it was a pain in the

Having never been around a real tractor before I just did not understand the danger. These stories will stick with me. I would rather not "darwinate" myself or anyone else around me Time to un-disable the kill switch and regain some common sense.

Thanks all.

 

[tugboat-2]

Nice to know our tips are being taken seriously and have the value that we each felt was worthy of note !!

vpnwiz: THANK YOU,....and WELCOME ABOARD !! I must tell you I'm proud of you for admitting these things,...and pleased that you learned from them. Makes "US ALL" feel good to know "somebody" may have been saved from disaster as a result of us taking time to post.

No doubt "you" too will eventually have a "tip" to add,..as you go along,....so please feel free to jump in again anytime. (Just having found value in our tips is in itself,...a good "tip"),.....THANKS.

CHEERS!
. . tug

 

[The Haymaker]

I just wanted to say thanks to all that have posted the safety tips and the unfortunate accident stories. I have a new tractor and have not appreciated the danger that comes along with it. I've already dented the hood with falling logs from the FEL, had the FEL smash some stuff when it was parked for a week in the barn (I had parked it with the FEL raised to fit it the tractor in instead of just moving the stuff in front and when I got back found the hydraulics lowered), almost flipped it with a full load in the bucket and no weight in the back. I also disabled the kill switch on the seat because it was a pain in the

Dude, remind me to have you put your tractor key in a safebox and bury it in the ground before I come to visit.

Tractors are machines, and there's an easy way to remember the danger. Machines, all of them, crave human blood and will seek any opportunity, no matter how small, to get a big taste of the hands that feed them.

Here's a little machinery related safety video.

 

[CurlyDave]

Having never been around a real tractor before I just did not understand the danger. These stories will stick with me. I would rather not "darwinate" myself or anyone else around me Time to un-disable the kill switch and regain some common sense.

You are a remarkable man.

It takes courage to admit your mistakes in a public forum and wisdom to learn from the mistakes of others.

 

[vpnwiz]

CurlyDave, I'm sure my wife would disagree on me being remarkable!

Haymaker, that video was hilarious. Got the point though. We can bury the key to the tractor but there's still a bunch of other motorized toys to get into trouble with around here...

I race cars in my spare time (that's me in the avatar at Mid-Ohio last year) so I probably have a higher acceptance of "danger" than most. Doing 5 mph around the property doesn't seem like much compared to doing 130mph with other cars all around that want to get in front of you. Maybe that's why some of what I was doing just didn't even register - until I read the stories about people being killed from hooking up 3pt implements, hydraulics leaking down, and getting caught in the PTO. All things I've done or seen done, and I was kind of like - wow, the safety warnings in an operator's manual actually mean something! Not that I read it anyway

You folks that have been around tractors a long time already know all this, but for those brand new to tractors (like me!) it was an eye-opener. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and stories.

Patrick

 

[Paul004]

Its been interesting following the discussion particularly on towing. I personally always pull from the drawbar and have never had any issues.
The operator manual for my kubota m7040 states:

Pull only from the drawbar. Never hitch to axle housing or any other point except drawbar, such arrangements will increase the risk of serious personal injury of death due to a tractor upset.

Another couple of things i thought would be worthy of discussing is leaving the two brake pedals locked. I know it may be tempting to remove the locks. I reckon only take them out if 100% necessary and replace immediately. The number of times I have had my foot slip on to the wrong pedal. So I leave them locked particularly when operating on a slope.

 

[Soundguy]

split pedals are good for turning.. but on slopes or roadway.. I'd agree.. leave em locked..

soundguy

 

[ruralruss]

Dude, remind me to have you put your tractor key in a safebox and bury it in the ground before I come to visit.

Tractors are machines, and there's an easy way to remember the danger. Machines, all of them, crave human blood and will seek any opportunity, no matter how small, to get a big taste of the hands that feed them.

Here's a little machinery related safety video.

Now that video just ain't right!

Russ

 

[DaleJR88Fan]

yes that video was pretty gory, but maybe it will make someone realize the dangerous nature of machines.