Preventing tractor back flip

[massey990]

Most I've read about were stumps and such. The only one I know of locally (I'd posted this earlier) was a guy skidding a log up a slope. He was rigged (so I heard) to the drawbar, but the slope moved the tractor's center of gravity way aft.

Prudence is the best safety factor, You can never be too careful.
Being aware of the possibilities will help most avoid the chances, getting in a hurry and taking unnecessary risks never help.

 

[kebo]

Just speculating but I don't think a majority of back flips come from pulling properly sized implements, I would think most come from trying to pull stumps or other objects that offer more restriction than the operator realizes. ?

Agreed. I only used the 6ft disc harrow as an example. The thread that I posted in 2 yrs ago was misunderstood by someone who thought I was suggesting that on really hard pulls, to always pull from the front. His smart comment was, "I can see myself pulling a 12ft disc from the front of my tractor to disc up my 100 acre field". I was only suggesting to pull from the front for short duration work, like the stump you mentioned.

Speaking of pulling stumps, sometime ago I posted a C&P in the Safety forum of an article of a man here in SC who was killed trying to pull out a stump with his tractor. The tractor flipped back over on him and killed him. There was no info or pic's to give any indication of how it happened so any guessing would be pure speculation. But, it can and it does happen.

 

[LD1]

You can pull from the front if you want to, I just hope I never buy a used tractor that you owned.

Tractors are desiged to pull from the drawbar. The stuff up front isnt strong enough to do any real pulling. Plus the fact that you are cheating yourself out of a bunch of traction, this having to take longer, or take smaller pulls (like when skidding logs)

Not to mention the fact that if you are pulling something any given distance at all, how do you turn??

 

[kebo]

You can pull from the front if you want to, I just hope I never buy a used tractor that you owned.

Tractors are desiged to pull from the drawbar. The stuff up front isnt strong enough to do any real pulling. Plus the fact that you are cheating yourself out of a bunch of traction, this having to take longer, or take smaller pulls (like when skidding logs)

Not to mention the fact that if you are pulling something any given distance at all, how do you turn??

With the independent brakes, of course!!! :laughing: Really though, I don't pull from the front all that much. As I mentioned, I understand that the drivetrain is strongest going forward, and by design a tractor pulls best going forward. No argument there.

 

[xtn]

And you're doing anything different...or, for that matter...any of the posts on this thread (including mine) doing anything other then conjecture based upon theory and a modicum of real life situations sprinkled in? We're all generalizing.

The difference is, this professor has more of an agricultural background then anyone here (although there might be a couple of real farmers posting). I would wager he's has a a pretty good database of tractor incidents to work from too.

The difference is I've very accurately stated every detail of my claims with regard to they're being generalizations and the conditions under which they are valid. The professor says the tractor can't go back too far because the drawbar leverage prevents it, and that's just not an absolute given.

Can you please address the part of my post that was addressed specifically to you?

xtn

 

[SPYDERLK]

I recommended not "pulling" from the rear..ie pull from the front! post #6.

I don't think there has ever been a tractor "back flipping" using this method

Yeah, probably not. But ability to pull is quickly lost as the front rises and the taut chain comes up under the rear axle and causes a lifting force on the drive wheels. A long drawbar lets you put all weight on the rear wheels safely.
larry

 

[SPYDERLK]

THat is the point. The wheels WILL come up. But if properly hitched, it wont go on over/QUOTE]

It won't go over?? Well well what do we tell the folks that did go over?

Just need a little torque that's all.:thumbsup:

Id tell em I want to see their tractor.
larry

 

[SPYDERLK]

Speaking of pulling stumps, sometime ago I posted a C&P in the Safety forum of an article of a man here in SC who was killed trying to pull out a stump with his tractor. The tractor flipped back over on him and killed him. There was no info or pic's to give any indication of how it happened so any guessing would be pure speculation. But, it can and it does happen.

He made at least one major wrong choice or several smaller ones that added up. The most efficient wrong choice would be to pull from the top link or its mount on the tractor.
larry

 

[massey990]

You can pull from the front if you want to, I just hope I never buy a used tractor that you owned.

Tractors are desiged to pull from the drawbar. The stuff up front isnt strong enough to do any real pulling. Plus the fact that you are cheating yourself out of a bunch of traction, this having to take longer, or take smaller pulls (like when skidding logs)

Not to mention the fact that if you are pulling something any given distance at all, how do you turn??

I'm curious, just how many times or instances do you use YOUR tractor to PULL something that is likely to cause a "back flip"

Improper use and ignorance is what causes "back flips" not knowing how to use a tractor or the right sized machine for the required task.

When I'm in doubt I will choose precaution over taking a chance every time.

And as far as "stuff up front" goes I'm not talking about a welded hook on a loader bucket, the front of the frame on most tractors is just as strong as anything attached to the rear of the tractor including the rear axle assembly like the draw bar.

And by the way, Any tractor I have owned or used is going to be in better condition than one used by an ignorant operator that does not recognize the tractor's capabilities and regularly uses it beyond its intended capabilities, like trying to pull something that could in any way, shape or form cause a back flip!

 

[Short Game]

...just how many times or instances do you use YOUR tractor to PULL something that is likely to cause a "back flip"

That's where I came to after fewer pages than this. Glad I have my winch.