Put PT422 on Side (Kinda)

BobRip · May 30, 2006

I was mowing a ditch along the side of the road tonight and one wheel dropped off the end of a driveway pipe. The PT422 went over to about a 60 degree angle. One side was in the ditch with the ROPs against the hill leading out of the ditch. (I had the ROPs added when I bought the 422). I immediately cut the brush cutter and the engine. A neighbor (who I did not know) was driving by and he stopped and asked if I needed help. I did. I unfastened my seat belt and crawled out of the PT. The neighbor and I pushed on the ROPs and the engine compartment and mostly righted the machine. I started it up and drove it out of the ditch. I lost a little oil (maybe a couple of tablespoons) from the hydraulic reservoir, but the level was still good. I got a few briars in my hand, but that was the extent of the damage. The neighbor commented on what a tough machine that is.
Many thanks to the neighbor, the ROPs, the seat belt, and Power Trac for building a tough little machine. Sorry no pictures.

Bob Rip

BobRip · May 30, 2006

I was mowing a ditch along the side of the road tonight and one wheel dropped off the end of a driveway pipe. The PT422 went over to about a 60 degree angle. One side was in the ditch with the ROPs against the hill leading out of the ditch. (I had the ROPs added when I bought the 422). I immediately cut the brush cutter and the engine. A neighbor (who I did not know) was driving by and he stopped and asked if I needed help. I did. I unfastened my seat belt and crawled out of the PT. The neighbor and I pushed on the ROPs and the engine compartment and mostly righted the machine. I started it up and drove it out of the ditch. I lost a little oil (maybe a couple of tablespoons) from the hydraulic reservoir, but the level was still good. I got a few briars in my hand, but that was the extent of the damage. The neighbor commented on what a tough machine that is.
Many thanks to the neighbor, the ROPs, the seat belt, and Power Trac for building a tough little machine. Sorry no pictures.

Bob Rip

KentT · May 30, 2006

Wow, Bob!

Glad to hear there was no serious damage to you or the PT! Good thing you had the foresight to have the ROPS!

Kent

KentT · May 30, 2006

Wow, Bob!

Glad to hear there was no serious damage to you or the PT! Good thing you had the foresight to have the ROPS!

Kent

pajoube · May 30, 2006

Thanks for the information, glad you came out of it without injury. For those that will be operating on slopes the ROPS is a must no matter what type of machine.
PJ

pajoube · May 30, 2006

Thanks for the information, glad you came out of it without injury. For those that will be operating on slopes the ROPS is a must no matter what type of machine.
PJ

bjustice · May 30, 2006

Glad you are OK, Bob. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I agree with Paul, a ROPS is a good idea--even if we don't all work on slopes, we all may encounter a ditch or the end of a culvert, that we didn't expect! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Thanks for the reminder.

bjustice · May 30, 2006

Glad you are OK, Bob. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I agree with Paul, a ROPS is a good idea--even if we don't all work on slopes, we all may encounter a ditch or the end of a culvert, that we didn't expect! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Thanks for the reminder.

Barryh · May 31, 2006

Glad you came away with out incident, to you or your PT. I've been digging a large ditch around and under a tree stump driving in and out. It's getting pretty deep. My Pt went off camber and I came very close to laying it on its side the other day. I too ordered the ROP’s right off the bat, I'm glad I did.

I notice I have a bad habit of grabbing the ROP’s on the side that is leaning. I hope instinctively, I have the good sense to move it out of the way in time if it ever falls over or I will end up with a smashed hand. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Barryh · May 31, 2006

Glad you came away with out incident, to you or your PT. I've been digging a large ditch around and under a tree stump driving in and out. It's getting pretty deep. My Pt went off camber and I came very close to laying it on its side the other day. I too ordered the ROP’s right off the bat, I'm glad I did.

I notice I have a bad habit of grabbing the ROP’s on the side that is leaning. I hope instinctively, I have the good sense to move it out of the way in time if it ever falls over or I will end up with a smashed hand. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

J_J · May 31, 2006

I would recommend that you weld a grab handle to the inside of the rops tube. Should you start to roll, grab both handles and push against the floor board, and seat back. Your seat belt should be fastened. If you are working close to water, you will have to make a decision as to wearing the seat belt. You could be head down in the water in a few seconds. I lost all control on my 1445 when a wheel motor hose burst, and I was rolling backwards down the embankment into a deep creek. Fear set in and I started to bail out, when the machine rolled into a tree.
I couldn't even think fast enough to drop the bucket, which might have helped some to slow it down.

J_J · May 31, 2006

I would recommend that you weld a grab handle to the inside of the rops tube. Should you start to roll, grab both handles and push against the floor board, and seat back. Your seat belt should be fastened. If you are working close to water, you will have to make a decision as to wearing the seat belt. You could be head down in the water in a few seconds. I lost all control on my 1445 when a wheel motor hose burst, and I was rolling backwards down the embankment into a deep creek. Fear set in and I started to bail out, when the machine rolled into a tree.
I couldn't even think fast enough to drop the bucket, which might have helped some to slow it down.

MossRoad · May 31, 2006

Glad you are O.K. As others have said, a ROPS is a must-have item.

MossRoad · May 31, 2006

Glad you are O.K. As others have said, a ROPS is a must-have item.

tracdoc · May 31, 2006

Very sound advice, J_J. Always keep your hands inboard. Too many injuries from hands dangling outside. I especially like your suggestion of grab handles /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

tracdoc · May 31, 2006

Very sound advice, J_J. Always keep your hands inboard. Too many injuries from hands dangling outside. I especially like your suggestion of grab handles /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Marks481 · May 31, 2006

( I notice I have a bad habit of grabbing the ROP’s on the side that is leaning. I hope instinctively, I have the good sense to move it out of the way in time if it ever falls over or I will end up with a smashed hand.)

Train yourself to grab the upslope side and pull instead of pushing yourself off the downslope side.

Marks481 · May 31, 2006

( I notice I have a bad habit of grabbing the ROP’s on the side that is leaning. I hope instinctively, I have the good sense to move it out of the way in time if it ever falls over or I will end up with a smashed hand.)

Train yourself to grab the upslope side and pull instead of pushing yourself off the downslope side.

Barryh · May 31, 2006

Wheeew that was a close one, glad you got out ok. I have an added obstacle so you wouldn’t catch me to close to water. I have my cab on the PT. It’s only made with a light duty wood frame, and only a few inches from my ROP’s bar. If I were to tip over and hit hard, it would still smash my hand. I always wear my seat belt when working.

Sounds like some good advice J.J. I never thought of that. I'll have to hunt down some grab bars or material and mount them on the inside.

As for your hose bursting. I have been giving that some thought here lately, this may end up on my list of things to try. Some sort of emergency breaking that could be rigged to help slow down or stop the PT in case of hydraulic failure going down hills.

I was thinking of some sort of steel slide bar solidly mounted to the front on the frame somewhere. Attached to a handle you could just pull back on. The bar would just prod into the ground for a quick stop. This would not be something to use all of the time, just for an emergency stop. I’ll have to do some more thinking on this. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Barryh · May 31, 2006

Wheeew that was a close one, glad you got out ok. I have an added obstacle so you wouldn’t catch me to close to water. I have my cab on the PT. It’s only made with a light duty wood frame, and only a few inches from my ROP’s bar. If I were to tip over and hit hard, it would still smash my hand. I always wear my seat belt when working.

Sounds like some good advice J.J. I never thought of that. I'll have to hunt down some grab bars or material and mount them on the inside.

As for your hose bursting. I have been giving that some thought here lately, this may end up on my list of things to try. Some sort of emergency breaking that could be rigged to help slow down or stop the PT in case of hydraulic failure going down hills.

I was thinking of some sort of steel slide bar solidly mounted to the front on the frame somewhere. Attached to a handle you could just pull back on. The bar would just prod into the ground for a quick stop. This would not be something to use all of the time, just for an emergency stop. I’ll have to do some more thinking on this. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif