Retired state trooper injured by tractor ...

[JB4310]

That is why we had hand clutches in those days. Deere had them for years (I grew up using a hand clutch at an age I couldn't set in the seat and had to stand to see over the steering wheel and operate the wheel brakes ). Also the Allis Chalmers had a hand and foot clutch. Their hand clutch was great.

Cool, I was not aware of hand clutches.

I'll just take this moment to indulge in a personnel safety storey.
When we were 16, my buddy and i worked at a marina, we were using a 40+ hp ford utility tractor to move boats around, he was the serious one and could be trusted with such a delicate task even at that age, I was the clown.

Anyway i was riding on the fender and some how got dislodged and ended up laying upside down, half on the brake pedals and half under the tractor
heading down a slope, he couldn't get on the brakes and all I saw was that big tire going around from closer than anyone should ever have to.

That could of got real ugly but somehow I got out of it, all he was worried about was if the boss saw us. For me, well i guess you could say it was like the first time, you know to have to go home and change the shorts

JB.

 

[F1520]

...A thirty year old tractor in good working order is not unsafe, but it does require the operator to think.

Think about what you are doing:thumbsup:

Excellent advice, in my opinion.

My tractor was made in 1991 and does not have a seat safety switch or some of the other safety switches that newer tractors have.

The thing I try to think of before jumping on each day is, "This machine has no brain. Use your own." :thumbsup: