Rollover with Injury.

[JerryG]

Sorry to hear about your Grandpa. He sounds like an interesting guy and very, very lucky. It could have been so much worse. As bad as it is, I am so glad that you are able to tell about how the doctors are trying to fix him instead of what it could have been. Hopefully he is able to get back to enjoying his equipment soon.

 

[OffBalance]

Guys - thanks for all your thoughts and prayers for my Grandpa. He is indeed a fascinating person, and I inherited my love of equipment from him. Last week he showed me his newly renewed drivers license, and told me that he planned to live at least until it expires in 2013. Hopefully some of those long-life genes get passed my way too! Right now he is trying to figure out how to call and email all his girlfriends. The nurses won't let him use his cell phone.

He is having a bit of breathing trouble due to irregular heartbeat (he didn't get his meds for about 24 hours) and loss of blood (internal bleeding). But the doctors say that will all be straight soon. He is not in a cast because the metal plate holds everything in place, but will not be able to put weight on the leg for two months while the bone grows around the metal pins.

The tractor has apparently had only minimal damage (turn signal lights, bent loader lever, battery acid, now smoking), see this thread for more details.

I have always worn the seatbelt, and my kids are good at reminding everyone also. After watching the tractor rollover with my Grandpa on it, I can only tell everyone: WEAR YOUR SEATBELTS!! ALWAYS! I will say, however, in this case, Grandpa may have been better off without - due to the position the tractor came to rest on the log. But, I won't worry too much about how it could have turned out, since it didn't.

It is indeed a terrifying experience, even to watch. The kids seem to be OK, but slept in the room with us the first night. I had trouble with falling asleep suddenly over the next couple days, so I guess I didn't sleep so well afterwards either. When the tractor was rolling, it was kind of bizarre - like a dream or movie. The weird thing was that HIS entire life flashed in front of my eyes! Then, I remember thinking, "NO! He's too young to die!" And of course, now I am going through all the "What ifs?" like "What if I had been able to run over and pulled the gear lever?" or "Would he have been able to respond if I had yelled 'Brakes!'" So, yes, it is traumatic for all of us.

Now we just need to pray that Grandpa keeps his great attitude to help with the healing, and that this doesn't cause any long term fear of tractors!

 

[MrJoe]

Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery to your grandfather. I hope I have enough mojo at 94 to remember to put my pants on never mind use a tractor /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[kensfarm]

"Right now he is trying to figure out how to call and email all his girlfriends." /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Maybe that's his secret to the fountain of youth...

God bless your Grandpa.. having to stay put to get better is probably the worst part for him. Maybe you could set him up w/ laptop so he can visit TBN. All my best for a speedy recovery.

 

[755inNY]

<font color="blue"> After hearing your story and what I have experienced, I'm beginning to think this is a safety issue with HST's. </font>

Interesting. On my previous tractor (JD 755 HST) and my current tractor (JD 4310 HST) I do not have to place the range selector in neutral to keep the engine running while off the seat. Both tractors had an interlock that required weight in the seat for the tractor to move when depressing the HST pedal. I'm not sure which system is safer but I don't think I would like having to place the range selector in neutral every time I got off the tractor with the engine running.

Neither tractor requires neutral for starting either but the HST pedals must be in the "neutral" position for the tractor to start.

Jeff

 

[44trxfun]

Glad your Grandpa is doing well; he must have some Everyready batteries in him somewhere, eh? Thanks for posting this, complete with pictures. It's sobering how fast and how wrong things can go sometimes, regardless of how many times you've done 'em before. Seeing your pictures helps reinforce my need to fasten the seatbelt every time. Your post also points out how an accident to one person not only affects that person, but the people around them. Sometimes, I lose sight of that. Thanks again and hope everyone heals up quickly!

 

[DannyD]

On the BX you have to put in nuetral to start, period. You can get off with the engine running, but not with implement (MMM) engaged, and you cannot move the tractor. You can creep it, or mine will, if I put slight pressure on the pedal, as when putting on or taking off the bh. Go to far with the pedal and it kills it.

 

[vetteman]

I wish your grandfather well. I know somewhat how it is my wife called me at work 4 weeks ago " honey I just tipped your tractor over " she was driving over a pile of dirt with the bucket all the way in the air !!!!! Shes fine and my Kubota is fine there again just very scared,

 

[SkyPup]

Geez, sorry to read about this mishap, but it could have easily been much worse. Thanks for giving such a good report, it must have been very difficult under the circumstances.

 

[crashz]

I hope your grandfather is on the mend and feeling better soon.

Try not to beat yourself up on the "what ifs" and "it could haves". Realizing that this was a very unfortunate accident and as tramatic as it is, worring about what didn't happen will make you and your family feel much worse. Not easy to do when you can't sleep at night, I know. I was in the same position a number of years ago when my father was buried in a ditch. He survived and is doing OK now, but I spent a long time agonizing over the incident. Especially since I took the day off for some frivalous things. I beat myself up in the fact that it should have been me in that hole. When in reality it shouldn't have been anybody!

So I pray that your grandfather has a quick and relatively pain free recovery and that you and your family feel better too.