Egon
Epic Contributor
Answered my question and gave the reply I was gonna make!!
Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
ROPS saved my life Sat.
- Thread starter KennethBrown
- Start date
- Views: 5254
LBrown59
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2004
- Messages
- 16,831
- Tractor
- 2003 Kubota BX1500/2004 Kubota Bx23/2005 Kubota BX1500
A dead tree is a deadly tree
rk246
Gold Member
Scary story, glad to hear you are okay. My buddy told me a story the other day of a guy he knows who was pushing trees with his cat and had a tree spear him in the chest. Can happen in a second and be very dangerous...
Youare
Platinum Member
A good friend a few years back working alone was using a Ford 1720 FEL to push aside a 10" diameter hardwood tree he had cut the day before which was going to be fire wood. As he pushed it around one of the branches got caught on something. When he raised the loader up some to get it free the tree top slid right across the bucket top and the loader arms directed the now fast moving tree top right at his head.
He doesn't really recall what happened or how long it took but the next thing he knew he couldn't see well and his face was covered with blood. The force of the branch hitting his head was slowed down slightly when the exhaust pipe was sheared off but the force was enough to fracture the bones in the side of his face near his eye socket.
It was many weeks before he could go back to work or do much of anything. Be very careful when using a FEL to push trees or brush along on the ground.
Randy
He doesn't really recall what happened or how long it took but the next thing he knew he couldn't see well and his face was covered with blood. The force of the branch hitting his head was slowed down slightly when the exhaust pipe was sheared off but the force was enough to fracture the bones in the side of his face near his eye socket.
It was many weeks before he could go back to work or do much of anything. Be very careful when using a FEL to push trees or brush along on the ground.
Randy
MotorSeven
Elite Member
KB,
Good thing you didn't get hurt. I was pushing an old hickory log out of the way(15" x 30') with the FEL. Having a good time....(dodeedo...pushing a log....dodeedum) when one end thumped into that trees dead brother. I looked up and the big brother was jiggling up and down like a jello tree. Man, i couldn't step on the hst reverse pedal fast enough. I quickly realized that if it had fallen, ain't no way i was gonna get out of it's way.......i was just lucky. Now i really pay attention and look up when i wheeling thru the woods!
RD
Good thing you didn't get hurt. I was pushing an old hickory log out of the way(15" x 30') with the FEL. Having a good time....(dodeedo...pushing a log....dodeedum) when one end thumped into that trees dead brother. I looked up and the big brother was jiggling up and down like a jello tree. Man, i couldn't step on the hst reverse pedal fast enough. I quickly realized that if it had fallen, ain't no way i was gonna get out of it's way.......i was just lucky. Now i really pay attention and look up when i wheeling thru the woods!
RD
40Kchicks
Gold Member
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2003
- Messages
- 489
- Location
- Western Oregon
- Tractor
- 2003 Kubota M9000DTL 2001 JD 2252 Orchard Tractor Cat 216 Skidsteer 1999 JD 450H Dozer 1994 JD 644G wheel loader
Eddie
Be real careful around that oak tree. We have several around the place I work. One day out of the blue half of the tree fell onto the outdoor eating area. We were so lucky it was before lunch when that area would have been full of people. The biggest part of the tree was about two foot around.
Eric
Be real careful around that oak tree. We have several around the place I work. One day out of the blue half of the tree fell onto the outdoor eating area. We were so lucky it was before lunch when that area would have been full of people. The biggest part of the tree was about two foot around.
Eric
Trev
Platinum Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2002
- Messages
- 918
- Location
- Williamson, NY (near Rochester)
- Tractor
- Currently tractor-less
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have a HUGE oak that is dead and falling apart. After every storm I go and see if it's fallen down yet. So far just branches are coming off. It's half rotted and ready to kill somebody and I'm to afraid to try to take it down myself. It's big enough to go right through the cage on my dozer!!))</font>
Probably a silly idea, but in a situation like this what would happen if you were to somehow dig or drill a small hole underneath the tree and then slip a stick of dynamite down into it? Then, get a good long ways away and remote detonate it? You'd probably have to hire someone with a blasting license, but it might be a good way to knock over some of these "widow-makers"?
Probably a silly idea, but in a situation like this what would happen if you were to somehow dig or drill a small hole underneath the tree and then slip a stick of dynamite down into it? Then, get a good long ways away and remote detonate it? You'd probably have to hire someone with a blasting license, but it might be a good way to knock over some of these "widow-makers"?
DiskDoctr
Platinum Member
Ken,
Good situation to make the point that you shouldn't remove the ROPS or LOWER/FOLD the ROPS!
Don't know if yours does, but many fold down like my 3510, presumably for storage/low roofs.
I immediately added a canopy and wired worklights on the canopy saying, "Nope, I'll NEVER fold that thing down, that's just foolish..."
I have seen people on other machines with the top half either folded or removed. They figure they'll be careful not to roll it over, but as your situation shows, there are more things to watch for /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Without it, you may have been the blade of grass when that oak mower blade came your way /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Glad the good Lord was with you that day.
-DiskDoctr
Good situation to make the point that you shouldn't remove the ROPS or LOWER/FOLD the ROPS!
Don't know if yours does, but many fold down like my 3510, presumably for storage/low roofs.
I immediately added a canopy and wired worklights on the canopy saying, "Nope, I'll NEVER fold that thing down, that's just foolish..."
I have seen people on other machines with the top half either folded or removed. They figure they'll be careful not to roll it over, but as your situation shows, there are more things to watch for /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Without it, you may have been the blade of grass when that oak mower blade came your way /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Glad the good Lord was with you that day.
-DiskDoctr
DiskDoctr
Platinum Member
Ken,
Good situation to make the point that you shouldn't remove the ROPS or LOWER/FOLD the ROPS!
Don't know if yours does, but many fold down like my 3510, presumably for storage/low roofs.
I immediately added a canopy and wired worklights on the canopy saying, "Nope, I'll NEVER fold that thing down, that's just foolish..."
I have seen people on other machines with the top half either folded or removed. They figure they'll be careful not to roll it over, but as your situation shows, there are more things to watch for /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Without it, you may have been the blade of grass when that oak mower blade came your way /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Glad the good Lord was with you that day.
-DiskDoctr
Good situation to make the point that you shouldn't remove the ROPS or LOWER/FOLD the ROPS!
Don't know if yours does, but many fold down like my 3510, presumably for storage/low roofs.
I immediately added a canopy and wired worklights on the canopy saying, "Nope, I'll NEVER fold that thing down, that's just foolish..."
I have seen people on other machines with the top half either folded or removed. They figure they'll be careful not to roll it over, but as your situation shows, there are more things to watch for /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Without it, you may have been the blade of grass when that oak mower blade came your way /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Glad the good Lord was with you that day.
-DiskDoctr
<font color="blue"> I've had this happen with standing dead pine trees. I've pushed them with the front bucket, only to have the tree snap and the top half come falling down on top of the tractor. With the dozer, I've tried to get under them and push from the roots, but those dead pines will still snap in the middle and come straight down on you, then fall any which way. It's very, very scary taking them out!!! </font>
Maybe because you are using the wrong tool?
If you keep doing the same thing, and you keep getting the same results, and you don't like the results, maybe you shouldn't keep doing the same thing.
Try a chainsaw, mebbe? Felling with a chainsaw isn't "safe", but at least you have some degree of control, if you know what you're doing.
And if you don't, you shouldn't be doing...
Maybe because you are using the wrong tool?
If you keep doing the same thing, and you keep getting the same results, and you don't like the results, maybe you shouldn't keep doing the same thing.
Try a chainsaw, mebbe? Felling with a chainsaw isn't "safe", but at least you have some degree of control, if you know what you're doing.
And if you don't, you shouldn't be doing...
