ROPS Saves - How Rough is It

[cmyoung2]

We roll an old Ford 801 workmaster as a demo, have a cage built to protect the body. Roll it one time with ROPS, next without. Use a dummy- Tyveck suit stuffed with straw, belted in with ROPS, no belt without. Everytime I am amazed how violent the trip down the hill is. It is obvious that the belt and ROPS keeps you in the safety zone, but it is also pretty obvious that it is much worse than a roller coaster/bumper car combined. Without ROPS, Dummy Dan is dead every time. We have rolled the tractor so many times over the last 17 years it is breaking apart at the engine/transmission mounts. Use it mainly for youth- 4-H/FFA groups, adults when we can. I never want to be on one that goes over, but it happens.

 

[riptides]

I was squashed like a bug.

Roll Over first hand

 

[tommu56]

When I rolled mine was in s-----------l--------------o-------------w motion
Wheel in dip bucket up yadayadayad I even turned the key off just before it stopped on its side it seemed to take for ever going over.
The only thing hurt was my pride pulled the tractor back up right with a good comalong let it sit for 2-3 hours checked fluids and started it up.

And I don't want to do it again.
I've even put the out riggers almost down to the ground to give me a wider foot print and some times there is still a clench mark in the seat of the tractor.

tom

 

[Jenkins003]

My friend rolled his John Deer and he said the same thing that it was in slow motion. He didn't have a roll bar or seat belt. He said it was so slow he managed to step off and landed on his feet as it was rolling. It was in a spot he had mowed many times before so you never know when it might happen. I got hit by a loaded 18 wheeler while sitting at a red light several years ago and it seemed in slow motion also. I think your mind just can't comprehend what is happening so it just seems in slow motion. I didn't get a scratch but the old couple in another car wasn't so lucky.

 

[Spanky100]

I was squashed like a bug.

Roll Over first hand

Mike

thanks for the link. Sure adds perspective to tractor safety and more important about life.

Wayne

 

[Spanky100]

We roll an old Ford 801 workmaster as a demo, have a cage built to protect the body. Roll it one time with ROPS, next without. Use a dummy- Tyveck suit stuffed with straw, belted in with ROPS, no belt without. Everytime I am amazed how violent the trip down the hill is. It is obvious that the belt and ROPS keeps you in the safety zone, but it is also pretty obvious that it is much worse than a roller coaster/bumper car combined. Without ROPS, Dummy Dan is dead every time. We have rolled the tractor so many times over the last 17 years it is breaking apart at the engine/transmission mounts. Use it mainly for youth- 4-H/FFA groups, adults when we can. I never want to be on one that goes over, but it happens.

Cmyoung

Thanks for the input from seeing repeated demos with "Dummy Dan". Sounds like ROPS used properly with seatbelt will save you but you could be in for a rough ride that could give you some injury. I take it a tight secured seatbelt is a must.

Thanks

Wayne

 

[Spanky100]

When I rolled mine was in s-----------l--------------o-------------w motion
Wheel in dip bucket up yadayadayad I even turned the key off just before it stopped on its side it seemed to take for ever going over.
The only thing hurt was my pride pulled the tractor back up right with a good comalong let it sit for 2-3 hours checked fluids and started it up.

And I don't want to do it again.
I've even put the out riggers almost down to the ground to give me a wider foot print and some times there is still a clench mark in the seat of the tractor.

tom

Tom and Jenkins

Thanks for the accounts about the slow play by play in your brain. It nice to be able to learn form the experiences of our group here. Jenkins was interesting point about your friend mowing that spot in the past without issue and this time it happens.

Thanks

Wayne

 

[TripleR]

For those not familiar with the "it happened in slow motion", it is referred to as Tachypsychia. "Tachypsychia is a neurological condition that distorts the perception of time, usually induced by physical exertion, drug use, or a traumatic event. It is sometimes referred to by martial arts instructors and self defense experts as the Tachy Psyche effect. For someone affected by tachypsychia, time perceived by the individual either lengthens, making events appear to slow down, or contracts, objects appearing as moving in a speeding blur. It is believed that tachypsychia is induced by a combination of high levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, usually during periods of great physical stress and/or in violent confrontation."

I have experienced this in car/motorcycle wrecks as well as other instances. The last time in December 2006 when someone pulled in front of me. I hit them broadside after trying to avoid by braking and swerving. The air bag deployed then deflated as my vehicle was spun around and heading for the bridge railing. Due to the initial impact, my left foot was stuck under the brake and I couldn't get enough travel to reengage them and thought, "Oh, this is going to hurt" as I ran into the wall and bounced back onto the main roadway and spun around before coasting to a stop.

It was over in mere seconds, but seemed like minutes.

 

[eastexan]

For those not familiar with the "it happened in slow motion", it is referred to as Tachypsychia. "Tachypsychia is a neurological condition that distorts the perception of time, usually induced by physical exertion, drug use, or a traumatic event. It is sometimes referred to by martial arts instructors and self defense experts as the Tachy Psyche effect. For someone affected by tachypsychia, time perceived by the individual either lengthens, making events appear to slow down, or contracts, objects appearing as moving in a speeding blur. It is believed that tachypsychia is induced by a combination of high levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, usually during periods of great physical stress and/or in violent confrontation."

I have experienced this in car/motorcycle wrecks as well as other instances. The last time in December 2006 when someone pulled in front of me. I hit them broadside after trying to avoid by braking and swerving. The air bag deployed then deflated as my vehicle was spun around and heading for the bridge railing. Due to the initial impact, my left foot was stuck under the brake and I couldn't get enough travel to reengage them and thought, "Oh, this is going to hurt" as I ran into the wall and bounced back onto the main roadway and spun around before coasting to a stop.

It was over in mere seconds, but seemed like minutes.

:laughing::laughing:........oh, uh....sorry.

Like me, it looks like you've had your share of scrapes & bruises.
And I've also had those s-l-o-w motion experiences.

One time, back when I was young (and stupid), I was going too fast down a twisty road on a motorcycle and lost control in a turn.
The first thing I knew, the motorcycle was laying down on the pavement and was spinning around and around about 20' in front of me, finally hitting a light pole. And I was sliding feet first on the asphalt on my back, then on my side while my clothes were being torn off.

But all this while, I thought I never was going to grind to a halt, leaving traces of my DNA all up the roadway.

Losing control and hitting the pavement seemed instantaneous, but sliding down the pavement seemed to last forever. Although it probably only lasted a few seconds.
Fortunately, I wasn't badly injured, except for my pride and leaving some skin and blood behind. :laughing:

 

[TripleR]

:laughing::laughing:........oh, uh....sorry.

Like me, it looks like you've had your share of scrapes & bruises.
And I've also had those s-l-o-w motion experiences.

One time, back when I was young (and stupid), I was going too fast down a twisty road on a motorcycle and lost control in a turn.
The first thing I knew, the motorcycle was laying down on the pavement and was spinning around and around about 20' in front of me, finally hitting a light pole. And I was sliding feet first on the asphalt on my back, then on my side while my clothes were being torn off.

But all this while, I thought I never was going to grind to a halt, leaving traces of my DNA all up the roadway.

Losing control and hitting the pavement seemed instantaneous, but sliding down the pavement seemed to last forever. Although it probably only lasted a few seconds.
Fortunately, I wasn't badly injured, except for my pride and leaving some skin and blood behind. :laughing:

Oh man, I know the feeling, I have left pieces of my hide on the pavement from motorcycle wrecks too.

Like you, in spite of the motorcycle crashes, I was never injured beyond the point to where a few stitches and a bit of R&R didn't fix me back up.

Age has caught up with me and I gave my Harley to my son this year, but I sure had fun.:thumbsup: