Runaway tractor nearly killed me yesterday!

[Renze]

You were amazed about yourself about how fast you could think in crisis: I had the exact same thing when i fell asleep behind the wheel right in front of a 90ï½° corner: when i woke up right in front of it, i could decide between ATTEMPT to take the turn, with the risk that if i couldnt make it, smash into 3 giant oaks, or:
Brake hard as possible to loose speed, and crash through the branches, OVER a ditch, BETWEEN those oaks, into a lilly flower field...

This microsecond math, told me that failing to take the corner at an unlikely 90 km/h would result in death or serious injury when crashing into the trio of oaks.
I decided the latter, braked as hard as i could, released the brakes in front of the ditch (speed stil 70 km/h !!) because the front end was ducking because of the brake forces, and i didnt want to flip it over when the front end hits the other side of the ditch. I parked it into the lillyflower field with no damage, just some scratches.
I was able to drive the car out of the loose soil on its own, after putting the battery clamp back on, because it was thrown off due to the violent ditch jump...

The other microsecond decision was when i parked a runaway trailer upside down in a ditch, after an out-of-control zig-zag with not enough tongue weight, due to a shifting center of gravity during the ride. (crappy trailer front gate bent over to the back, moving the load of planks about a yard back)


I am still amazed how fast i could analyse the risks of both choices i had, in just microseconds.... Or maybe it was a guardian angel that whispered it into my ear " jump the ditch, you wont make that turn" Anyways, when i came home i thanked God...

 

[MJPetersen]

Your story reminds many of us of some hair raising tales. Mine was with an old 988 Cat loader down a steep gravel road with a fair turn at the bottom. I got going too fast and the steering works with hyd, so unless the engine is turning fast you had no hyd steering control and with the engine running faster you went faster--it was a scary ride and one that I would not like to repeat. I was sliding that monster sideways in fast "S's" down that hill. I am not sure how it stayed on the road or how I made the corner at the bottom. The boss later said simply, "got going a bit fast down that hill, huh?" Yes and it will not be repeated, today anyway!!

Thanks for the story and reminder!

Mike

 

[Charlesaf3]

Thanks for posting this. I always like the oppty to try and avoid making similar mistakes. That way I can be creative and make entirely new mistakes.

Yesterday I dropped my 60 woods rototiller on my foot. Didn't do anything but bruise it - I was amazingly lucky. I am now better about jacking it when I work on it...

Which is to say, I continually prove that doing things the "long" way always ends up being easier. I still haven't got it through my thick head that its quicker to walk back to the barn for the right tool, but nature is gradually convincing me.

You're right, you should have gone for another tractor, or car, or come along to get you out. And I'm sure I'd have done the exact same thing you did. I hope this reminds me not to...

 

[texasjohn]

thanks for the post

obviously, you plan ahead and are safety oriented

glad you can think fast and react accurately, given bad choices, to select the better of the bad.

message to me is that even when I think I have thought it all out and have a safe plan, I need to be prepared for the unanticipated. it can happen quickly! This message has been reinforced, several times during my experiences with horses, cattle, driving with trailers, on the road and with tractors. I understand the adrenelin reaction after such a close call.. and I agree that the post event tremors can be disturbing, but very understandable!


I concurr with your analysis of what happened, and that it was not initially obvious that it WOULD happen.

thanks for your service..

 

[pitt_md]

Glad you made it out of that situation without any serious damage.

I had something like that happen but slower speeds. First day I had my Kubota I picked up something in the FEL and was going to take it to the edge of the meadow and dump it over the drop off. The grass was wet, I was in 2WD and started down a gentle slope. I eased the brakes on as the tractor picked up speed and it didn't slow down! I keep going faster as rear wheels just slipped over the grass without getting a bite. I was going to go over the edge and into the swamp below. At the last minute I dropped the FEL and plowed to a stop. I now make sure I have ballast on the back when I use the FEL.

 

[rox]

Glad you made it out of that situation without any serious damage.

I had something like that happen but slower speeds. First day I had my Kubota I picked up something in the FEL and was going to take it to the edge of the meadow and dump it over the drop off. The grass was wet, I was in 2WD and started down a gentle slope. I eased the brakes on as the tractor picked up speed and it didn't slow down! I keep going faster as rear wheels just slipped over the grass without getting a bite. I was going to go over the edge and into the swamp below. At the last minute I dropped the FEL and plowed to a stop. I now make sure I have ballast on the back when I use the FEL.

I was yearning for a FEL for our tractor, thought it would be so handy on the farm, but all these stories scare me. I think I'll put that idea on the back burner for a while.

 

[teg]

If you have 4x4 and use it... you should not have a problem. A FEL makes a tractor a work horse... I use it more then any other attachment.

 

[rox]

If you have 4x4 and use it... you should not have a problem. A FEL makes a tractor a work horse... I use it more then any other attachment.

Our tractor is 4WD so maybe it would be okay.

 

[Bird]

I was yearning for a FEL for our tractor, thought it would be so handy on the farm, but all these stories scare me. I think I'll put that idea on the back burner for a while.

Rox, a FEL can be dangerous, but if you go slow learning and don't try to move around with it too high in the air, it's also probably the most used and most handy accessory or attachment there is. A friend of mine had 3 old tractors, worked a herd of cattle, cut and baled hay, etc., but no front end loader. But then he finally bought an old International tractor with a FEL and within a month told me, "If I'd known how handy those things are, I'd have bought one 20 years ago."

 

[Wendi]

So true about the FEL. We bought a TYM with a FEL after my husband got run over by our old Ford 9N - Thank God the rear wheel went over his upper hips and the weight of the tractor sort of shifted off his body.

After that accident we decided that safety was worth the investment!!

And, as a bonus we now see how useful the FEL is.