Seat belt gets tighter and tighter.

[Msgtmje]

So have I, all my belts keep getting tighter, but in my case it's diet related.

 

[Clay45]

My wife's Jeep front passenger seat does this to me. First, I'm way overweight. When I pull the belt out and around my belly if I don't pay attention I can fully extend the belt to the stop. When I do it causes the ratchet down action. If I can pull it around and hook up without reaching the stop it won't do this unless I somehow stretch it enough to hit the stop.

Don't know if the same mechanism is used on tractors but it wouldn't surprise me. Seatbelts weren't always made this way. You can bet is is due to some sort of Federal safety standard.

 

[jlgurr]

Jwr, I don't understand what tou mesn about "2 mistakes" ?

I'm guessing two safety features = two mistakes. LOL.

Sent from my iPhone using TractorByNet

 

[aczlan]

I know it is politically incorrect to suggest this BUT, there is almost never a good reason to be wearing a seat belt on a tractor. There is only one kind of circumstance where it helps protect you and that is where you need the ROPS to prevent being crushed in a roll-over. In that rare event, you should wear the seat belt, only when you are in danger of rolling the tractor over. In my opinion I should NEVER be operating my tractor where there is significant likelihood of rolling the machine. I have never seen any plausibility argument, much less "proof," that you should wear a seat belt on a tractor. In a car or truck where many high speed objects are around you all the time -- absolutely wear the belt ! On a tractor, NO. I also hold the opinion that a seat belt on a tractor is predominantly a butt covering exercise demanded by lawyers working for the manufacturers.

It doesn't take much to roll over. You can do it on flat ground with an off center load in the bucket that shifts or by letting off of the clutch too fast in the wrong gear or with a heavy load on the back.
Per the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety:

It is possible to roll or flip a tractor over on any terrain carrying out any
task. In contrast to popular belief, 90% of tractor accidents occur at speeds
less than 8 km/hr. In addition, 60% of all accidents occur on slopes less
than 5 degrees. Thus, there is always an element of risk involved with
operating a tractor. However, certain environmental conditions pose more
of a risk than others. For example, broken ground such as gullies and
stumps hidden in long grass represent a significant risk despite the terrain
being flat

Here are some excellent videos of a tractor rolling over on a slight slope:
Tractor Overturn, H.J. Sommer III
It doesn't take a big hole or a nasty slope, it could be a slight dip on one side and a rock on the other, or just a rock and a slight slope, missing a gear on a slope (been there, done that with a garden tractor), or having unlocked turning brakes at the wrong time.

Here is a news story showing the aftermath of a rollover on a golf course: Maintenance worker killed in country club rollover accident - CBS46 News

Also, when pushing snow with a plow or the loader, scraping with a backblade, box blade, loader, etc, if you find something in the ground (like a rock, stump, root, etc) it can stop the tractor dead in its tracks and if you aren't buckled in, it can throw you into the windshield of a cab tractor or completely off of an open station tractor.

Aaron Z

 

[Sprinklerman]

Its not the the belt getting tighter , its the belly getting bigger ...............

 

[JWR]

Jwr, I don't understand what tou mesn about "2 mistakes" ?

I'm sorry for the short-hand. What I meant was (and of course this is strictly my view) that both the seat belt and the interlock for driver weight being on the seat are mistakes. To me, the combination of those two doesn't justify my wearing a seatbelt on tractor. In my case (which is mainly larger farm tractors) the only threat that could cause me to consider wearing a seatbelt is operating on very steep ground where it could upset/rollover. If that happened the ROPS would protect you only if you had the seatbelt on. My approach is to never put myself in a situation where rollover is a realistic possibility. Anything that steep goes unmowed.

 

[AxleHub]

I'm sorry for the short-hand. What I meant was (and of course this is strictly my view) that both the seat belt and the interlock for driver weight being on the seat are mistakes. To me, the combination of those two doesn't justify my wearing a seatbelt on tractor. In my case (which is mainly larger farm tractors) the only threat that could cause me to consider wearing a seatbelt is operating on very steep ground where it could upset/rollover. If that happened the ROPS would protect you only if you had the seatbelt on. My approach is to never put myself in a situation where rollover is a realistic possibility. Anything that steep goes unmowed.

JWR,

Thanks for your clairification and viewpoint. In some cases I share a similar viewpoint on seatbelts. An example for me would be "in-city driving 30 mph or less with a car or truck". Same thing for location and speed for motorcycles with helmets.

But as transportation changes in-city conditions have changed with them . . so my examples above would be different to control.

But seatbelt use for cars and trucks and helmet use for motorcycles make sense when speeds change.

And motorcycles and tractors to me seem ever so similar in safety because of exposure to what you can't predict. With tractors . . a hidden gopher hole or hidden ground hollow area can turn a peaceful and productive day into something else.

Some states even now are having frequent sink hole issues. But life isn't to be feared . . just respected.

And your opinion is as worthy to be heard as any other. But just like seat safety switches . . I like them because there are so many distractions to being an operator and so little time to react to all the distractions and at the same time enjoy the work and tractor time

 

[gus1235]

I bought these for my skid loader. Got really tired of the seat belt cutting off the circulation to my lower extremities after hitting a couple of bumps.

The LooPo Seat Belt Tension Adjuster

They are pretty cheap and they don't take up much room.