Seat Belt ??

KiotiJohn · Jan 7, 2005

( Well,
at the risk of being chastised (like last time this question came up) I have to answer honestly that I do not wear my seatbelt on my bx23. I prefer to exit my tractor if it is going to go over. )
I sure won't chastise you about it, because it's your life and your decision. We've lost enough of that through the government.
However, I would like to explain why the rule of thumb "ROPS use seat belt, no ROPS, no seatbelt."
When you have no ROPS you may be able to jump out of the way, and having a seat belt on will almost certainly cause you to be crushed due to no overhead protection.
If you have a ROPS and don't wear a seatbelt, before you can jump far enough, the ROPS will probably hit you and throw you under it crushing you. With ROPS/Seatbelt, the seatbelt will hold you within the protected zone of the ROPS and keep the tractor off of you. I've come so close to rolling at times, and it's happened so quickly, that I'm always happy that I have the belt on. John

SCB · Jan 7, 2005

Thanks for the concern Bird, John, and Gerry. I do understand your point of view. So I will ask the question that I asked last time this cam up. Is there a documented case of a bx22 or 23 rolling over? Have any of you guys heard of one?. The reason I ask is that I have had mine tip way over and never has rolled. Not to say that it couldn't, I just don't have any kind of terrain that I could fathom it rolling over in.

Bird · Jan 7, 2005

( Is there a documented case of a bx22 or 23 rolling over? )

Not that I know of . . . . . yet! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Who knows, you might get to be the first. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Actually, you may be safe enough; I don't know; just kidding you. But seriously, you have to consider not only the terrain, but also how the tractor is being used. Things like front end loaders too high, turning too sharp, etc. can turn a tractor over on flat, level ground. The closest I've come to turning a tractor over was when I thought I was driving on level ground; just didn't know that hole was there since the leaves on the ground covered it completely and on the surface were level.

Bill_Calmes · Jan 7, 2005

A few years ago, in Colfax, California, a woman used her Kubota CUT to dig a hole for a small tree. She got off the tractor to push the tree into the FEL, then hopped back on without putting her seatbelt on, and moved the tractor forward. The weight of the tractor crushed the side of the hole, letting one of the front tires fall in. Maybe the load was offset, exacerbating the problem. Anyhow, the tractor rolled onto its side. She was ejected (or jumped) and fatally crushed by the ROPS.

Since reading that newspaper account, I have faithfully buckled up - no exceptions.

SCB · Jan 7, 2005

Bird,
While I will freeley admit the first couple hundred hours on my machine I was much more reckless than today, I now have acheive a smooth and deliberate operation of the machine. I understand about the hidden surprises hidden onder leaves or brush. I have had experience with those. The few times I have felt tippy have always beenwhen using the loader and hitting a bump or hole. From all the good info on safe practice I have read here, I do try to always keep the load low and on occassion have dropped the loader to keep balance. I agree that these machines are dangerous and it is always on my mind when working. But I guess all the safety measures may not be good enough in an emergency, so I suppose I will have to listen to all the good advice and at least try to wear my belt.

Henro · Jan 7, 2005

Is there a documented case of a bx22 or 23 rolling over? 

jph in Bama reported this BX2200 experience (click here to view thread)

Has anyone tried extending the wheels farther out to make the tractor more stable. Ever since I added the FEL I've noticed the tendency to want to flip over alot more. I have actually rolled it over on a small slope. 

 And later in the thread: 

 I was at the hunting club and was raking a new field before plowing, I decided to go out a different path than I went in, it was a dozer path in a clear cut. The path became sloped as I went farther along and then I got to place where is was too late to go backwards. What did me in was I ran up on a small tree stump that was only inches above the ground. When I did that the right side of the FEL dug into a hump of dirt and it was enough to roll me over. It was a very slow rollover. I was barely idling along so it was real slow. It did not do any damage, just dumped all the contents of my tool box out! We flipped it back over with a 4 wheeler with a winch. I let it sit awhile and checked the fluids. The hydualic fluid was low so I got some and filled it back up before going back to camp. 

I want to think I remember a couple other BX tip overs being reported in the past...but I could be wrong...I believe every case I remember involved having a loader on when the tip over happened...

riptides · Jan 7, 2005

( Well,
at the risk of being chastised (like last time this question came up) I have to answer honestly that I do not wear my seatbelt on my bx23. I prefer to exit my tractor if it is going to go over. )

I won't chastise you. I will just tell you from experience, that you may think you can exit your tractor. So did I. Unfortunate that I missed by a second, and my feet got caught in the pedals.

How easy is it for you to jump off your tractor now? Stationary in a second? Can you clear the operating station without snagging something?

You mentioned terrain as a factor in roll-overs. Well, speaking from experience, it was a load factor that pushed, yes, pushed my tractor over. I just happened to be on a hill.

I am sorry you don't feel like you should wear your belt.

I would hope you reconsider what might happen. You may get clear, but will all your body parts be with you when you do?

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

SCB · Jan 7, 2005

point taken guys. I will do my best to put it on. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

LBrown59 · Jan 10, 2005

( Yeah, all the time...
It's habitual now...I actually feel quite uncomfortable without a seat belt... )I always buckle up on the tractor and
I always use the seat belts in my trucks.even when driving through shopping center parking lots ;especiallywhen driving through shopping center parking lots.

LBrown59 · Jan 10, 2005

so I suppose I will have to listen to all the good advice and at least try to wear my belt.

Steve
-----------------
I think that's a wise decision Steve.
I'm sure myself and the other members would rather read more post from you than about you.

alpha · Jan 10, 2005

its simple wear your seat belt always. most accidents happen when you are tired, end of the day. also in an industrial fork truck class I have been told to lock your body in as well as a wearing a seat belt . grab the steering wheel and firmly plant your feet in the case of a roll over to prevent crushed limbs. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Varmintmist · Jan 11, 2005

Truth? Hardly ever.

I will stick it on while working on uneven ground or working across a hill, or if I KNOW that I am not getting off for a while.

I grew up on industrial equipment that never had belts. I use them faithfully in the pickup and van. I just dont think of it with the tractor.

Scozz · Jan 12, 2005

Well ya'll have convinced me that using the belt is the right thing to do. I've begun using the belt consistently. I found that by by buckling the belt across the seat I get a reminder to buckle up every time I sit on it .... Scozz

Dargo · Jan 12, 2005

I've been upside down in a car, and I've been upside down a couple of times in a truck. I've never (fingers crossed) been upside down in a tractor. However, each time I've been upside down in a car or truck, I didn't think I would end up that way. The vehicle "upsets" (as the police reports call them) all came on short trips for me. Twice they were from getting drilled by another vehicle and once was due to over-correcting after getting two tires off of the road and then getting a truck sideways. Now, I really don't think I'll get hit by a vehicle while I'm on my tractor, and I really don't think I'll over-correct and turn the tractor over (but I could). Anyway, I now always wear my seatbelt on my tractor unless I'm just pulling it in or out of the barn. With my luck, I'll over correct backing out into my driveway and then get hit by the UPS guy! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

keeney · Jan 12, 2005

I keep seeing people say they don't put the seatbelt on pulling in and out of the garage.

There is another series of threads of people saying they forgot to put the ROPs down, or didn't open the garage door high enough, or otherwise somehow collided the ROPs with the garage.

I would imagine that it might be possible to flip the tractor backwards with the right combination of collision between the ROPS and a fixed object like a garage door header.

Sounds like a very good time to wear the seatbelt to me.

- Rick

Dargo · Jan 12, 2005

I feel like someone trying to justify the unjustifiable; but I have a cab tractor and haven't figured out how to fold my ROPS, and my barn door is a 12' door. But you're right. It is when you don't think you need the seatbelt, when you end up getting hurt. I'm already paranoid about backing out of my barn with 5 kids and 3 dogs running around... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

LBrown59 · Jan 12, 2005

( With my luck, I'll over correct backing out into my driveway and then get hit by the UPS guy! )
Don't laugh .It could happen .
I was backing out of the garage once and would have backed into my wifes pick up right behind me if I hadn't taken a second look before continuing out the door.
She was coming back from town and was headed for the stall beside mine.

I'm always saying to her watch out for the other trucks - wouldn't it be agervating to wreck both trucks at the same time.

trlong · Jan 19, 2005

I try to make it simple so I'll be buckled in when/if I need it; In the seat = belt on / ROPS up (except ROPS down for rare occation to mow under low branches). If I can figure out how to paste this link, here's why;

Clink here for link.

Guess I should have posted this here in the 1st place.

BTW, what I didn't mention is that while working on this hillside, alone (on the tractor or dropping trees), I keep a cell phone on me just incase I should need to call 911. While rolling my poor 4115 back on its wheels, my Mother calls /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif . I said "I'm a bit busy...tractor is upside down right now..". She proceeds to tell me about my niece's day at school....go figure /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

EDIT: Shortened long link.