Stepped off, and it almost tipped over (lifting a snowmobile) !

[skyhook]

I have a cab , so i never wear mine,,
I guess it all comes down to common sense, if your working on hillsides etc, or lifting
loads as in the OP, then the belt is your friend, but,
on level ground and moderate inclines, I see no use for them, myself.
As stated, they hinder your "observation's" and could stop a quick reaction, if needed.
All in all, there there if ya need em.

 

[Gregster613]

I have something else on the 3 pt so can't demonstrate but this should give you the idea.
Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails
-p6283632-jpg Arrow, This is an interesting version of a ballast -- easy on and off when you want/need it -- have you any idea of it's overall weight? I just might have to copy your idea and create one for myself. I usually have the Woods box blade hanging on the back, but it sometimes is an obstruction to getting close to things! You have a useful/simple tool that intrigues me. Thanks for input -- Greg

 

[arrow]

You're welcome Greg. I'm guessing around 300# from the heft of it. The concept can be adjusted with all different diameters and lengths of Sonotube. What you need to be careful with is not making it too wide (diameter wise) so it does not scrape against the rear tire. My tires are filled so with this thing, I approach 800 # of ballast. The thing hangs to the center of the drawbar when elevated to horizontal and closer still as the 3 pt gets higher. You may want to do a visual as to what you have for room there before you build it.. A 12"diameter 5' long Sonotube is appreciable in weight if you need more ballast that I would guess at over 500#. A 6ft long one of those would probably be more than double the weight of mine but you may need a ladder to pour in the concrete as the tube stands vertical of course to fill up. They're easy to make. I actually hacked off the Sonotube as I thought I would paint the cement the tractor color but that never happened. I got the bolts and eyes from old cross members of telephone poles.

 

[My Hoe]

I got the bolts and eyes from old cross members of telephone poles.

arrow,

What a great idea, re: the free hardware! I've seen some of this stuff laying around my neighborhood. I'll definitely check it out--thanks again.

My Hoe

 

[Jim in ICT]

Was mowing on level ground with the bucket lowered. Hit a buried railroad tie on my turn and stopped dead in my tracks. Luckily, I had the belt on which kept me from launching over the hood. Normally, I don't wear it if I'm grading or doing simple ground work, but will If I'm doing work with the bucket.

 

[dragoneggs]

Again... with me the seat belt is an automatic thing when moving. But I will admit that I cheat sometimes when using the BH. Instead of taking the time to turn around the seat, I get on my knees and operate it from a kneel for short jobs that require frequent moving of the tractor. Oh well.

 

[Sodo]

Not sure how i'll integrate with the seatbelt. I use it 100% on the excavator. Thanks Jim for your story. Its the unexpected that gets you, and sometimes there is a second unexpected event while you are dealing with the 1st.

One thing to keep in mind here. The snowmobile has no safety belt and none do. That machine has 151 horsepower and weighs 650 lb with a rider. Thats 4.3 lbs per hp. If my pickup had that kind of beans it would have 1300 hp. And the snowmobile is driven regularly on steep terrain, far from any hospitals etc etc etc. and in snow. Its freezing. And full throttle.

Point being, people calculate risks all the time, its part of life. Someone might say that dropping that snowmobile might be the safest bet!

 

[chopped]

Good comparison I doubt many people think this way.

Not sure how i'll integrate with the seatbelt. I use it 100% on the excavator. Thanks Jim for your story. Its the unexpected that gets you, and sometimes there is a second unexpected event while you are dealing with the 1st.

One thing to keep in mind here. The snowmobile has no safety belt and none do. That machine has 151 horsepower and weighs 650 lb with a rider. Thats 4.3 lbs per hp. If my pickup had that kind of beans it would have 1300 hp. And the snowmobile is driven regularly on steep terrain, far from any hospitals etc etc etc. and in snow. Its freezing. And full throttle.

Point being, people calculate risks all the time, its part of life. Someone might say that dropping that snowmobile might be the safest bet!

 

[dragoneggs]

One thing to keep in mind here. The snowmobile has no safety belt and none do. That machine has 151 horsepower and weighs 650 lb with a rider. Thats 4.3 lbs per hp. If my pickup had that kind of beans it would have 1300 hp. And the snowmobile is driven regularly on steep terrain, far from any hospitals etc etc etc. and in snow. Its freezing. And full throttle.

Point being, people calculate risks all the time, its part of life. Someone might say that dropping that snowmobile might be the safest bet!

The difference is the snowmobile doesn't have a ROPS. ROPS up, seatbelt on... ROPS down, seatbelt off and jump! The tractor far outweighs a snowmobile so if you get pinned you aren't rolling it off of you!

 

[k0ua]

The difference is the snowmobile doesn't have a ROPS. ROPS up, seatbelt on... ROPS down, seatbelt off and jump! The tractor far outweighs a snowmobile so if you get pinned you aren't rolling it off of you!

I rolled one off of me that I turned over backwards... but it was a Cub LT1042... a lawn mower. It probably weighed close to 500 lbs, but you might be suprised how much strength you have when you have a running lawn mower on top of you... But even something the size of your BX... not so much. Nope, you are probably squished.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

It is hard to jump off wearing a seat belt. Jumping is about the best option on a machine with NO ROPS.

Because he had limited use of his legs and could not jump they found my BIL crushed under the steering wheel of his 600 Ford tractor.

 

[Sodo]

All good points. I'm liking that ROPS more now that you mention it. With a tractor you THINK that because its slow, that you can always jump the other way. Also the things you have your hands on, are often a hydraulic control that can make matters worse if you use it to brace yourself.

Anyway my point was that snowmobile goes 0-80mph in 3 seconds, the way to up my safety factor would be to get rid of that machine.

 

[Sodo]

Some of you fellers remember this from way back in 2014?

The opening post of THIS thread generated some "lively discussion."
I know you fellers thrive on action photos...

Here I am in 2019... moving the snowmobile again to it's 'summer storage', now with a 400 lb counterweight (50 gallons of water).
(building the counterweight---->) 50 gallon barrel for 3-point ballast (400 lbs)

I got off the tractor, and lifted on the right rear wheel, just to see how much more stable it was....
To my surprise I was able to lift the wheel.
Something like 100 lbs of lift and it came up.

Well.... in any case it's MUCH better with the counterweight!

 

[4get gto]

Kinda surprised. You're still living..:laughing:
Ride around with loads high in the air and things will happen sooner or later... :drink:

 

[Sodo]

Kinda surprised. You're still living..:laughing:

You mean cuz of the the tractor?
Or the 151hp snowmobile that goes zero to 80 mph in 3 seconds?

Just "checking stability" before moving the load.:thumbsup:

 

[Industrial Toys]

Well, QUICK! Step back on again.

The front axle is resting on it's end of travel point. Not doomsday just yet.

You see that all the time in India where there are all kinds of Indians hanging on to something for ballast.

 

[George2615]

You mean cuz of the the tractor?
Or the 151hp snowmobile that goes zero to 80 mph in 3 seconds?

Just "checking stability" before moving the load.:thumbsup:

I think he's referring to the fact that after 4 years you haven't learned to keep the load closer to the ground. There's no reason it needs to be 4 or 5' off the ground.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Makes for a better photo oportunity!

 

[Sodo]

In 5 years I've prob lifted a rear wheel a hundred times.
You get to know your tractor when you do a lot of work with it and this tractor has done a lot.
Same as anything.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Same with my wheel loader. Especially if you take off a front attachment and try and negotiate uneven ground.