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

[aczlan]

Nobody can see the reason that I (feel the) need to move my snowmobile.

No, what we can't see is why you feel the need to move your snowmobile with it five feet up in the air. Most of us would move it with the snowmobile just far enough off the ground to not hit anything until we were right at the rack where needed to lift it up.
Less chance of the tractor ending up on its side that way and a much smaller likelihood of the snowmobile crashing to the ground.
On your counterweight, is there room to put two barrels side by side?

Aaron Z

 

[Sodo]

No, what we can't see is why you feel the need to move your snowmobile with it five feet up in the air.

You're suggesting that TBN fellers think it's a pic of me traveling with it that high?
Everyone can see there's nobody in the driver seat.

I took a pic with it lower, the pic didn't look very interesting so I raised it.

Also the small tractor size makes it look higher than it is.
That ski is prob 3 feet high.
But anyway I drive it on uneven ground, mashing on brakes, and using the diff-lock too.
And level ground is OK too.:thumbsup:

================

I suppose I could put another barrel on but then it's twice as bulky for not much benefit, as the one barrel already allows an over-full bucket of dirt.
I'd like it to be smaller like concrete, but then would lose the ease of draining it.

Could add a couple 50 lb weights down low on the sides.
Two 50 lbs weights hung on the sides would be easy to manage too.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Try again, this time on two wheels (one side only). Recover, before the point of no return. Now, that's a good time.:cool2:

 

[aczlan]

You're suggesting that TBN fellers think it's a pic of me traveling with it that high?
Everyone can see there's nobody in the driver seat.
I took a pic with it lower, the pic didn't look very interesting so I raised it.

I am suggesting that it is foolish to raise a load (especially one that is at the max that your tractor can lift as presently configured) any higher than absolutely necessary.

Aaron Z

 

[coobie]

Try that with 6 beers.Might get interesting.

 

[bcp]

Try that with 6 beers.Might get interesting.

Even my little BX won't do that lifting 6 beers.

Bruce

 

[Sodo]

People should use whatever caution their gut suggests.
And more, if you dont “know” your tractor yet.
Im glad I learned my tractor, its a great tool.
Ive got a good feel for it now.

But Im a little puzzled by this situation and thought some TBN members would be interested in a couple pics showing:
- a tractor with 440 lbs snowmobile on the loader, tipped up.
- same tractor, same 440 lbs, but with 400lbs counterweight, also tipped up.

I was surprised, I thought the 400 lbs counterweight would add 400 lbs of down-force on the rear wheels.

 

[4570Man]

So much for saving the front axel with the ballast.

 

[mikester]

This reminds me of s story I heard from an acquaintance.

They were out for dinner one night and the teenage kids were home alone. There was a kitchen grease fire. They got out of the house safely. The first thing the teenage daughter did was to start taking pictures and posting on facebook. Mom got the facebook update on her cell phone and called 911 to get the fire department dispatched before the house burnt down.

For some reason, when the tractor is up on 3 wheels overloaded with a high suspended load, my first instinct isn't to get off the tractor and take pictures to post on the internet. Am I a victim of the generation gap?

 

[WranglerX]

This reminds me of s story I heard from an acquaintance.

They were out for dinner one night and the teenage kids were home alone. There was a kitchen grease fire. They got out of the house safely. The first thing the teenage daughter did was to start taking pictures and posting on facebook. Mom got the facebook update on her cell phone and called 911 to get the fire department dispatched before the house burnt down.

For some reason, when the tractor is up on 3 wheels overloaded with a high suspended load, my first instinct isn't to get off the tractor and take pictures to post on the internet. Am I a victim of the generation gap?

We have inadvertently made the whole world so safe that there is no comprehension of danger and survival and prevention of further damage, social media demand you post scenario as it unfolds and continue filming/posting regardless of consequences..... Youtube proves that...

Don't think I ready for the future......... Already have concerns about cars with accident avoidance and automatic braking........ Makes new drivers without skills less attentive to situation and mostly dependant of cars ability to "protect" them more than their own attentiveness and learned (?) skills.... Drivers and cell phones for example...

Dale

 

[4570Man]

 

[Sodo]

For some reason, when the tractor is up on 3 wheels overloaded with a high suspended load, my first instinct isn't to get off the tractor and take pictures to post on the internet. Am I a victim of the generation gap?

The other 99+ times my first instinct was like yours (might be) ......just continue with the job.
But here, end of the day going home, I see a photo-op to communicate with my TBN brethren (and some who decline to post.. )
It's not a dangerous situation and certainly some can see that.
If I would have left it and gone home, it would still be sitting there today (loader might leak down though).


Thought the pic might lead to some interesting discussion of counterweighting etc .... but there was a little..... very little, but thanks for that little.:thumbsup:
It's not safety be damned, it's knowing your machine.
Do you fellers even remember back when you used to get things done?

I suspect there's not much action here anymore, not a lot of members doin' stuff.
Too bad, there's a lot that can be learned on an "active" forum.
Maybe it's all gone to Facebook which is a terrible place to discuss this kind of thing
Are TBN fellers are just too old anymore?
Or the few who are doing stuff just know about the flack when posting about certain things, they decline to enter a conversation with genuine knowledge / experience.

Understood there are others who can only think "HEY tractors can go on 3 wheels pretty much all the time."
There's that.....

I'll try to remember that and post a pic of my tractor just sitting in the barn next time (lots to learn!)

You fellas are getting too old!
Dang.....maybe me too.

 

[bigtiller]

I thought they were interesting pictures Sodo. I'm glad you spent the effort to stage, snap and post them.

 

[MossRoad]

What you really need is a video of you standing at that back tire lifting and lowering the thing by hand to show just how close it is to perfect balance.

 

[MossRoad]

My little PT425 is articulated. It's kinda strange feeling to scoop up a bucket of rock, or a large log on the forks, lift it a few inches off the ground and start backing away, then, as you turn the wheel, the bucket or forks drops slowly to the ground and the rear corner tire lifts off the ground. Straighten the steering wheel and the rear tire goes back down the ground. The center of gravity changes as you turn the steering wheel as the machine gets shorter as you turn the wheel, and longer as you straighten it out. It's an interesting characteristic of an articulated machine, and a good thing to know about.

 

[Sodo]

Thanks BigT, MossR

True turning the front wheels, one wheel patch moves forward, the other patch moves rearward, which can change things when near the balance point. Different on an articulated loader. I suppose turning with an articulated loader brings your "rear counterbalance" closer to the CG, increasing tipping?

And the higher you lift, the load center moves rearward too.
Increasing the risk due to “height” but can create a dilemma in going down.
The load moving down AND forward is something you gotta take into consideration. You have to go down slower, and if you stop abruptly while it's still high...
Not a big deal quick-dumping a bucket of dirt, but you can’t dump a snowmobile.

Lots happening, and the point might be.... learning this stuff under controlled conditions is worthwhile.
For example, on level ground, under conditions where its so safe, that you can take the time to compose a photo for discussion with your tractor brethren.