Thank God for ROPS

[Kevin37]

Just under 50 hours and I continue to learn lessons.
Trying to clear away some brush and briars today and the MX-6 got a good wack on a tree I was maneuvering around. I didn't know it, but that particular tree was dead and my slight "bump" was all it took to bring it down. The tree glanced off the ROPS, smashed into the rear right fender behind the ROPS and came to rest on top of the iMatch bracket. It was all over very quick. With me in motion on the tractor, my first indication the tree was falling was a very distinctive "CRAAAAACK" as it broke loose. By the time the thought got through my head to JUMP CLEAR, it was down.
I climbed down, left everything as is, walked to my truck and drove home for a break. Makes 'ya think.
I'll be looking at the trees a little different from now on, and I've already noticed several others that are dead, but covered with green vines.
By the way, the plastic fender snapped right back in shape and is barely even scraped.

Kevin

 

[Kevin37]

Another shot.....

 

[SteveH_CT]

So glad to hear you're fine. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I've had similar, though nowhere near as bad an experience. I've taken to wearing a Husky hard hat when I'm working in and around trees... and I've got a lot of em! I've experienced several loose limbs falling off the tree and hitting me... two pairs of glasses later I decided on the hard hat.

Oh yeah - I love those "Cheap plastic" fenders as well. Mine have taken several instances of abuse and just shake it off. I guarantee that if I had a metal hood it would be a mess by now.

 

[herdfan]

Glad you're okay.
Gotta watch the tops for sure!
Seems like dead tops knocked off by adjacent, falling trees kills more folks than the felled tree itself.

 

[44trxfun]

Now there's a picture that's worth at least a thousand words! Glad you're OK. It's amazing how quickly things can go bad. I often find myself considering situations I've read about here. Usually makes me rethink my approach to a safer way. Thanks for posting--a very good reminder!

 

[Kevin37]

Steve
I'm going tomorrow to buy a hard hat. I think it's a good idea when working in the woods. I couldn't even roll the tree off the iMatch, it had to be cut up with my chain saw. I found out the root system was infested with what looked like termites and the bottom 12 inches was all honey-comb from the little buggers. That is what weakened it.

Kevin

 

[JayC]

Wow. Glad you are ok. Things like this can be real humbling experiences.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

That photo is worth a thousand words about trying to be safe. Good thing you had the ROPS, I guess, or you wouldn't have been able to take that photo at all. Explains why the forest working tractors look like battle tanks from a bad end of the world movie.

Glad you've OK.
Cliff

 

[To20Chris]

About 10 min after scooping the last of a pile of stone fines last weekend, I had moved on to another job. I looked over just in time to see a big limb from an ash fall right where I was working. It was not as big as the one you had, but I had folded the ROPS for about the second time that day. It would have hurt quite a bit. There was no wind, and I'm not sure why it fell, other than that all the ash trees around here are ill.

Glad your OK, and it does point out an advantage of the plastic fenders.

 

[Deerlope]

I would have to say that the "old boy" was looking out for you. Buy yourself a hard hat. That tree would have killed you and a hardhat would not have helped but it is falling branches that you need to be protected from. I never wok in the woods with out one. Thanks for sharing your story.