Tipped the BX2200

[Mylesclark]

Yup, After owning this tractor since 2001, I managed to tip it. I was cleaning up some snow with the FEL. I had no blower on the back...just the rear counter-weight (but it was up too high). I was in a rush and that often leads to trouble.

We had hard frozen snow (snow rained on then frozen) which was banked on the side of the parking area, then a good layer of soft snow on top...which is what I was moving. Well, the fluffy snow partially masked where the hard snow was underneath.

I was moving the snow and had the loader full...so I lifted the bucket up to dump as I moved forward...a little too fast....and a little too close to the hard bank on my left.....the left front tire went up on one of those frozen banks as I had the bucket up to dump and the next thing I knew....I was tipping. Not a fun feeling! I wasn't hurt and the tractor landed in snow....the side flasher light popped the lenses and the bracket cracked....that's about it. So there I stood....feeling totally stupid....but glad I wasn't hurt or pinned. The bucket and rops took the weight. Hindsight told me I should have had the rear counter weight lower, went slower, and waited to raise the bucket. Ahh...good lesson learned at small expense.


So now how was I going to get it back up....it was starting to leak oil from somewhere (I had shut it off). I was alone and started trying to use a hydrolic jack. Then I decided to swallow the pride and seek help from a neighbor out working snow with a John Deer 410. He just used his FEL to tip it back...nice as could be. I let it sit for quite awhile topped up the oil and off I went with no problem (I may have used a few nasty words along the way).

So maybe my experience can help prevent someone else having trouble.

 

[cpicton1]

No injury and minor damage. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I would say luck was on your side this time. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Welcome to TBN. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Spencer]

I sure am glad you and your tractor did not get hurt. Just curious if you had your seat belt on or not?

 

[frank_f15]

glad nothing was hurt but your pride! as all the boys will tell u GO SLOW AND LOW. welcome to the forum

 

[gotrocks]

Glad the GOOD news is GOODER than the Bad news. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I came close to tiping in a different situation. Was diging a pit to start compost, dumping the dirt at a terace and after a few loads, backed too close and the left rear dropped into the new soft earth. Had my hand on the FEL lever and dropped it pretty quick. Shut down and get the shovel. Dig,Dig,Dig,2910 leveled up enough to drive out of the situation. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Yours and my incident would seem to me that a level indicator would not have helped.
God Bless US All! Norris

 

[Inspector507]

Glad to hear everything came out alright.....I'm sure the nasty words came out quickly too /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Welcome to TBN

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I also had a close call this past Saturday. See:almost rolled

All of my property is sloped and I have roamed these hills with a tractor for 40 years. It happened very quickly! I do have a tilt meter and I consider it a valuable instrument. However, it will not prevent you from rolling. Gut feel isn't always a good indication of pending danger either. I was over confident operating my BX2200 because I had operated a lot of equipment on my hills before. I found out that these small CUTs with narrow treads are not very stable on slopes when operating a FEL, compared to larger tractors.

 

[Rick Jay]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I found out that these small CUTs with narrow treads are not very stable on slopes when operating a FEL, compared to larger tractors.
)</font>

I think it's all relative. The larger tractors and loaders do have more weight and a wider stance, but they also have greater lifting capacities and lift higher.

It's all the same set of physics equations involving center of gravity. Get a little complacent and the shiny side will no longer be up. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Glad to hear no real injuries or damage occurred. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[rdbrumfield]

Last summer we were putting an underground dranage system in for our church that would take the parkinglot water and slow it down before it made it to the city storm system. It was basically a 60X60' hole 6'deep that we put drain pipe in and over filled with pea gravel and backfilled with pitrun. One of the paritioners was running in the peagravel as I was going to the pit with the dumptruck. When I got back my tractor was stuck against the far side of the pit. I thought an odd place for the tractor, I just went over and backed it out and went on with business. Later I was told what had happened.
The fellow had set the throttle, which I had told him to use the foot throttle, and when he had a load in the bucket and drove into the pit he hit the brakes tipping the tractor forward throwing him off. It basically chewed him up and spit him out. When he fell off the tractor had enough throttle to keep going running over him with the back tire, thank goodness that the heavy load in the bucket caused that tire to be lifted high enough not to hurt him badly, and didn't stop until it hit the far side and dug until he was able to shut it off.
Moral of this, use your seatbelt, keep the load low as possible, use no more throttle than is neccesary,( I only use the hand throttle on long runs with the tiller or mower), and know your limitations as an operator and those of your tractor.
A happy day is when you have been at it all day and can sit down to dinner and reflect how much have accomplished with your toy. Makes the pain of payments go away.

 

[WVBill]

Myles:

I guess it's not often we get to talk to someone who tiped a tractor. Glad we have this chance.

Were you wearing your seat belt? If not, how (which direction) did you bail out - or did you just hang on? Was there an instinct to "put your foot out" to keep it from going over?

 

[Mylesclark]

I did not have my seat belt on. We have a fairly long driveway and it's slightly uphill. The person who does out our driveway was laid up and his replacement was late. Due to the heavy rain which then turned to ice....then thick fresh powder on top of it....I couldn't get out of the driveway. My wife went to work in the Subaru....no problem...AWD....the Toyota Matrix...no AWD...little movement. So here I was, a little annoyed to be trying to get the car out...going a little too fast and careless.

I didn't have the seatbelt on /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

As I went over I hung on to the steering wheel but my right knee did get a bruise when it hit the icy snow. I was surprised to see no scratches at all on the bx....thanks to the snow and ice. I even used an old blanket between the rops and the bucket of the neighbors tractor, so no scratches there either.

This has been an unlucky winter...or lucky in a way that nobody has been hurt or killed as a result of my "good intentions"....

A few weeks back During a super cold snap, I went out at night to check the washer fluid in the Subaru (for the wife's commute). I used a flashlight and topped it up and felt proud of myself. I remember the hood release being really stiff....but never thought of it again. Apparently when I dropped the hood of the car...it didn't latch properly or was frozen....because it was so cold and dark....I didn't pause long to check. Next day my wife is driving to work in super gusty winds and suddenly the engine hood flies up over the windshield. She managed to pull off (trying to see between the dash and the upright hood). That ended up costing $900 (canadian) for a new engine hood (didn't hurt the windshield). Thankfully she wasn't hurt or I would have felt horrible.

Can't wait till summer!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Whew! Glad to here you're all right /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif!
DaveL

 

[markie61]

I was reading the maintenace section of my TC40D owner's manual today and found a section entitled:

POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO ROPS

"If the unit has rolled over or the ROPS has been in some other type of accident (such as hitting an overhead object during transport), the ROPS must be replaced to retain the best possible protection.

Following an accident, check the ROPS, the operator's seat, and the seat belt and seat belt mountings for possible damage. Before operating the maching, replace all damaged parts.

IMPORTANT: Do not attempt to weld or straighten the ROPS." It goes on to give hardware locations and torque specifications.

I guess they are trying to say, make sure the ROPS doesn't have any hidden damage or it may not protect you next time (which we all hope is NEVER!) The same thing happens with car bumpers - they take a hit at 5-7mph and look great, but there is hidden damage inside that won't protect the next impact.

I'm glad YOU are OK and here to tell us your story. Just got me thinking....

Mark

 

[Spencer]

markie61, good point on the ROPS. I know nobody would want to take the time to snap a picture in this situation but it might come in handy later if you need to make an insurance claim.

 

[Mylesclark]

I think the stuff (snow) I was trying to move ended up cushioning the tractor when it fell. Had it landed on concrete or the bare driveway...then things may have been different.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I might as well ad my "tip" story here, too. I had been working on reshaping about 300 yds of a ditch along the road by my property for a few days. I was nearly done, and using the FEL and rear blade to get a good contour. It had rained a bit a couple of days before my tip, and as I was working one section, the tractor began a slow slide sideways on the slick mud and dirt. The tractor came to a rest with its right side wheels in the air and sitting on about a 45 degree angle. I had my seat belt on, and dangled there for a couple of minutes checking my shorts. The FEL and rear blade had dug into the side of the ditch and kept it from going over completely. Once I gathered my wits, I went back to the garage, and got a couple of tow ropes, and a come-along, and was able to swing the rear around a couple of feet. Then, I cranked the 2910 back up, and using the bucket, and the differential lock, I got enough bite on the rear tires to ease it back out. The R4 tires had loaded up with so much mud that it was like driving on slicks. Once I cleaned the mud off the side, it looked like no damage..not even a paint scratch...the only damage was to my pride. Lessons learned...don't work in the mud unless its nearly flat, and ALWAYS use the seat belt especially when working a slope or bumpy terrain. Hopefully, I will remember this wake up call for a long time.