Tractor pulling safety

[Birdhunter1]

My mom's dad died in 1976 (4 years before I was born) of a tractor rollover, he was pulling logs out of the woods and where he had crossed a creekbank a log caught on a stump, the chain was hooked to a hitch bar mounted between the lift arms on the tractor (I think it was either a David Brown or an Oliver), in the 60-80 horse power range I belive. Dad was the one that found him, he has always stressed not doing stupid things with a tractor. Those lift arm mounted drawbars are nothing but trouble, if used to pull a trailer they have nothing keeping them from going up, used the drawbar mounted to teh belly of the tractor, that is what it's for.

I read that CDC article above, everyone of those cases involved (to me) people trying to do things more than the tractor is capable of and of course hitching the chain to high. What sounds odd to me is I can't think of very many tractors near 50 horse (like most of those in that article) that don't have a drawbar mounted to the belly of the tractor.

 

[ovrszd]

My mom's dad died in 1976 (4 years before I was born) of a tractor rollover, he was pulling logs out of the woods and where he had crossed a creekbank a log caught on a stump, the chain was hooked to a hitch bar mounted between the lift arms on the tractor (I think it was either a David Brown or an Oliver), in the 60-80 horse power range I belive. Dad was the one that found him, he has always stressed not doing stupid things with a tractor. Those lift arm mounted drawbars are nothing but trouble, if used to pull a trailer they have nothing keeping them from going up, used the drawbar mounted to teh belly of the tractor, that is what it's for.

I read that CDC article above, everyone of those cases involved (to me) people trying to do things more than the tractor is capable of and of course hitching the chain to high. What sounds odd to me is I can't think of very many tractors near 50 horse (like most of those in that article) that don't have a drawbar mounted to the belly of the tractor.

Yep, I don't think I've saw a 3pt tractor that didn't have a rigid drawbar below the axle. I think there are a lot of people on here that use their 3pt drawbar for pulling at times. I know I do, have all my life. Is it dangerous?? You bet!!! Is it insane to get carried away with it, yanking on stuff or going fast with something hooked too high like the incident you referred to??? You Bet!!! Are we endangering ourselves and those around us when we do this??? You Bet!!!! Are you endangering yourself and those around you when you drive and talk on your cell phone??? You Bet!!! I'm willing to bet there are more people reading this thread that talk on their phone while driving than use their 3pt drawbar dangerously. I'm also willing to bet there have been more deaths from inattention while driving than from overbackwards tractor accidents. Hmmm. My point is we ALL do things that others consider dangerous. Sometimes they are even neccessary in our minds. Just gotta keep "situation awareness" at all times!!!!

 

[Soundguy]

Soundguy, I would think you would have a #4 and it would be that you live in central Florida where you don't get enough freeze to stick a tricycle much less a tractor . Am I wrong?

We do sometimes get about a month or so of weather cold enough to get a few inches of ice in the correct conditions.. etc.. but for the most part.. i don't look for solid frozen ground often.

Soundguy

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Yep, I don't think I've saw a 3pt tractor that didn't have a rigid drawbar below the axle.

Actually, a good many of those early Ford N's and Fergies came without fixed drawbars. That was more of an effort to promote using the 3-point hitch than any other reason. Most came with 3-point drawbars and the "stay bars". (not sway bars) A large part of those tractors today have aftermarket fixed drawbars.

As long as a 3-point drawbar is used SAFELY, they weren't all that dangerous. Problem is/was, it's all too easy to use them in a dangerous manner.

 

[Soundguy]

The logical fallacy in your argument comparing vehicle accidents due to inattention to tractor backflips is due to the huge disproportion int he number of people driving tractors, and the number of cars on the road. I'd wager that there are more cars ont he road than tractors.. by a 'factor'.. thus you can't compair direct numbers of accidents.... For instance.. take # of all cars on the road, and then look at the number of accidents.. vs numbers of tractors in use. then the numbers of accidents.. do the math and see the percentage. Farm accidents are amazingly high.. unfortunately.

Soundguy

Yep, I don't think I've saw a 3pt tractor that didn't have a rigid drawbar below the axle. I think there are a lot of people on here that use their 3pt drawbar for pulling at times. I know I do, have all my life. Is it dangerous?? You bet!!! Is it insane to get carried away with it, yanking on stuff or going fast with something hooked too high like the incident you referred to??? You Bet!!! Are we endangering ourselves and those around us when we do this??? You Bet!!!! Are you endangering yourself and those around you when you drive and talk on your cell phone??? You Bet!!! I'm willing to bet there are more people reading this thread that talk on their phone while driving than use their 3pt drawbar dangerously. I'm also willing to bet there have been more deaths from inattention while driving than from overbackwards tractor accidents. Hmmm. My point is we ALL do things that others consider dangerous. Sometimes they are even neccessary in our minds. Just gotta keep "situation awareness" at all times!!!!

 

[Farmwithjunk]

The logical fallacy in your argument comparing vehicle accidents due to inattention to tractor backflips is due to the huge disproportion int he number of people driving tractors, and the number of cars on the road. I'd wager that there are more cars ont he road than tractors.. by a 'factor'.. thus you can't compair direct numbers of accidents.... For instance.. take # of all cars on the road, and then look at the number of accidents.. vs numbers of tractors in use. then the numbers of accidents.. do the math and see the percentage. Farm accidents are amazingly high.. unfortunately.

Soundguy

I've seen several listings of dangerous professions. The 3 that ALWAYS come to the top of the list, varying from list to list are, Underground miners, roofers, and FARMERS. Granted, the numbers for farmers reflect grain bin accidents, PTO drive shaft accidents, ect, but a disproportionate high number are tractor roll-overs/flips. Operate in a dangerous environment and sooner or later, odds catch up with some of us, attentive or INattentive.

 

[Soundguy]

Yep. the 9n and 2n did not have the diffy tapped for the under-diffy drawbar bracket. That was an 8n 'feature'. Thus.. from 1939 thru early 1947.. no fixed drawbar...

There were retrofits that used the 4 bolts around the pto bearing carrier to hold on a bracket that you could pin a drawbar to, and then have it rest on the 3pt drawbar.. etc.. but it was a potluck arangement resulting in may rear end repairs...

Soundguy

Actually, a good many of those early Ford N's and Fergies came without fixed drawbars. That was more of an effort to promote using the 3-point hitch than any other reason. Most came with 3-point drawbars and the "stay bars". (not sway bars) A large part of those tractors today have aftermarket fixed drawbars.

As long as a 3-point drawbar is used SAFELY, they weren't all that dangerous. Problem is/was, it's all too easy to use them in a dangerous manner.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Yep. the 9n and 2n did not have the diffy tapped for the under-diffy drawbar bracket. That was an 8n 'feature'. Thus.. from 1939 thru early 1947.. no fixed drawbar...

There were retrofits that used the 4 bolts around the pto bearing carrier to hold on a bracket that you could pin a drawbar to, and then have it rest on the 3pt drawbar.. etc.. but it was a potluck arangement resulting in may rear end repairs...

Soundguy

Those early Fords were from a time when saftey wasn't exactly a prime consideration. Take as an example their early attempts at a brush cutter. Farm saftey has taken the high road since those days, but still has a ways to go.

 

[Soundguy]

You mean that 3' spinning blade that more or less bolted to the angled belt pullet attachment, when it was in the 'facing down' position.

Yep.. I'll bet that would make hamburger out of an operator that hit something and when over the back.

Soundguy

 

[Farmwithjunk]

You mean that 3' spinning blade that more or less bolted to the angled belt pullet attachment, when it was in the 'facing down' position.

Yep.. I'll bet that would make hamburger out of an operator that hit something and when over the back.

Soundguy

That be the one.