tractor roleover

[GaryE]

<font color="blue"> I wonder if while the front end rises, the tires slip a bit and the non moving load actually ends up pulling the tractor back a bit while it's on its way over. </font>

Jeff,

I think you are correct, I seem to remember at least once there was some tire chatter / bouncing that would allow for some "moon walking". At least on the B6000 the loading point / draw bar is so close to the center of rotation of the axle, it would not have to move back that far. It is not a ride I would like to do many more times. The B6000 has no ROPS.

Gary

 

[frank_f15]

i wonder how fast he was going? i have skidded a few logs and trees , and if you are going slow AND are hooked up below the axel , if something snags you should be able to stop before a back flip. when skidding something like that i also use one of those kids sledding tubes under the end to help it slide and not dig in.

 

[GerardC]

Henro:

Some things just can't be explained.

NASCAR and others flip 5..10...15 times end over end and the driver walks away.

When Dale Earnhardt hit the wall EVERYBODY said it looked like nothing. We know the outcome. Gerard

 

[Tinkerer]

I doubt he did everything by the book. Possible, but not likely, at least in my opinion. In most cases of back flips people either hook up wrong (read top link on three point tractors) , or are going too fast to react, or sometimes both. I have pulled a fair amount of logs out and you must go slow and steady. When you get going too fast, a flip is very likely if the load suddenly gets hung up. If you are going slow,you can react to the load getting hung, in most cases you will sense it before it happens.

 

[GerardC]

I understand what your saying but do you understand what I am saying?

Some things just can't be explained as in my prior post. Whether he did it right or not, when your time is up, it's up. Gerard

 

[rdbrumfield]

I have had many years of using a tractor to pull logs and heavy loads. Yes, you can pull the front of the tractor off the ground with the tow chains hooked below the differential. Also, pulling from the three point drawbar, you have to realize that when the front starts to come up the drawbar stays level, it doesn't go down to relieve traction. Pulling with tractors that don't have loaders on them increases the risk of coming over backwards. I have noticed that even just dropping the clutch on my TO 30 ferguson, bare tractor, it will pop the front tires off the ground without anything hooked to it. When pulling with all the tractors that I have had with loaders, they spin out way before the frontend gets very light. Not to say they won't in the right conditions.

 

[Tinkerer]

Yeah, I understand what you are saying. I think it is unlikely that he did nothing to cause it, but I will agree that it is certainly possible. Sometimes you can do everything right and still end up dead.

 

[RoyJackson]

I don't skid too many trees, and the biggest one I've done was 25'-30' in length with a trunk about 12" across.
I pick the end up with the loader bucket and then rig the chain to the end bucket hooks. Then, I drive in reverse.

Now, my purpose is to move the tree without digging into the lawn. However, this does prevent a rear flip.

This requires a bit of common sense when one is rigging to the bucket hooks to prevent twisting the loader bucket or frame. It wouldn't work with a bigger tree, nor would it be an efficient method if moving a lot of trees.

If one is skidding logs as a business, I should hope they'd have a cage, rather then just a ROPS. But for us occasional users, this method works pretty good.

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> Now, my purpose is to move the tree without digging into the lawn. However, this does prevent a rear flip. </font>

Roy, I am going to agree and disagree at the same time... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

THe agree part is a rear flip could possibly happen, if for example you crashed into the right thing while moving backwards at speed. Or if you fell off a wall, or whatever. A back flip could happen.

But when backing up the dynamics seem to be reversed, just like they are if one were to move the tractor when the wheels were stuck to the ground. When trying to go forward, the tractor wants to lift the front wheels. In reverse, the tractor wants to push the front wheels down.

So I THINK, GUESS AND ASSUME that if you would be pulling backwards with a log in the bucket or somehow hooked to the bucket, that you would be in the mode to minimize a back flip opportunity, unless you did not pay attention to where you were going.

Just the way I understand it. I don't know if this is truly correct or not. Appreciate any feedback that will set me straight...if I am missing something.

Especially since I always feel safe when pulling backwards with something chained to my center bucket hook. I don't mind being fat, dumb and happy, but I sure don't want to be fat, dumb and dead...

 

[RoyJackson]

"Just the way I understand it. I don't know if this is truly correct or not. Appreciate any feedback that will set me straight...if I am missing something"

Well, I'm normally running at less then higher RPM, so I don't think I'd run into anything at speed....and I do watch where I'm going.

However, as mentioned, this is for a one or two log operation. If moving any serious quantity of logs, running in reverse isn't practical.