turn off the shredder

[fireshawn]

I was shredding a pasture the other day and ran over some twine. I got off to cut it w/out turning off the shredder. One side went fine, the other side started winding up in the blades after I picked it up resulting in a rope burn that went to the bone on one finger, and almost there on the other one. I am just glad my angel was watching over me and that I didn't get sucked in w/ it. I am posting a picture of my hand to remind peeps that turning it off might take an extra few steps but keeping safe is worth it. I lucked out w/ only a few stitches and having to take a few days off from my real job (hard to fight fires w/ a bum hand), it could have been much worse.

 

[DieselPower]

Glad to hear you didn't get sucked in. It could have been a whole lot worse. A good rule of thumb, never work on anything when it is running and never get under anything unless it's properly supported.

 

[lug nut]

Glad it was only a couple of fingers. It could have been a lot worse.

 

[N80]

I don't get off the tractor with the pto running.

 

[GaryM]

Many newer machines have an operator presence switch that kills the engine if you get off the seat with it in gear or if the PTO is engaged.

Glad you didn't get hurt worse. Those kind of cuts sure hurt don't they.

 

[RoyJackson]

Many newer machines have an operator presence switch that kills the engine if you get off the seat with it in gear or if the PTO is engaged.

Yeah, but they can be overridden quite easily...

 

[N80]

Yeah, but they can be overridden quite easily...

Yep, and in a number of ways. On my tractor, all you have to do is lean the seat forward and the PTO will run without you being on the tractor.

I'll admit that I have done this once or twice with the shredder on. However, it was done on purpose and very carefully as I was working on the gear box. (I'd filled it full of water remover and wanted to run it a few minutes.) I got off the tractor to make sure everything looked okay and I was very cautious.

I guess I just have a healthy fear of a spinning pto shaft and I might be overly cautios, but it isn't costing me anything to be that way.

 

[Jimmyb33]

Looks like it would have been a good time to be wearing a nice pair of leather gloves too.

 

[RoyJackson]

Looks like it would have been a good time to be wearing a nice pair of leather gloves too.

Yeah...but don't use the gauntlet type...that's just something else that can be snagged by the PTO.

 

[fireshawn]

I tried to put gloves on when I went back to finish, finger was too swollen. Lesson learned, and fortunately it was only a painfull lesson, not a dead one. My machine doesn't have an operator presence switch.