Using bucket as work platform.

[Soundguy]

Lots of implements with hyds have drop in 'locks' to prevent hyd cyl colapse beyond a certain point. The hyd lift cyls on my JD batwing mower have locks that flip over the exposed piston rod for when yuo are transporting the mower down the road.. that way if there is a hyd failure.. or if hyds are not available on the tow vehicle, you are set, without the fear of the mower bottoming out on the road.

Soundguy

 

[slowzuki]

I'll tag on a story, working in a frozen food warehouse back in school I watched 8 tons of banannas take the express ride down from 20 ft up when the internal relief valve of the fork lift blew. The fork lift was in good shape and had regular maintenance but the spring or something just gave out.

I frequently have to remind people to stay out from under the bucket of the tractor.

I recently had a scare too forgeting the machine was in 2wd while taking section of my building downhill to the building. Nearly punched a hole in the wall as I slid to a stop about 6" short of it.

 

[kwolfe]

I have been following this thread off & on. While getting the Christmas tree today at a local cut your own tree farm. The owner related a twist to this topic.
He was stringing lights on some of his 20' fir trees with 2 helpers. He was operating his JD 4510 as a lift, with a pallet as the platform on pallet forks.
The two helpers were on the platform at full height stringing lights, when the owner was called away from the tractor. Both helpers continued stringing the lights. At this point, the helpers 10 y/o son climbs on the tractor, and grabs the loader joystick. The platform dropped 4' as the hollering started. Fortunately the only injury was to the feelings of the 10 y/o son as the owner corrected his behavior.

As he told the story, I stated my reaction, which is that tractors & 10 y/o kids are not a good combination, nor are folks of any age who are unfamiliar with the equipment at hand.

In this case, no mechanical failure occurred, just the curiosity of a 10 y/o kid.
The failure was that the owner neglected to insure the safety of the helpers depending on him. I imagine that if this technique is used in the future, he will lower the work platform/loader to the ground, prior to leaving the tractor seat.

In a side note, when I arrived to cut down the Christmas tree with chain saw in hand, he stated that due to liability issues, I could only use a hand saw.
"Safety First" I guess.......

WALT

My Kubota loader has a sliding bolt that locks the joystick, preventing it from moving around. That would have helped your situation. Still, need to be safe though.

 

[patrick_g]

Those joy stick locks are to keep the operator from accidently moving the controls and don't make the device safer as regards hydraulic failure.

Now as to the kid. Notice the complexity of the games they play? I don't think the joystick lock would have changed much. If he wanted to "see what this does" the lock would have not made much difference.

Pat

 

[JBX]

Hi Henro,
Thank you for the post and picture.
You are brave! That is not a safe setup!
However, I am sure you knew that and I am guilty of this type of work platform also.

Don't work off that plank setup again! But if you do, may I make a couple of suggestions?

1. tie or fasten the plank ends down so they don't slip or slide on the smooth metal.
2. Make sure any electric lines around you are dead or safely insulated.
3. Consider wearing a safety harness with a "D" ring on the back with a short safety lanyard, and use it clipped onto an eyebolt or something that is screwed or bolted onto the house. Everything under this setup was metal and hard edged.
4. It is a good idea to have a helper, or spotter or "gopher".
No, I am not picking on you, just offering some advice.
May you live long and prosper with your tractor.

 

[InspectorGadget]

I have a set of Paynes clamp on forks for my bucket and I hook them into a heavly covered pallet and use it as a work platform all the time. Good thing I don't keep much life insurance as the wife is my driver. If I were more heavily insured I might be more cautious thinking she might be tempted to try to make a mistake and then be able to turn in a claim. LOL
C-YA RL

 

[Rara Avis]

There are many reasons for risk. They all have to do with some perceived gain:

As the U.S. slides into 3rd world status...then we too will be able to perform all of the above tasks...

 

[Chuck K.]

This worked well for a recent project

 

[3RRL]

This worked well for a recent project

View attachment 110737

That's funny Chuck, I got a kick out of your photo.
Looks like you made that just so you could get in there and drink a cooler full of beer!
2x high lol...

 

[Soundguy]

I've seen plenty of stuff like in those pics in rural america..stuff stacked on compact cars with arms hanging out the window holding them...

soundguy