Using bucket as work platform.

[Henro]

Like anything else we do in life, using the bucket as a work platform is a risk VS Benefit situation.

The risk is that the bucket falls to the ground quickly. Most likely cause would be burst hose. What are the chances that your 200 lbs or so would cause a catastrophic hose failure? Less than if the bucket was full of wet dirt for sure.

But it COULD happen. Pilot-operated check valves mounted on the loader cylinders would eliminate the burst hose issue but would not eliminate some kind of internal cylinder failure issue.

Myself, I personally have pretty much concluded that since I know my tractor, maintain it pretty well, and so on, that if I want to use my bucket as a work platform I will, and I won't worry too much about doing so. I am comfortable with doing this...

Heck, at work we are not allowed to go up a ladder unless someone is holding the bottom while we climb it and tie it off at the top...how many here tie their ladder off at the top every time the climb up, and have someone holding the bottom every time they climb up to tie it off?

Everything is a balance between a level of safety and what is practical.

Attached is a shot of my bucket doing double duty as related to this thread...

 

[browns40]

Hi N80,

One of those things you get away with 99% of the time, that's stupid 100% of the time...

That said, I've worked on FEL buckets, backhoe buckets, swinging on scallop & urchin drags at sea, leaning over roofs, hanging off rigging to grease blocks or replace things, etc.... many, many dumb "work surfaces" in much worse conditions than a nice dry tractor bucket... and the odds have been kind...

It's a calculated risk for sure... risk vs. reward for the task at hand

 

[frank_f15]

I have done it also, but only a few times, mostly for trimming my humungus willow tree., not to much difference from falling out of a Fel than falling off an 8' step ladder. But of course this is just MHO

 

[SkyPup]

One thing is for absolute certain:

If it is your tractor and someone gets injured while working out of your FEL, you will pay for it out the proverbial wazzo (ie the original tractor purchase will look real cheap compared to the multitude of attorney fees, court costs, medical bills, disability, pain & suffering, personal injury, etc.)

 

[3RRL]

I've often thought about suing myself just to teach me a lesson. LOL, I bet I could win here in California.

 

[Soundguy]

I thinkanyone that owns a FEl has at one point been in the bucket, either by ladder, or by telling the wife what lever to push. Safe? well.. we all know the rules.. etc.

As for other units.. like hyd lifts.. etc. I've seen some with inertial arestors.. that is.. if the bucket falls faster than it normally would from the exhaust orifice, then it latches or catches.

As for other units.. can't say.. they may or may not have special check valves. Even if they did.. a hose or cyl failure may bypass the check system.. etc.

Soundguy

 

[SkyPup]

I've often thought about suing myself just to teach me a lesson. LOL, I bet I could win here in California.

LOL, I bet you could too, especially in that juristiction.


"Your Honor, I'm sorry I let that 12,000 rpm chainsaw slip as I was standing in the elevated FEL bucket, but my three year old daughter accidentally pushed the joystick the wrong way when I tried to yell to her over the roar of the chainsaw - "Higher" Higher" .........

 

[firemanpat2910]

there is no easier way to fill those tripod deer feeders than rideing the bucket,just make sure who ever lifts you up will let you down We left one of our buddies for about 5 minutes, until he theatened to knock the feeder over.

 

[Boomerang1]

I suppose that check valves might be what makes manlifts safer. Still curious though.

Ding ding! Manlifts have safety check vavles in each cylinder. Also OSHA requires a 42" high railing.

 

[schmism]

tWe left one of our buddies for about 5 minutes,

oh come on... if climbed down, and hung from the edge, even at 8' in the air, thats a 2' drop tops....