What have you messed up, with your tractor? Including ROPS into garage...

JohnMacca · Jan 28, 2016

Yes, I'm in the forgot-to-lower-the-ROPS-and-bashed-the-gutter club!

Only two days ago my latest effort involved my rear ballast box (44 gallon drum full of concrete). I was parked on a slight side angle and struggled for 2 or 3 minutes to get the two lower arms off. When that was finally done I jumped on the seat and moved off - only to yank the drum over using the still attached top link. :ashamed: Fortunately the only damage was to the PTO guard and my sanity. Must remember 3PL =1, 2 and 3!

KYKub · Jan 28, 2016

dmricke said:
Some older equipment used air over hydraulic braking systems which is probably what his truck had. Most modern stuff now requires air pressure to release the brakes.

Thanks, dmricke. It was an old Mack truck, probably from the 50s or maybe early 60s (it seemed ancient, even when I was a kid in the 70s).

buckeyefarmer · Jan 28, 2016

Got my barn door pushing snow this week. Nice little hole.

lennyzx11 · Jan 29, 2016

3301/HST I have managed to come to a dead stop wondering WTH! pulling forward into my shop with 7 ft door. Yep ROPS up.
And whiskey knotting the wood trim on the side of the door with the bucket backing in at an angle to get past the boat.
Noticed I have a crack in the taillight housing after using the box blade and grapple enthusiastically clearing some brush back of the yard.

In the old days with a 1947 Ford 8n. The live pto and spinning brush hog pushed me through a tin barn wall. I wished I had pictures of the fords grill sticking inside that wall framed by the crumpled tin! It was hilarious. (But not at the time...)

rd_macgregor · Jan 29, 2016

Learning by experience.
Early in my tractor-owning career, I parked the tractor on the lawn, lowered everything...then forgot to raise the FEL bucket before I drove off the next morning. Inadvertently leaving the box blade down can also create more work (and wifely negative feedback).
I also idled down the gravel driveway once with the PTO still engaged and brush mower on the back...shot a piece of gravel through the biggest window in the house.
I've noticed more than once that things in front and back swing wide when turning.
Threads like this make me almost glad that I don't have a garage.

rd_macgregor · Jan 29, 2016

Learning by experience.
Early in my tractor-owning career, I parked the tractor on the lawn, lowered everything...then forgot to raise the FEL bucket before I drove off the next morning. Inadvertently leaving the box blade down can also create more work (and wifely negative feedback).
I also idled down the gravel driveway once with the PTO still engaged and brush mower on the back...shot a piece of gravel through the biggest window in the house.
I've noticed more than once that things in front and back swing wide when turning.
Threads like this make me almost glad that I don't have a garage.

Jay4200 · Jan 29, 2016

I've beat the **** out of my barn. I tore the main doors off twice in one weekend this past summer. A few years ago, I forgot I had my backhoe dipper extended and backed into the front wall of my barn - punched a hole right through it.

onelostdogg · Jan 29, 2016

Rookie here. So not a big story by veteran standards. 15 hrs. on machine. Looked at loader, looked at back blade, looked at loader again and proceeded to rip the corner trim off my T-111 workshop with back blade. Little 1/4" deep x 8" long gouge on siding but being my first mistake, stung a little.

/pine · Jan 29, 2016

OK...I've moved beyond most of the embarrassment...!
The first time I forgot to lower the boom pole before passing under the arbor that used to span across the way to the lower drive...the tractor just did a wheelie and I hit the clutch...The second and final time I was moving too fast and before I realized what was happening I was wearing the peak of the gable arbor like a lei...! The ROPS saved me a headache or worse for sure...