When are kids old enough to start operating tractor?

[Rhinorider]

I'm with the concenus here. Depends on maturity. I ran a JD 350 dozer when I was 7 and D-9's buy 12. It seems to me that my generation (boomer) has dropped the ball by not educating our youth on mechanical abilities. There are members of my family that have a hard time finding the pull rope on the mower, let alone getting on a piece of machinery.

 

[930ck]

Ran a wd 45 allis by myself springtoothing at around 10 years old, wasnt strong enough to push in on the clutch so my dad would get me going, then jump off, told me if something went wrong or I finished, just turn tractor off. My dad did make sure to start me away from the edge of the field. By that age I had logged many hours of fender time.

 

[Darrenone]

To me it is about the child, each very different. My son is a very cautious child and listens very well to what I tell him about equipment. We talk about how dangerous machinery can be and that they are not a toy. I had him on a 4 wheeler with me before he could walk. He is 5 now and can drive my zero turn mower better then my wife. I don't actually let him mow, but he drives it very well. He can drive my fathers dozer with me sitting in the seat with him, he has operated mini excavators, again with me or relative in the seat with him. He operates the back hoe on my Kubota very well. I believe all these experiences help him in life. He learns how to judge distance and speed, learns common sense and how to be cautious with equipment. I do believe all of this will help him as he gets older.

 

[Triguy1]

I am all for teaching young and letting them experience the kinds of things that I did. One limiting factor is the seat nanny on my BX. My 9 and 10 year old are not heavy enough to run it, though I was out operating heavy equipment at that age. I will not override the safety equipment as it is there for a reason, but that means that my kids will have to delay the true independent experience. That may be ok, I guess.

 

[Domush]

I agree with many of the replies, any age would be entirely arbitrary.

I think you are old enough when you are able and willing to respect the dangers inherent in operating a Tractor and not one day prior.

 

[FinMod]

As I was mowing yesterday, I was thinking of just this topic. I have 2 boys just shy of 9 - one of which has been looking forward to driving the tractor. He is generally a bit unfocussed, but understands a tractor is serious and brings his "A" game. When I quiz him on the steps for stuff like mowing, he works straight through a mental list - ROPS, seat belt, engine speed, PTO position, PTO, etc. I am sure he could mow the flat, football field sized section of our lawn but for one thing. He is thin and cannot reach the pedals with enough weight on the seat to go forward and still keep it running. When I drove tractor (at about his age) I had no ROPS, no seat belt and had speed controlled by hand throttle. My question on this topic is around pedal extension or an alternate solution for a short light driver on a John Deere 2520?

Thanks, Ray

 

[radioman]

Well -- I'd say it depends on kids maturity. Problem is that 20 years ago, alot of things were more manually done, kids were given more heavy duty responsibilities. Now things are more automated, taken for granted, less time was taken to teach young kids value of hard work. So the age to start using tractors or heavy eequipment seems to go up proportionally to the poor attitudes of kids these days.

I wouldnt be surprised to see a 7-10 year old driving a tractor on a farm compared to a 18 year old learning how to drive a riding mower in suburbs. Stereotyping? yes I am unfortunately.

 

[bucktaker]

While I agree with the general tone of of maturity lets not forget the tragic news of some young child who is seriously injured or killed while operating machinery. Accidents do happen often. Proper supervision and maturity are the keys in this disscusion.

 

[wedge40]

Of the people that started at an early age. how many things did you run into and what..
I was on riding 3 speed mower.. I do remember screwing up and riding the thing up one of the swing set poles.. Managed to stop in time and was worried that Dad would see the paint missing on the Cub and have a cow. Funny thing was about a week later he ran the thing into the cloths line pole.. Same spot same paint.. LOL

 

[yelbike]

Thanks for the comic relief!!!:laughing::cool2: