Young Operators - How young is too young?

Soundguy · Apr 5, 2005

So much has changed over the years. i remember mowing the yard as a kid.. and dad having to come out and pull start the lawnmower for me.. then i mower till I stalled it.. or the yard was done.

Sounds like you are getting some good advice here!

Soundguy

AlanB · Apr 5, 2005

Maybe I should not post in twice, and especially look like I am on both sides of the fence here, but my wife, who grew up on a farm, one of her earliest memories, I am guessing six or so, is of running over her brother with the tractor. She was driving and could not shift, he jumped up on the side, and shifted and somewhere in the process got hung in a tire and dragged under the tractor. The ground was somewhat soft but it was still a pretty terrible accident, mangled broken leg, pelvis and chest I believe.

Was it her fault driving? Her 14 or 15 year old brothers fault for jumping up there, or their fathers fault for being up on the hay wagon stacking things? Or was it a matter of thier economy at the time pretty much mandated that they all work?

I keep the kids about 30' away when running the tractor, I am not sure what I would do if I ran over one of my own kids.

Mith · Apr 5, 2005

( I would say at a Tractor/Loader could be operated by a 16yr old under some level of adult supervision )

Just to say, here in the UK when you turn 16 you can apply (by showing your birth certificate) to get a full licence to operate tractors and agricultural macinery on and off the road.
I think maybe having adult supervision for a 16 y/o is maybe a bit extreme, but i am viewing it from the opposite side of the age barrier to you. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

btolle · Apr 5, 2005

Dpends on the maturity level of the young person, not their age.

For instance, I had a young man start working for me on Saturdays when he was 15. I taught him to ride the riding mower but would not let him near the tractor even when he quit at 17. He was just not responsible enough.

A 14 year old who took his place about 3 weeks ago and is already way ahead of where the first kid was. While I will wait at least 6 months before I would consider letting him on the tractor he is careful enough he will probably be able to handle some dirt work. No bush hogging for a while though, too dangerous.

First kid, I had to remind him every week to wear safety glasses while weedeating. Second kid, I have never had to remind him, he automatically puts them on every time.

Bill Tolle

dholly · Apr 5, 2005

( I think maybe having adult supervision for a 16 y/o is maybe a bit extreme, but i am viewing it from the opposite side of the age barrier to you. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

You know, I'm doing my darnest not to let my paternal instincts get TOO far in the way of their growing and learning. Personally, in my case, I don't think 16 is too young to be trusted with a tractor (after passing basic training of course). At 16, my oldest now has her driving permit and is happily motoring on the public highways. I've found her to be a much better auto driver than lawn tractor driver. Last year she put the mower into the creek! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

virgil · Apr 5, 2005

I just got to bite on this one...

Perhaps a better tittle would be "how old is old enough"?

Bunch of us have grown up around machinery, we know it, we understand it, we respect it, we have seen it take loved ones from us.

I have a very deer friend (52 years old) whom I would not trust with a weed eater...he will either hurt himself or someone else EVERY time.

Some folks just are not able to opperate machinery of any kind reguardless of their age..

That's OK, I am not able to do lots of things... fill out a drug prescription, do my taxes, build a large building, bla bla bla.

Some folks seam to have a gift about machinery.. there is nothing out there that they are not able to master in just a few hours.. I am not one of those folks.

My baby boy (24 years old) is able to climb onto just about any machine out there, preform a job without abuse and get it done right the first time..he is a whiz with hand tools, can think ahead as far as construction scheduleing and only has a highschool degree. My oldest is 27, collegue educated, and is a dangerous person to be around when he mows the grass.. but can he ever do financing / banking / fiscal forcasting... paper work is his domain.

everyone is differant., know your limits, and the limits of the machine.

Bob_Skurka · Apr 5, 2005

I have a very deer friend (52 years old) whom I would not trust with a weed eater...he will either hurt himself or someone else EVERY time.


Thinking about your post, I just have to say that my older brother is NOT allowed on or near anything diesel powered. In fact, when it comes to tools, if it is more complicated that duct tape, we have to take it away from him for his own good and the good of all humanity.

My brother is pretty close to a genius, but he doesn't do well with tools.

I suppose something other than age should be the determining factor?

oliver28472 · Apr 5, 2005

Bob and virgil said it best. Age alone does not qualify anyone to operate machinery. Some get it and some do not. I started on a 500 Case pulling a hay wagon. Don't remember how old I was, probably 5 or 6. The Case had power steering and a hand clutch. It was the only tractor we had that I could steer. Put it in 1st gear and drove between the bales. Did not drive it on the road until much older.

BigMccorm · Apr 5, 2005

I myself started out very young. My uncle and grandfather used to let me help them when I was only 7 years old. My parents let me mow the yard myself first when I was 9. That was 8 years ago and I have yet to get hurt. This is mainly due to the fact that I was taught safety at a young age and now what is safe and what isn't.

As to the question, the decision is based on whether or not the parent feels comfortable letting their child run the piece of machinery. There is no size cut off, just the parents feeling.

fig · Apr 5, 2005

dholly,

A lot of people have already chimed in, but I was very young when my dad allowed me to mow the yard (probably 5 yrs old) on the old Sears lawn/garden tractor. I could not reach the clutch; he had to start me out and stop me. I mowed in 1st gear and steered clear of all objects. I was riding a go kart at 4 yrs old (have the movie reels to show it).

I am only 33 yrs old and I have a 16 month old. I have had my high school buddies moms talk about how we never sat in car seats, but try that now. A cop or other people will make you feel like a sorry parent if seen or caught not putting your child in a seat today. Just goes to show how times have changed.

I have always been a motor head and not scared to operate any piece of machinery out there, but DO NOT allow my older brother to operate anything. I feel like some of the others; depends on the child, their maturity, and their abilities.