Wounded on my tractor

[RayCo]

Although, I can't explain exactly how this happened, I wound up jumping off my tractor yesterday and running inside to see where my face was bleeding. I was backing up while moving some debris around, and as I stopped and turned my head around to go forward, I got smacked in the face by a 2" stick from the debris pile. It was bowed back from my loader and it sprung loose and hit me in the lip. Luckily, I didn't lose any teeth or anything; just got a bloody lip and perhaps a little blood from my lower gums.

Like I said, I can't explain how this happened, since backing up shouldn't make something spring at me from the loader. But, either way, just thought I'd share as a reminder that you have to have your eyes going in every direction around you at all times, not just your direction of travel! Sure wish I had a cab.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Glad your okay... The cab would have saved you, but that stick also would have probably busted the glass. Not sure whats worse, a bloody mouth or a $1000 repair bill.

 

[woodchuckie]

I've had most of my close calls with limbs springing off of my rops while making and improving trails. I'm much more aware of them then I used to be but you really have to watch for them.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

When I was buying my L5030 a couple yrs ago, there was one in for repair that had a log go thru the front end.

 

[Modn]

When I was buying my L5030 a couple yrs ago, there was one in for repair that had a log go thru the front end.

Been there done that on the stick hanging out of the front from the radiator.... I had a stick about 6' long hit me in the arm just yesterday as I ran over it with the front left tire. Sometimes weird things just happen I guess not matter how careful you are.

 

[IslandTractor]

Posts like this make me want to get one of those operator brush guard thingies installed. I also do a lot of brush removal and get whacked more often than I'd like. Haven't taken one in the chops yet though.

It isn't such a big deal to get some tubing to fabricate a simple four point system with a mesh screen. It could be semi permanently attached to the ROPS without drilling etc. It doesn't need to be a true logging type system to be helpful with brush. I already have a sturdy sunshade so it really would be just a matter of running tubing from the FEL post up to the sunshade bracket then adding a screen of some sort. I doubt I'll get around to doing it before I get whacked like you did however. I'm a big one for closing the barn door after the cows have left.

 

[sunnyside360]

After more than 40 years of tractoring, I've been whacked a few times. Some worse than others but none pleasant. Worst was getting a gash over the eye and having to get stitches -- scary with lots of blood in the eye and knocked practically unconscious. Hard hat with shield is not a bad idea when working in the woods.

 

[RayCo]

Cuts and things are fine. I'm now mostly fearful of getting impaled in such a situation where the stick has broken branch nubs. That would have hurt if I had gotten impaled in the mouth.

 

[LBrown59]

Although, I can't explain exactly how this happened, I wound up jumping off my tractor yesterday and running inside to see where my face was bleeding. I was backing up while moving some debris around, and as I stopped and turned my head around to go forward, I got smacked in the face by a 2" stick from the debris pile. It was bowed back from my loader and it sprung loose and hit me in the lip. Luckily, I didn't lose any teeth or anything; just got a bloody lip and perhaps a little blood from my lower gums.

Like I said, I can't explain how this happened, since backing up shouldn't make something spring at me from the loader. But, either way, just thought I'd share as a reminder that you have to have your eyes going in every direction around you at all times, not just your direction of travel! Sure wish I had a cab.

I found out you have to watch that real close when moving brush with the fel when I grubbed about .6 acres a couple of winters ago.

A Spring loaded branch just ain't healthy.

 

[LBrown59]

. I'm a big one for closing the barn door after the cows have left.

You shut the door I'll round up the cows.