ROPS Saves - How Rough is It

[Spanky100]

Question for someone that has taken a CUT a little past the limit. What was it like as you soil your drawers. You will likely be exposed to a 90 degree side roll with a quick stop. I am pretty conservative (or chicken) when it come to taking the tractor on much of side grade and will usually go up and down any significant grade.

Wondering how rough a side tip would be on a midsize CUT with the ROPS stopping the roll. I am thinking the seatbelt will hold your behind into the seat but your hands/legs/chest and head are going to be tossed around pretty rough I would guess.

Any first hand knowledge?

Thanks

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Question for someone that has taken a CUT a little past the limit. What was it like as you soil your drawers. You will likely be exposed to a 90 degree side roll with a quick stop. I am pretty conservative (or chicken) when it come to taking the tractor on much of side grade and will usually go up and down any significant grade.

Wondering how rough a side tip would be on a midsize CUT with the ROPS stopping the roll. I am thinking the seatbelt will hold your behind into the seat but your hands/legs/chest and head are going to be tossed around pretty rough I would guess.

Any first hand knowledge?

Thanks

Why, are you planning on rolling it over???

 

[jonyyuma]

Just sliding sideways is not any fun, and bothers me.. But ,you want a account of hanging by the belt?

 

[retiredmgn]

I am thinking the seatbelt will hold your behind into the seat but your hands/legs/chest and head are going to be tossed around pretty rough I would guess.

Any first hand knowledge?

Thanks

Maybe the engineers took the directive from Corporate a little too litteral...
"We want a system that will save the operators a??."

 

[groundcover]

I flopped a Bobcact skid steer on it's side but that also has the bar that folds down in front of you,kind of like a roller coster , come to think of it that's how it felt as I was on the way over ! I would do my best to keep four on the floor, wasn't really all that much fun after all !:laughing:

 

[Taylortractornut]

Does this count? If it does then it wasnt that bad I had a death grip on the blade control lever and the shift lever gaurd as well as my belt. I fell off a 5 foot tall low boy. Never rolled a tractor though. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...lucky-today-new-nickname-taylors-rollover.jpg

 

[Spanky100]

I flopped a Bobcact skid steer on it's side but that also has the bar that folds down in front of you,kind of like a roller coster , come to think of it that's how it felt as I was on the way over ! I would do my best to keep four on the floor, wasn't really all that much fun after all !:laughing:

No more coaster rides for Groundcover. I remember the the bar they "lock" you in with. Works well if you are full grown, not to well for a slim child, but IIRC your put you hands up anyway on a coaster. sound like one time is enough.

thanks

 

[Spanky100]

Does this count? If it does then it wasnt that bad I had a death grip on the blade control lever and the shift lever gaurd as well as my belt. I fell off a 5 foot tall low boy. Never rolled a tractor though. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...lucky-today-new-nickname-taylors-rollover.jpg

Taylortractornut

Yes I would give that a 10 of 10 score. I think tracked equipment would take a pretty hard to roll on steep grade but you used a tall low boy to show us it could be done under special conditions.

I would count that picture as close enough so no need to repeat it on a wheeled tractor with a grade. Sounds like you went to protection mode and held on, not hurt, and had one of those great Kodak moments. Do you let someone else unload the equipment now?

Thanks

 

[Taylortractornut]

Yeah thats on the list of things not to do again. I didnt let it bother me I tried to get the low boy to wait and let me load it again after the oil resettled. I ended up loading it on Monday. ALot of good operator have been ruined after having an accident like that and refuse to load/unload or get un nerved on slopes. I had already loaded it and set the parking brake. It slid right before I undid my belt to get off. An airbag under the low boy had leaked down after I loaded and the deck was wet.

WHat hurt worse was the cell phone that flew out of my coveralls pocket and beaned me in the head. I ve loaded this dozer over 100 times and have trouble on the break over as its all metal the deck is wood. with metal edging. That day it went smooth as silk. The sliding off was kinda slow motion, then the track dug in and it got fast then slow again. Kinda like whe you see a machine on Axemen and theres a crash and the camera does its thing its like that except for the kungfu gripp on the shift lever gaurd and blade control handle. I always wear a belt loading or working a steep slope.

Im firm believer in a belt on a machine with a Rops. My accident really enforced this policy with me.

 

[rd_macgregor]

A number of years ago I managed to tip a Kubota mini-ex on its side through operator error, of course. It didn't hurt the machine at all, spilled only a little diesel fuel and strained an intercostal muscle that made it hurt to move (or breathe!) for most of a week. Hanging sideways from your seatbelt may be better than being tossed overboard, but it isn't all that comfortable, either.
BOB

 

[cmyoung2]

We roll an old Ford 801 workmaster as a demo, have a cage built to protect the body. Roll it one time with ROPS, next without. Use a dummy- Tyveck suit stuffed with straw, belted in with ROPS, no belt without. Everytime I am amazed how violent the trip down the hill is. It is obvious that the belt and ROPS keeps you in the safety zone, but it is also pretty obvious that it is much worse than a roller coaster/bumper car combined. Without ROPS, Dummy Dan is dead every time. We have rolled the tractor so many times over the last 17 years it is breaking apart at the engine/transmission mounts. Use it mainly for youth- 4-H/FFA groups, adults when we can. I never want to be on one that goes over, but it happens.

 

[riptides]

I was squashed like a bug.

Roll Over first hand

 

[tommu56]

When I rolled mine was in s-----------l--------------o-------------w motion
Wheel in dip bucket up yadayadayad I even turned the key off just before it stopped on its side it seemed to take for ever going over.
The only thing hurt was my pride pulled the tractor back up right with a good comalong let it sit for 2-3 hours checked fluids and started it up.

And I don't want to do it again.
I've even put the out riggers almost down to the ground to give me a wider foot print and some times there is still a clench mark in the seat of the tractor.

tom

 

[Jenkins003]

My friend rolled his John Deer and he said the same thing that it was in slow motion. He didn't have a roll bar or seat belt. He said it was so slow he managed to step off and landed on his feet as it was rolling. It was in a spot he had mowed many times before so you never know when it might happen. I got hit by a loaded 18 wheeler while sitting at a red light several years ago and it seemed in slow motion also. I think your mind just can't comprehend what is happening so it just seems in slow motion. I didn't get a scratch but the old couple in another car wasn't so lucky.

 

[Spanky100]

I was squashed like a bug.

Roll Over first hand

Mike

thanks for the link. Sure adds perspective to tractor safety and more important about life.

Wayne

 

[Spanky100]

We roll an old Ford 801 workmaster as a demo, have a cage built to protect the body. Roll it one time with ROPS, next without. Use a dummy- Tyveck suit stuffed with straw, belted in with ROPS, no belt without. Everytime I am amazed how violent the trip down the hill is. It is obvious that the belt and ROPS keeps you in the safety zone, but it is also pretty obvious that it is much worse than a roller coaster/bumper car combined. Without ROPS, Dummy Dan is dead every time. We have rolled the tractor so many times over the last 17 years it is breaking apart at the engine/transmission mounts. Use it mainly for youth- 4-H/FFA groups, adults when we can. I never want to be on one that goes over, but it happens.

Cmyoung

Thanks for the input from seeing repeated demos with "Dummy Dan". Sounds like ROPS used properly with seatbelt will save you but you could be in for a rough ride that could give you some injury. I take it a tight secured seatbelt is a must.

Thanks

Wayne

 

[Spanky100]

When I rolled mine was in s-----------l--------------o-------------w motion
Wheel in dip bucket up yadayadayad I even turned the key off just before it stopped on its side it seemed to take for ever going over.
The only thing hurt was my pride pulled the tractor back up right with a good comalong let it sit for 2-3 hours checked fluids and started it up.

And I don't want to do it again.
I've even put the out riggers almost down to the ground to give me a wider foot print and some times there is still a clench mark in the seat of the tractor.

tom

Tom and Jenkins

Thanks for the accounts about the slow play by play in your brain. It nice to be able to learn form the experiences of our group here. Jenkins was interesting point about your friend mowing that spot in the past without issue and this time it happens.

Thanks

Wayne

 

[TripleR]

For those not familiar with the "it happened in slow motion", it is referred to as Tachypsychia. "Tachypsychia is a neurological condition that distorts the perception of time, usually induced by physical exertion, drug use, or a traumatic event. It is sometimes referred to by martial arts instructors and self defense experts as the Tachy Psyche effect. For someone affected by tachypsychia, time perceived by the individual either lengthens, making events appear to slow down, or contracts, objects appearing as moving in a speeding blur. It is believed that tachypsychia is induced by a combination of high levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, usually during periods of great physical stress and/or in violent confrontation."

I have experienced this in car/motorcycle wrecks as well as other instances. The last time in December 2006 when someone pulled in front of me. I hit them broadside after trying to avoid by braking and swerving. The air bag deployed then deflated as my vehicle was spun around and heading for the bridge railing. Due to the initial impact, my left foot was stuck under the brake and I couldn't get enough travel to reengage them and thought, "Oh, this is going to hurt" as I ran into the wall and bounced back onto the main roadway and spun around before coasting to a stop.

It was over in mere seconds, but seemed like minutes.

 

[eastexan]

For those not familiar with the "it happened in slow motion", it is referred to as Tachypsychia. "Tachypsychia is a neurological condition that distorts the perception of time, usually induced by physical exertion, drug use, or a traumatic event. It is sometimes referred to by martial arts instructors and self defense experts as the Tachy Psyche effect. For someone affected by tachypsychia, time perceived by the individual either lengthens, making events appear to slow down, or contracts, objects appearing as moving in a speeding blur. It is believed that tachypsychia is induced by a combination of high levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, usually during periods of great physical stress and/or in violent confrontation."

I have experienced this in car/motorcycle wrecks as well as other instances. The last time in December 2006 when someone pulled in front of me. I hit them broadside after trying to avoid by braking and swerving. The air bag deployed then deflated as my vehicle was spun around and heading for the bridge railing. Due to the initial impact, my left foot was stuck under the brake and I couldn't get enough travel to reengage them and thought, "Oh, this is going to hurt" as I ran into the wall and bounced back onto the main roadway and spun around before coasting to a stop.

It was over in mere seconds, but seemed like minutes.

:laughing::laughing:........oh, uh....sorry.

Like me, it looks like you've had your share of scrapes & bruises.
And I've also had those s-l-o-w motion experiences.

One time, back when I was young (and stupid), I was going too fast down a twisty road on a motorcycle and lost control in a turn.
The first thing I knew, the motorcycle was laying down on the pavement and was spinning around and around about 20' in front of me, finally hitting a light pole. And I was sliding feet first on the asphalt on my back, then on my side while my clothes were being torn off.

But all this while, I thought I never was going to grind to a halt, leaving traces of my DNA all up the roadway.

Losing control and hitting the pavement seemed instantaneous, but sliding down the pavement seemed to last forever. Although it probably only lasted a few seconds.
Fortunately, I wasn't badly injured, except for my pride and leaving some skin and blood behind. :laughing:

 

[TripleR]

:laughing::laughing:........oh, uh....sorry.

Like me, it looks like you've had your share of scrapes & bruises.
And I've also had those s-l-o-w motion experiences.

One time, back when I was young (and stupid), I was going too fast down a twisty road on a motorcycle and lost control in a turn.
The first thing I knew, the motorcycle was laying down on the pavement and was spinning around and around about 20' in front of me, finally hitting a light pole. And I was sliding feet first on the asphalt on my back, then on my side while my clothes were being torn off.

But all this while, I thought I never was going to grind to a halt, leaving traces of my DNA all up the roadway.

Losing control and hitting the pavement seemed instantaneous, but sliding down the pavement seemed to last forever. Although it probably only lasted a few seconds.
Fortunately, I wasn't badly injured, except for my pride and leaving some skin and blood behind. :laughing:

Oh man, I know the feeling, I have left pieces of my hide on the pavement from motorcycle wrecks too.

Like you, in spite of the motorcycle crashes, I was never injured beyond the point to where a few stitches and a bit of R&R didn't fix me back up.

Age has caught up with me and I gave my Harley to my son this year, but I sure had fun.:thumbsup: