__Everyone who uses these tractors and who are on slopes and who
push them w/ real work NEED to carry a knife capable of cutting
that belt. I will be affixing one, onto the ROPS where I can get at it
if it happens again. NEVER did I foresee a seat belt inop situation.
NEVER!
How? Simple.
Operator Error in every aspect. They don't fall over themselves.
Not a "roll" it just plopped onto its side, real slow. Took maybe 4 full seconds.
I was carrying slash, that was piled as big as 6 school buses, Compacted,
that I feed to the fire, down hill, all off camber. Over and over and over...
Those whom remember the
GRAPPLEOMATIC know
I have modified my BX, a lot. (
That grapple was the best I
could have built for it BTW) So I was carrying a GIANT grip of slash, one
pine sapling about 3" in diameter was hanging straight down on center
of the bucket and a spider web of slash was hanging out 10' easy in several
directions, wet! . Boom high, right turn on edge of fire precipice, fire on hillside,
about 3' below bottom of tires, sloped down to fire level.
The boom gets fully clocked from left to right each trip to slash pile to
compensate for off camber gravity.
I FORGOT to move BH boom full LEFT for drop,
the tree hanging on center
did not allow bucket to drop, full right turn front wheels
then
the dirt gave way under right front tire. The perfect storm...
I felt it coming, no big deal just lower FEL bucket FAST NOW, BUT,
that 3" tree on center OF BUCKET? Well, it would NOT let
the bucket drop, the boom was on wrong side for better stability, and then
it happened, dirt under right front wheel gave way...
Like I said, operator error. They don't move unless a human is at the controls.
You get in a machine,you use it, and gravity, you take risks.
No speak-able damage other than my pride, that heals quick.
I sincerely am more interested in others hearing my story.
I know a defective part when I experience one. So what that I caused the
lesser issue at hand, this seat belt buckle release mechanism failure is inexcusable.
I want a whole new seat and belt system now, has anyone seen a good thread on said?
PS, remember the
full cage roll bar I made?
(Yes it and the radioOmatic moved the CG, risk known...)
It came in handy, otherwise I would have had a face full of slash.
It took me a full 6 minutes and about 32 seconds to right the
BX using my new to me, CAT DC3 Series 3 you guys don't know about.
I patted myself on the back for those fast moves.
The time stamps on the pics don't lie, and that includes
pic taking time. When time permits I'll try to post up the
2 pics I took.
"It" happens... God is great.
