Saved by a steering wheel

[AndyMA]

I was pushing a downed tree with my grapple when it snapped back. The only thing that save me was it was stopped by the steering wheel

Lesson learned

 

[LittleBill21]

They can really get away from you in a hurry. Every time I don't treat them with respect, they about knock me off the tractor, or puncture some 1k item

 

[mcmopar]

Glad your ok!! Safety First!

 

[MossRoad]

Yeowch!

 

[blee03]

Dang!
Maybe pickup a lotto ticket or 2... ?

 

[ptsg]

Glad you're ok. It sure makes me appreciate the mid mounted ROPS on my tractor even more.

 

[woody]

Glad you are ok and that is a good reminder to the rest of us.

 

[dirttoys]

I was pushing a downed tree with my grapple when it snapped back. The only thing that save me was it was stopped by the steering wheel

Lesson learned

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OMG be careful. I get a little sloppy with the skid or the x sometimes, good reminder.

Best,

ed

 

[2manyrocks]

Take the rest of the day off.

 

[Citydude]

Close call right there. Thanks for posting.

 

[AndyMA]

Thanks for all the comments. Yes I was lucky. 50 plus years tractor experience and yes it was close

No more pushing big trees

I had no idea it was spring loaded

Andy

 

[Thomas]

glad your okay...whew.

 

[Jstpssng]

Take the rest of the day off.

Exactly. Step back and think about it. Every time that I do something stupid is because I was tired, hurrying, or hurrying and tired.

To the OP; glad that you are OK. Your post is a timely reminder that accidents don’t just happen to novices.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Like the others I'm glad you are OK. What did it do - pop up over your closed grapple ?? Those things happen so fast that it's not scary until after it's over and you realize what could have happened.

gg

 

[AndyMA]

Yes. I thought the grapple had it but it wasn’t closed on it. Popped over. Very Fast!

 

[Smokeydog]

Count your blessings. Thanks for sharing. Experience helps us all.

Like 4 or 6 post ROPS on tractors handling trees for that very reason. Still have to be careful.

 

[Wagtail]

Firstly, I'm glad that the OP is OK. Thanks for posting.

I know that it's 'hindsight' however, I try to use the "measure twice, cut once" principle... in other words, look at the problem/procedure and figure out what 'could' happen.

 

[jfh0jfh]

Glad you weren't hurt. That's dangerous work

So many injuries - some fatalities - here (SE OH) from moving downed trees that snap back; or cause a branch to fall.

I try to do it only w/ my TROPS machine but sometimes you need to get a job done ...

 

[Lefty7]

I was pushing a downed tree with my grapple when it snapped back. The only thing that save me was it was stopped by the steering wheel

Lesson learned

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I don't use a grapple, (my backhoe with hydraulic thumb suffices as a mini-grapple, as long as the load is well balanced), so this post was very educational for me.

I extend the sentiments of others: glad you're OK. I do know this kind of stuff happens real fast. And yeah: it's scary afterwards - if you're still conscious...

 

[Surshot]

Glad you are OK.
We had one of those tornadoes go through here that never touched down, snapped 130-40 ft tall pine trees off about 10’ above the ground on our tree farm. Looked like pickup sticks, about 200 trees. That was one of the most dangerous things I have ever seen, to try to handle with a tractor. Acres covered with dead fall and spring loaded traps. Look every situation with downed or dead trees over very carefully. Glad you shared