Close Call Today

[r40kh]

We had our first significant snowfall overnight and I have several driveways to plow. Drove into this retired lady's driveway and dropped the blade to back drag the snow when I noticed her daily
newspaer was layng in the snow and not in her paper box. I put the tranny in neutral ( hydro shuttle M7040) and walked out to pick up her paper. It took about 15 sec and when I turned around the
tractor is going backwards across the highway. I ran and was able to get inside and stop the tractor before any damage. I checked the shuttle lever and it was in the reverse position. I don't
know why it took 15 sec to engage but I must have missed neutral and somehow the tranny was able to get into reverse. I know I should have engaged the brake but I was on a level surface with the blade down
with a bunch of snow behind it. What saved me was that I left the door open when I got out so I was able to jump in the tractor without having to reach for the door latch. Just wanted to share as a heads up
for everyone to show how easy something like this could happen. Scared the crap out of me!

 

[RaydaKub]

Bad enough that this happens, but you gotta be careful that you don't get run over by the front wheel or hit by the blade. The damage to the tractor or anything it hits is nothing compared to what it could do to you!

 

[Thomas]

Whew..that was close,also good thing throttle down.

 

[r40kh]

The fact that I'm pushing 60 didn't make the old legs any faster either, anyway some bystanders had a good laugh and unfortunately I see them every day

 

[k0ua]

The fact that I'm pushing 60 didn't make the old legs any faster either, anyway some bystanders had a good laugh and unfortunately I see them every day

A video of that would have been a Keepsake.. I am glad you are OK, and thanks for posting..

James K0UA

 

[Don87]

Glad to hear you are ok.

And as a reminder to all, set the brakes when leaving the seat.

 

[timbatrader]

I have had something similar happen with my bobcat skid steer if the idle is to slow when I get out the whole machine can start shaking and rocking which has then knocked it into forward I am not brave enough to run after it and try to get in it (no side entry like tractor enter from front over the bucket) luckily it hit a tree and stopped

 

[TripleR]

Scarey stuff alright, I try to remember to put the brake on in ours, but can't guarantee I have never forgotten, a good reminder indeed.

 

[wcampbell47]

I had a similar incident I don't care to go into, rather say it never happened! LOL But now with age and I was never fast I let down both front and rear implements, actually lifting up the front end with the FEL when I have to exit the tractor. I try to be especially careful around the edge of the creek. Would hate to go swimming with the tractor.

Glad everything worked out with no damage to your or the tractor.

 

[rmk700]

Near miss accident. Something we can all learn from.
Thanks for posting.

 

[etcallhome]

Near miss accident. Something we can all learn from.
Thanks for posting.

Agree and glad to hear you weren't hurt.

 

[vtsnowedin]

I'm glad your not telling us this from a hospital bed. Thank you for the reminder.

 

[roman]

Glad you're ok. Thanks for having the forthought to post this. I always set my brake but last month I remember a time I didn't. Nothing happened but that isn't the point.
Sometimes when I exit the cab the door handle can catch my left jacket pocket. This makes me think what could happen if I left the throttle up, gear selector engaged and somehow hit the shuttle lever exiting the cab...
Lazy + Uncautious = Mishap

 

[yelbike]

Bad enough that this happens, but you gotta be careful that you don't get run over by the front wheel or hit by the blade. The damage to the tractor or anything it hits is nothing compared to what it could do to you!

This is what I was thinking. As hard as it is, let it go. All it takes is a slip getting into the tractor and you get run over. Hind sight being 20-20 I know. Its instinct to be the hero, but not necessarily the right thing to do.

Glad it all worked out!!

 

[vtsnowedin]

When I dismount out of my cab I often hit the range select lever out of B into neutral. Not a problem if the gear shift on the right is in park where it belongs. Funny that they can put a good solid park position in a manual shift tractor but they don't seem to be able to do that for a manual pick up truck or car.

 

[puckgrinder85]

Does your tractor not cut off if the brake isnt applied? Mine will shut down if the gear selector isnt in N and the parking brake is on, sorta like a little garden tractor.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Does your tractor not cut off if the brake isnt applied? Mine will shut down if the gear selector isnt in N and the parking brake is on, sorta like a little garden tractor.

There is no parking brake on this tractor or a way to lock the brakes on with a foot not present. I think the only seat nanny I have is the PTO which will Buzz if there isn't something in the seat. It will start with the clutch engaged as long as it is in park and the throttle is above low idle. This is a very no nonsense machine set up to work.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I had my old Yanmar take off down a small hill once. It had blown a FEL hose, so I lowered the FEL, left the tractor in gear and killed the engine. I got out my wrenches, removed the hose and was walking away when I heard the tractor start to move, just a couple of little creaks in the tranny at first then away it went. As I watched the tractor started slowly to roll backward and ended up rolling all the way to the bottom of the hill. What I didnt know about the hydraulic clutch (it had a powershift transmission) was that the hydraulic pressure would bleed off after a few minutes with the engine off and then it disengaged so it was then like it was clutched. You also couldnt pull start it due to this issue as I discovered later. Luckily for me, there was nothing in the way so I just let it roll to a stop about 60 feet away. From then on, I tilted the FEL blade down and set it with the wheels off the ground when I stopped if not on level ground. It did have brake locks but the lever was a bit hard for me to reach to release it while pushing the brakes so it didnt get used much.

 

[Chilly807]

This reminds me of one time I was clearing snow at a friend's house. There's a gate with an electric fence wire across the opening, which I wanted to go through. Got off the tractor, idling in neutral, and no brake on. The ground is pretty flat, but apparently not zero grade.. just as I was reaching for the handle on the electric wire I felt the edge of the bucket (waist height) press into my back and push me into the wire! I don't know exactly how many volts the **** fencer puts out, but it's no wonder the horses don't mess with it. After getting that across the chest for about 5 pulses, I always drop the bucket and quite often set the brake now.

That's with a geared transmission, I'd be more cautious with an HST tractor.

Sean

 

[rmk700]

This reminds me of one time I was clearing snow at a friend's house. There's a gate with an electric fence wire across the opening, which I wanted to go through. Got off the tractor, idling in neutral, and no brake on. The ground is pretty flat, but apparently not zero grade.. just as I was reaching for the handle on the electric wire I felt the edge of the bucket (waist height) press into my back and push me into the wire! I don't know exactly how many volts the **** fencer puts out, but it's no wonder the horses don't mess with it. After getting that across the chest for about 5 pulses, I always drop the bucket and quite often set the brake now.

That's with a geared transmission, I'd be more cautious with an HST tractor.

Sean

LOL, I accidently bumped my electric fence shoveling near it and thought I was going to die. Fell to the ground and flopped around like a fish.The strange thing is my daughter will grab a hold of the wire a let it shock her over and over and not even phase her.