Doing smart is smarter than thinking smart

[fishpick]

By the title here's what I mean:

First winter at new house... very long driveway... at the end, there is a deep ditch on both sides where the driveway meets the road. (Enter into the minds-eye)
Me, tractor and snow thrower out at the road with the deep mushy stuff... shear pin in blower breaks. OK - apparently it didn't like the speed I was feeding it the mush... replace and try slower. next pin goes... OK - time to go after the goop with the loader...
Hey - look - deep ditch... I can push the goop in there with the loader - no piles to manage. (pushing) Humm - better be careful about where the edge is - if I get a tire down in there - I'm screwed. (dump bucket with load one into ditch). Looks good - I like this plan. Reverse. I'm a genius. lower bucket and push load 2 of goop into ditch. boy, this was a good idea. dump loader... oops... too far... why did I do that - I just told myself not to go over the edge!

Yes - I barely got it out - dug a hole with the rear in diff lock mode about 8" deep in the gravel driveway... used the loader to fill said hole with "gravel and snow" mixture... I got lucky.

So - to all the experienced operators out there - and the newer operators too... Know this - we all make mistakes - even with the best of intentions!

 

[Adam23]

You might want to try putting one of those reflector sticks (plastic or metal stick with round reflector on top) right at the edge of the ditch so that you have a reference point when the snow is real deep on where to stop. Just a thought.

 

[Aquaman]

Show me somebody that claims he's never done anything like that and I'll show you a liar. Even the best operator in the world is prone to making mistakes. That's why they're called accidents. "Doing smart" also means being able to get yourself out of these predicaments, and you did well.
Hang in there!!!!

 

[rdsaustintx]

You might want to try putting one of those reflector sticks (plastic or metal stick with round reflector on top) right at the edge of the ditch so that you have a reference point when the snow is real deep on where to stop. Just a thought.

Or traffic cones. I use them all the time when working around stuff I can't afford to bump.

 

[DesertRose]

Or traffic cones. I use them all the time when working around stuff I can't afford to bump.

What a great idea rdsaustintx ! I have a dozen or so red cones in my horse trailer we use to set courses at horse shows. You don't have to worry about driving a post in frozen ground and can move them easily. And they are very visible.

Tom

 

[RobS]

Great story fish, I'm only laughing because I have done the exact same thing. Even down to the dimensions of the hole dug by the rear tire!

 

[ccsial]

You might want to try putting one of those reflector sticks (plastic or metal stick with round reflector on top) right at the edge of the ditch so that you have a reference point when the snow is real deep on where to stop. Just a thought.

Yep, I get mine out before the first snow.

 

[TalonDancer]

You might want to try putting one of those reflector sticks (plastic or metal stick with round reflector on top) right at the edge of the ditch so that you have a reference point when the snow is real deep on where to stop. Just a thought.

In high mountain passes they often mark the edge of the road with tall (6-12'+) sticks so that the snow blowers/plows know where it is. Seems like a good idea.

BTW here in Central Texas we mark our driveways with popsicle sticks

Talon Dancer

 

[sandman2234]

Here in Florida we lay the popsicle sticks on their side. Keeps the hurricanes from blowing them away!
David from jax

 

[fishpick]

Regarding the posts - I had gotten half the 4/10th of a mile long driveway + turnaround marked with posts BEFORE it snowed and the ground froze... next year I'll just start driving them in in July!
As for cones - out by the road they would A) get plowed away and B) be covered instantly! But that is a good idea for some other spots... Like Texas

 

[Egon]

Do not worry about it Fishpick. After three or four times instinct will take over and keep you out of the ditch!

 

[fishpick]

Do not worry about it Fishpick. After three or four times instinct will take over and keep you out of the ditch!

They do say - the funniest things are said in jest!

must be why I'm laughing right now

 

[KeithInSpace]

Dunno what you're using for shear pins, Mr. Fishpick, but I had a heck of a time clipping Class 5 bolts out of my bagger setup (I'd pop at least one every mow). I started replacing with the hollow split rolled steel pins (the dark grey looking kind) and they work quite well.

They'll still shear every now and again if I get a huge slug of wet grass or a big knot or something in the impeller, but they are much less prone to the types of breakage that occurred with the bolts. Granted I only mowed my grass 4 or 5 times this whole season, but I'm a good 20 or 25 mows into using this type of pin with no adverse damage to the bagger (it is still protected, is all I mean).

I figure the shock loads during useage just deformed the bolts to the point that they eventually broke. Even if the overall shear strength is similar between the pins and the bolts, I think the pins are more brittle and have a more forgiving shape (can flex on themselves a little) so they manage the hits better. That's my theory, anyway.