Lesson Learned

[tillboy2001]

This may be a 'duh!' issue...but maybe worth mentioning publicly /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I put the new 4120 w/400X loader to use yesterday for the first time. The land is hilly, but mostly sort of rolling hills, not really steep in the area I was working. I was moving a pile of rocks into the old pond we had mostly filled in. I guess I took the slope at just the wrong angle and I felt the tractor tip a little. I quickly turned into the direction it was tipping (downhill of course) and it came back down. I would assume a good thing to do would also be to drop the bucket quickly? Maybe even drop the bucket almost to the ground while stomping on the gas pedal (while turning downhill)? (12x12 tranny with pedal on floor for engine speed). Anyway, seems like doing those things would help in a situation where you find yourself a little tippy. The lesson I learned though was (and I should've known this all along, I guess I was just pushing it a little - so now I know), never go sideway with a heavy load in the bucket and keep the bucket as close to the ground as possible. To top it all off (I know, I was crazy here), I had the ROPS folded down because of the garage clearance and I didn't have my seat belt on. LOL I had visions of a new 4120 on it's side and maybe me underneath it! Oops. I'll use a little more sense next time /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Dutch445]

YIKES!
I'm thinking my visions would have included a new pair of boxers!

That's scary.. but, hopefully it won't happen again.

I see weights on the rear wheels, are the tires loaded also? What is on the 3ph? Looks like a tiller. Do you have a ballast box also?

This is a good reminder for anybody with a loader how quickly things can get dicey. Please follow safety guidelines and wear belts, use ROPS, and properly ballast your tractors! Let's not lose any TBN members to an accident.


But, what a pretty tractor and barn!
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[tillboy2001]

Tiller has been removed...and there is 440lbs on the rear wheels, tires not filled, no ballast box.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Don't worry about ballast! DO NOT LISTEN TO DUTCH!!
Do name me a benificiary on your tractor. I will give it a good home.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Seriously, glad you are OK!

 

[Dutch445]

and you also get the soiled boxers that go with it!
/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[dicker]

As one who had never been on a tractor 18 months ago, and now has 500 hrs on one, I can attest to the fact that there definitly is a learning curve. I know that I have scared myself from time to time.
Thankfully, you are around to tell this tale. I find that I seem to learn the most when the " I'll never do that again" situations come about.

Richard

 

[beenthere]

Glad you are okay. Great that you had the right reaction to turn down hill, and at least the thought of dropping the bucket to get the load on the ground.
Thanks for posting. There are those on here that hopefully will have a better understanding now, from your experience.
Sometimes the reaction when tipping like you did (bucket starts to drop because the back wheel raises) is to raise the bucket which is the opposite reaction and will get one in more trouble. Lowering the bucket quickly is the solution, as well as turning down hill to get the front wheels lower. Same as when leaning too far on a two-wheel bike, is one turns in the direction of the lean to get the front wheel under the 'load'.

 

[Dutch445]

Here is what Deere recommends for ballast...
loading the rear tires with Rimgard puts 588 lbs in EACH wheel. Wouldn't be a bad idea even with the wheel weights you have.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( REAR BALLAST REQUIREMENTS
Shown below are minimum rear tractor ballasting requirements for the 400X Loader.
400X Loader - With 4500, 4510, 4600, 4610, 4700, 4710, 4120, 4320, 4520, and 4720Tractors

Tractor Recommended Ballast

4500, 4510, 4600, 4610, 4700, 4710, 4120, 4320, 4520, 4720

Rear tires with liquid ballast, 4 wheel weights, and 500 kg. (1102 lb.) 3-point hitch ballast
)</font>

and yes, they mean all 3!

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[tillboy2001]

That's a lot of weight! I think this is one of those situations where >>> I'll be ok, as long as I don't try anything stupid! I don't think we can justify that much weight with the occasional heavy loads we'll be moving. I could see maybe adding a ballast box, but we don't want anyting in the wheels.

 

[bebster]

I'm often tempted to skip the seat belt. Thanks for the lesson -- I'll be less tempted. Actually if you're going to have the ROPS down better to not have your seatbelt on -- you might get thrown clear that way and have a small chance of survival. Of course best to have ROPS up and seat belt on!

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( As one who had never been on a tractor 18 months ago, and now has 500 hrs on one, )</font>

That learning curve isn't only for newbies. Those of us with years++ of tractor experience get hit with a case of the 'stupids' every now and then. It usually involves being in a hurry...

I vaugely remember nearly driving off the front of my trailer while loading my 1954 NAA a few years ago... I was lucky and it only cost me about a 1$ repair.. ( not counting my shorts and being scared outta my wits!! ) and help from a couple people with a big floor jack.

Soundguy

 

[pat32rf]

I am curious as to why you don't want to load the tires. I use wwaf in my 4300 and find that it gives much more stability than a ballast box as the weight is low and wide,yet the tires(R4s) can still be carefully manhandled by one person if you need to remove them.I also have 200lbs of cast iron weights that ride on my 3pth when no implements are installed but loading the rubber made the biggest difference.
One other important thing I was taught is to always rest your right hand on the joystick when travelling with a load. Dropping that big flat bottomed bucket will restore balance real quick! Now if I could just find a joystick heater to keep my hand warm....... Pat /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[tillboy2001]

Don't want to load the tires for a few reasons. One being that we just don't feel the benefits will outweigh the potential shortcomings without the extra weight. What I mean is, we just won't be using it enough and with heavy enough louds to justify the extra weight. Also, I'd like to use this in the lawn as much as I can. Also, there's always the possibility, although slight, that if we get a flat somehow, it's going to be a mess. Mess because of the fluid that would be in the way of fixing the tire, and then the cost of replacing it - which isn't cheap. Finally, no matter how much the manufacturers say the fluid won't harm the tire or rim, we'd just assume not fool with it. Now if we were doing really heavy work all the time and maybe using it commerically, yeah...I'd probably get them filled.

 

[RalphVa]

One reason I went with a tractor with fixed ROPS that would fit underneath the doors.

Am also leaving my new (old) soil ripper on the 3 pt for weight until I get a carryall to weight things back there. Rear tires are filled.

Still, going down the ramp out of the carriage house, I nailed the brakes about medium hard. The rear wheels came up a tad. Learned from that.

When running around the hills, I keep the bucket low. It can also be used as a stump finder when running the bush hog, if kept low.

Ralph

 

[trlong]

pz,

Just to make you feel a little better (and admit my foolishness);

I had never had a CUT 'til last May. With about 25 hr.s on my nice green 4115, I was building a ramp to lessen the grade from my upper lawn to lower. It was atleast 12' drop in 50', with the 1st several feet really dropping steeply. I took it out another 50' to get to less than 15% grade. I had the BH on and was back dragging with the loader, near the steep right edge of the ramp (didn't have a RB at the time). The bank started to slough under my front right wheel. If I hadn't locked down the backhoe I would have swung it out as counterweight and dug in. Instead, I tried driving back up onto the ramp (backing down further would have put the right rear wheel off the edge, for sure). Then the edge under the right rear started to slough and I knew I was going for a ride. As I seemed out of options, I pulled the seat belt tighter and held onto the bottom of the steering wheel. Yup, down we went T, L, B, and me. Fortunately it was a slow roll and came to rest on the ROPS and Grill Gaurd.

First I turned off the key, made sure it was stable on it's side, climbed off the uphill side, turned off the deisel valve, and made sure no fluids were pouring out. Then I went to the shed and got 2 chains and a come-a-long. It wasn't going back up the way it came down. So, I had to roll it completely over, standing behind a big old ash each time it took a quarter turn. It did finally come back up on all four with just two rear lenses broken and a slight displacement of the grill guard (and some paint touch up to do). I let it sit for an hour, checked all fluids, brakes, levers, pedals... turned on the deisel and fired it up. With just a little black puff, it idled up fine. I had a bit of a time (very, very slowly) backing down from where I'd ended up but, I was relieved to have done no major damage to myself of the tractor.

Wish I had a picture to post of me on the tractor, on its side. Embarrasing but a good warning to all (especially new owners). Ofcourse, I wasn't exactly planning on posing for pictures when the ride began!

Bottom line is I had heeded the warnings and PUT THE SEATBELT ON 1ST every time, TAKE IT OFF LAST every time, and I KEEP THE ROPS UP.

BTW, don't listen to Mike...he tried to get me to make him beneficiary too, in the event.... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Boxiej]

Very scary, indeed. I read that story to my son, who is anxious for me to buy a big honkin JD (and a gator 6x4) when we permanently move to rural vermont this summer. I've been reading all the posts on this great site, and you guys are very helpful.