Lessons learned by the new guy

[Inspector507]

Remember that the FEL bucket sticks out WAY farther than what it looks.......especially with the toothbar. Things like the railing on the deck and the decorative ballisters around the pool deck seem to just jump right out in front of it and then fall on the ground.

Remember that when you mow with the MMM, you still have lift arms in the rear that will poke right through the barn siding if you back up too far.

Remember that if you're mowing with the RFM, don't just watch it when backing up. The MMM is still sticking out beyond the tires and will wreck the 4X4 supporting the deck around the pool.

 

[RonR]

Inspector, you and I "LURNED" the same things today!

First time used my MMM was today. It worked GREAT.

But, with the loader on, and I didn't have the bucket curled enough to see the front edges--poked two different holes through the siding on the shed! DARN. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

That mower sure did work well though!!!!!!!!!!!

Ron

 

[frank_f15]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Remember that the FEL bucket sticks out WAY farther than what it looks.......especially with the toothbar. )</font>

LEARENED that lesson again yesterday /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif forgot i had the toothbar on and trying to swing in close to the trees for mowing , amazing how a few extra in. will catch trees. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[DiskDoctr]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( When the safety interlocks kill the engine because you were bouncing too much going down a hill, DON'T put it into neutral to try to restart it WITHOUT having your foot on the brake, or better yet leave it in gear and slowly coast down the hill. (I was this close to hitting my house.)

)</font>

Kirk,

Just *how fast* is that? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Was your hair on fire?

We haven't met, so this isn't a personal assessment, but the words give me an image of a CUT doing about 50mph down a 45 deg slope dodging trees, bouncing over logs, rocks etc with the operator doing a bullrider's wave shouting "Yaaaaa-hooooooo!" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Sounds like fun, can I come next time? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Like the time I decided the full sized IH backhoe would fare better if I coasted down the state highway in neutral to cool off the engine after driving uphill about 15-20 mins. Well, what goes up must go down, and at those speeds and weights, brakes just smile at you!

Tractors have a TOP speed because that's all you should do. It all turned out okay, but it was a heck of a ride /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

BTW, it is a fact that R4 industrial tires really do sound like an airplane if you go fast enough....

-JC

 

[DiskDoctr]

Oh, and although your '84 Ford 1 ton pickup truck is a beast when it comes to snow, mud, hauling, etc, DON'T grab a Reese hitch with a pintle hook and connect it to the 10 ton trailer loaded with a fullsize Case backhoe.

Math:

16,800lbs backhoe + 3500lbs trailer = wild 4L gear wind, no stopping, and weekend brake job for new pads.

It did pull like a champ, though. Even my 'Chevy' neighbor cheered and waived when I drove by.

BTW, always put towing truck in 4WD and park in gear so when loading machine and back wheels hang about a foot and a half off the ground, the truck won't drift.

I was smart enough to park in gear and such, but not smart enough to take a hint that loads that lift your towing vehicle off the ground *probably* are too heavy for that vehicle /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

-JC

 

[isucrazy]

Dont sample the BIODIESEL before tractoring! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[KirkMcD]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(

Kirk,

Just *how fast* is that? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Was your hair on fire?

)</font>

I had backed up a hill that is a 20 feet high with about a 30 degree slope. My house his about 15 feet away from the base edge of the hill.
Because I had backed up the hill, I had slid forward on the seat, releasing pressure on the seat switch. The engine cuts out.
The first thought to my head was. "oh, oh, the engine cut out I have to restart it." So I turn the key. Hmm, nothing is happening. "Oh Yeah, it has to be in neutral."
Shifts lever.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
I start to stomp on the hst pedal thinking it was the brake. "It's not stopping!!!" AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
"Oh My God, the house!!!" "I'm going to crush the front-end."
Can't turn to hard, it feels like it will flip. "I can't flip it, I just got it."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
"Must turn harder!" "Thank God, it's turning!!"
"I hope I have enough room to miss the house."
"Woooooo." Wipes, sweat from brow.

I missed the house by about a foot.

-- Kirk

 

[KirkMcD]

Note to self:

Making hydraulic noises is not neccessary for proper operation of the FEL nor the BH.

 

[Skitch]

My lesson: If you are thinking about working on a slope with wet grass, just grab a cold one and keep on thinking about it until tomorrow. Doesn't take but one sliding trip down a hill and into a creek to learn that one.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My lesson: If you are thinking about working on a slope with wet grass, just grab a cold one and keep on thinking about it until tomorrow. Doesn't take but one sliding trip down a hill and into a creek to learn that one. )</font>


You should have posted this YESTERDAY!!! I got up early and pulled out my NH with the big heavy Befco RFM and started to mow. The grass so wet that there were areas with stand water. But parts of my property are hilly and I figured that I could just mow the UPPER part of the property. While mowing I was traveling down a small slope, more of a roll in the land than a hill and I made a left turn to swing around a small tree. The tractor simply continued the turn with the weight of the mower deck swinging the rear end of the tractor around unit it was in front of me and I was going the wrong direction.

I never "fishtailed" a tractor before, but doing it on wet grass is possible if you are going down a slope with a heavy implelment on the rear end! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Jackrabbit_Slim]

If you happen to have an altrication with a power pole, make sure the orange/green/blue or whatever colour paint is off the pole before calling hydro to report that "lightning strike."

 

[DiskDoctr]

Kirk,

That's hillarious! Thanks for sharing.

-JC

 

[MidMichigan]

Remember when mowing under and around trees that just because your head went under that branch it doesn't mean the ROPS will. Tractor raises up on rear wheels right quick and you have a heart attack at the same time before you get the tractor to stop. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Then chainsaw comes out and tree branches gets trimmed. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Lisa

 

[To20Chris]

On the Ferguson there is enough room so that I can duck low, and the steering wheel is the highest thing on the tractor. I really need to remember about the stack and ROPS on the LK!

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color="blue"> "Remember when mowing under and around trees that just because your head went under that branch it doesn't mean the ROPS will." </font>

Actually, as tall as I sit on my tractor, it pretty much does. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Where I get in trouble is on the outer edges of the top of the ROPS. Mine has no paint on the leading edge on either corner. I'm expecting a recall letter any day from Deere about that defective paint coming off there. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[LBrown59]

<font color="#666666">Keep the Back Hoe hoses out of tree branches. </font>

 

[johnday]

When doing dirtwork for your neighbor, always remember where the power pole with the mercury vapor lamp is when backing up with your boxblade on. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Kozmo38]

When tking of your rear drag blade make sure that the three point hitches are down os that when you take the pins out, it is resting on the prop.

Hate it when it rolls on to the wifes new flower bed.

 

[2nstonge]

When initiating your son into the fine art of tractoring don't let him just have the fun of driving to wood pile and then sit in the seat watching you load (and then unload and stack) the FEL & trailer...it sets a bad precedent that's quite difficult to undo. Oh sure, he's full of 'efficiency' ideas on how YOU can improve your loading, unloading and stacking techniques but this new 'supervisory' role immediately carries over into every other aspect of your life.

-Norm