LOOK UP SAFETY

[Jag]

Just wanted to say thanks, for all the great information that has kept me safe while working on my Kubota. A discussion a while back warned about dead limbs and other overhead hazards. I have been cleaning out a lot of underbrush and opening up some old log roads to give access to my property. Some has been along a creek and the number and type of vines can be unbelieveable. I could have pulled down huge dead limbs on top of the tractor and myself if I had not been aware of the situation. There was even one eight inch diameter tree about thirty feet long hanging about twenty feet up. When you are maneuvering around tight areas and have limbs and briers slapping you in the face, it is just to easy to get into trouble if you did not know it was there.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by JAG on 6/13/00 10:41 AM.</FONT></P>

 

[Thomas]

Jag.
I do agree with you one can never be to careful when working in the woods.

I've learn take nothing for granted and think twice.
Its what you don't see that always gets you.

Be careful and enjoy. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Thomas..NH

 

[Anonymous Poster]

When I first began working my property I was careful to have all the dead trees cut by a professional first. However with the woods as dense as they were one slipped by that looked OK (it's bottom 30 feet anyway). I was manuevering around and backed into it. Two chunks fell down right beside me, one about 8 inches in diameter 6 feet long. It fell with a loud "whump". I was shook up to say the least. I immediately took the tractor across the street to the heavy equipment repair guy/welder/designer/friend and had him make a roof for my tractor using the rops as the back posts and adding new front posts that went down to the loader subframe. So far it hasn't been hit by much but makes an excellent scaffolding for painting or whatever!

The overhead on my L35 is a complete joke compared to the one on my Ford. The L35 comes down in the front and is attached by one bolt on each side. I know shear forces against a bolt have to be sizable but geez! It's supposed to be tested against some govt standard I hear, 500lbs dropped from 17 feet. If this will withstand that I'm guessing my Ford will withstand the hit of a BX2200 dropping out of the sky.

All humor aside, if working in the woods put some sort of cover over you, and I don't mean those sunshade canopys. It's also smart to wear a hardhat. I know they look goofy but hey I bought a "Kubota" orange hardhat off ebay for awhile so I can look stylish! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

[email]oldcarparts@mygarage.com [/email]

 

[MChalkley]

One thing I really like about the Kubota-brand canopy is that, even though it's plastic, they have a very heavy duty frame that they're bolted to. I wouldn't rely on it for protection from falling limb in the sense that I'd deliberately encourage them, but I learned the hard way (by pulling a tree down on myself) that it's awfully tough. I cracked it where the frame ends, but it took a lick hard enough to rock the whole tractor, and kept everything off my head. When I replace it, I'm going to mount an aluminum or steel one to the Kubota frame.

The best course, though, is to put a really good canopy on and work like you don't have one at all.

Mark

 

[MChalkley]

Jag, I'm sure everyone here (because just about everyone here has contributed to the subject of safety, I expect) appreciates your gratitude, but you're doing everyone just as big a favor by bringing up the subject again. It can't be over-emphasized, and theoretical be careful's aren't worth nearly as much as experiences related to everyone. Sometimes those experiences are a little embarrasing (like pulling trees over on your own head), but anybody can do it, and the only ones that don't ever do it are the ones that don't ever do anything. You just have to take as many precautions as is practical and hope they're enough when the time comes.

Mark

 

[JimBinMI]

MarkC,

Whoaaaaaaa there Orange fella! You mean to tell me that after all of this metal vs PLASTIC talk that Kubota actually uses some plastic for some applications? /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Don't know what I'm gonna do with you Orange boys! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

JimBinMI

We boys and our toys!

 

[MChalkley]

Sure they do. It's just a re-badged one made by somebody else, of course.

Mark

 

[W5FL]

Nope Jim,

The dealer here doesn't sell the Kubota Canopies. Only Diamon plate canopies or if you really insist on light duty, you can get it in aluminum. Both have rigid framework. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[gordon]

I can't say about the sun shades but my cab is steel and I have also added to that as well. A cab has its good and bad points but in the woods I love it not always having to dodge branches and limbs out of my face makes the extra heat worth it in the summer. In the winter it's great has a heater sure is nice in there.
Gordon

 

[gordon]

You are so right Jag one can never be to safe in the woods or doing anything on the tractor for that matter. It only takes a second for a widow maker to get ya. Most of the things that have happened to me in the woods is not from being unsafe but maybe not safe enough so to speak.
One that really got me thinking, I was skidding logs out of the woods had been by this tree at least 15 times but this time the front of the tractor slipped out and loader bucket hit this tree. The tree just folded right across the bucket the only thing I could do was duck (instinct). I was lucky it didn't come towards me just across the bucket and loader frame didn't break or bend anything but it sure did make a crash. I was amazed after looking at the tree up close it was very rotten but it looked just fine. Another time I was lucky I didn't kill myself I guess.
It just goes to show one can never be to careful in the woods like anything one second and BAM its to late.
One thing on my tractor that makes it so nice in the woods is a cab no limbs in the face!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Gordon