Pulling with a tractor

[CSAW]

Another thread just reminded me of this. It may be on here somewhere but I have not seen it. I know many of you already know this. I don't even see it in my owners manual.

An old timer told me this when I was a kid. It makes alot of sense. Just a good rule of thumb and thought I would pass it on.

When pulling with a tractor you should always hook your chain, cable, etc. below the level of the axle. If it is hooked above the axle it makes it easy for the tractor to turn over backwards on you. When pulling from below the axle it tends to pull down on the front end.


Again I know many of you know this but maybe some don't.

 

[chim]

About 10 years ago, someone on my in-law's farm flipped a tractor by pulling with the chain attached to the rear axle. They have been full time farming since birth, and knew better. Like we all do sometimes, they figured it would be OK for this one time. Luckily nobody was injured.

I read a post here some time ago that pointed out something that was not so obvious to me. Using anything attached to the 3PH for a pull is also risky, since there is no down pressure, they will just hinge up as a heavy load is pulled.....................chim

 

[Bird]

Yep, Chuck, it has been discussed at some length in the past on this forum, you're absolutely right about hooking up below the level of the axle, and the reminder for those who knew it, and the information for those who didn't, is a good thing.

I've mentioned it before, but a neighbor has told me a couple of times about pulling a drag (pipe with railroad spikes welded onto it) with a chain from the 3-point on his old Farmall M several years ago. When it got hard to pull and started to bog down the tractor, he raised the 3-point, the tractor reared up, and he fell off behind the tractor. He thought he was dead, but the engine died and the tractor fell back forward. At any rate, he knows for sure he won't do that again.