Safety Tips

Anonymous Poster · May 5, 2001

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

Tractor Overturn Hazards

No other farm machine is so identified with the hazards of production agriculture as the tractor. The rubber-wheeled, row-crop tricycle tractor of the 1930's revolutionized production agriculture. The tractor had the speed, power, flexibility, adaptability, and handling ease that helped move farming from the horse power era into the machine power era. The later additions of hydraulics, the three-point hitch, direct engine-driven power take-off (PTO), and variable shift transmissions firmly established the tractor as the primary machine in modern farming.

Tractor Center of Gravity & Drawbar Leverage & Rear Axle Torque

Harv · May 5, 2001

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

Wow! Terrific safety page, John! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

That link takes you to a page that I have now printed out and keep with my tractor manuals.

Thanks!

GlueGuy · May 5, 2001

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

You know, that reminds me that my manual doesn't list a "maximum safe bank angle". Any one know where there might be some guidlines? I'm thinking that when I install my tiltmeter, I still won't know where the green/yellow/red zones are..../w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

The GlueGuy

skent · May 8, 2001

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

I have the same question Glueguy. . . . I am ordering a Tiltmeter ASAP too. But where do you begin to worry?

Steve

Bird · May 8, 2001

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

my manual doesn't list a "maximum safe bank angle".

GlueGuy & Skent, I read somewhere that tractors are supposed to manage 20 degrees, but I doubt that any manufacturer is going to put that in a manual, and I'm sure not going to tell you it will; too many factors involved. Just a few of them are things like: what implements, attachments, accessories, etc. you have on the tractor and whether they changed the center of gravity, whether you run over a small bump (rock, root, stick, etc. on the high side) or a small depression or soft spot on the low side when you're already at the maximum tilt. Rick at R&B Mfg. http://www.tiltmeter.com can give you even more details, and depending on the model of tiltmeter, they have different colored markings at different angles. I've driven my tractor onto 18 degree slopes; think it would stand 20 degrees, but not with me on it. I don't like 10 degrees, go very slowly and carefully at 15 degrees, and try to simply avoid anything more than that; not very brave I guess.

Bird

RBManufacturing · May 8, 2001

Hi skent,
I would be willing to donate a slope indicator to your 4h group
for training, if it would help. Anyone else out there with a
similar group, let me know. ANYTHING we can do to help
train our future generation, please let us know. Rick at R&B.

Rick Hedgecock
R&B Manufacturing
http://www.tiltmeter.com
(816)587-9814

JackIL · May 8, 2001

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

Think of using the tiltmeter in the same way as you use the speedometer in your car. It doesn't say what speed is safe--it just tells you the speed. Under some circumstances even a very slow speed might be unsafe. As several others have mentioned you will have to cautiously drive on various slopes and note the tiltmeter reading as well as your feeling about the tractor stability (your pucker factor). Then in the future a quick glance at the tiltmeter will tell you whether or not you need to worry.

skent · May 9, 2001

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

Hey Glueguy,

Just got off the phone with Rick. (R&B) Ordered my Tiltmeter. If you haven't ordered yours yet, mention you heard about it at TBN and you get a discount.

Great Company!

Great Web Site!

Steve

Bird · May 9, 2001

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

Great Company!

Yep, Rick's very knowledgeable, responds to questions promptly, and ships the product promptly.

Bird

ddl · May 10, 2001

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

It amazes me after the great post fom Miller and some of you still have not got it. A tilt meter will not stop a rollover all it can give you is a false sense of sercurity. Rollovers happen with sudden change in surface not because you drove on a too steep od surface. The best you can do is throw the meters away and learn how to run a tractor safely. You can never replace tractor safety with a device. As a teaching engineer who spent years working with manufacturing companies teaching safety, the only practise that works is being alert and paying attention to your surrounding. I know I will get lots of Sh_t from you all but safety is not something I can just buy a meter for and drive around with my head in a bag.

Dan L

jdkid · May 10, 2001

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

Hi ya's
good pic and you don't know how true it is i drive fulltime not weekends or after work so i'll tell you this story
a good mate of mine is a no-till drilling contractor and his rule of thumb is "if the bottom side tire goes under your seat ie look down at the floor with xray glasses and you see your tire- that my friends is the last thing you see"duels or spacers will make tractors better on hills ,loaders and high mounted add-ons changes center of gravity .ptos are death traps but most tractors are getting better alot stop the pto if no pressure on the seat some even stop driveing as for tiltmeters i don't know eneff(sp) about then if they can't be set for diffrent wheel settings how good would they be you would have a hard job tellin me that 4 foot wheel spaceings sit better than 8 foot spaceings on slopes.. point of fact is unless set up right a smaller tractor will fall over way before bigger tractors i know afew will say Bull s#$t but any time ya want to come over and do a few rounds in the fields i work you would have abetter respect for what you can and can't do
catch ya
JD Kid

skent · May 10, 2001

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

No, I won't give you and arguement, but to say:

The best you can do is throw the meters away and learn how to run a tractor safely

do you include throwing away all safety add-ons, like interlocks to prevent starting a tractor in gear, or like PTO covers, or like ROPS?

Dont get me wrong (I'm still happy!) /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. But in an ATTEMPT to AVOID accidents, it doesn't hurt to have some bells and whistles to help prevent accidents.

I'm a long time user (over 35 years) of AG tractors, dating back to the 1950's. The Case I (still today) use for row crop work has no ROPS, has no start interlocks(can be started in gear with clutch engaged), tricycle type tractor, and yes I agree if you are alert and learn how to "run a tractor safely" you won't have a problem. But I also know of MANY farmers, darn good (and safe) farmers, that had wished (after an accident had occured) wished for a safety device or mode of warning when something was about to go wrong.

In some cases you are correct, but our society with its sueing and lawsuits has grown to a "Prevent litigation" mode. Like the engine brake on walk behind mowers - somebody stuck fingers under or around the balde while the engine was running and lost some fingers. What can we do to prevent that? Blade Brake and extended rope start. All add $$$ to cost of equipment. Then the FED's get involved and require blade brakes and extended start. Now all of us have to pay for safety. I could go on and on but I think you get my drift, so I won't.

Finally, not everyone who gets on a tractor can be a experienced operator. You have to learn on something. I learned when I was very young, but I learned not only by being told, but by actually doing.

(still smiling. . . . we b all friends here!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif)

Steve

RBManufacturing · May 10, 2001

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

Hi ddl,
Rick here. Does your r.o.p.s. give you a false sense of
security????? What about the seat belt? After years of
experience driving a tractor mowing highway right of ways,
I have seen a true need for a tiltmeter. There were two
slopes I used for training purposes for new operators. One
had trees at top and bottom. The other had no trees. First
one appeared the steepest. 8 out of 8 new operators agreed.
First slope had gradual taper at bottom to flat ground.
Second had sharp change from slope to flat. Weeds and
grass grew taller at bottom of second due to run off of rain
accumulation. Second slope was 6 degrees steeper.
Another example was a hill side that was approx. 900 ft.
long, but narrow. Appeared same steepness from end to end.
It was however 7 degrees steeper end to end. Ever been
driving down highway and glanced at speedometer and found
you had creeped over speed limit? Ever bumped another
car or object with car when parking? Closer than it appeared?
If a tiltmeter is a useless item, why have roll-overs
declined an average of 40-60 percent by highway departments
that started using them????? Why are these same departments
buying for all their tractors after testing a few meters.???
I envy the tractor operator that has such superior skill
that he does not think he will EVER need a tiltmeter.
I hope he has passed that skill to his children through his
genetics. A related note: At 9;23 a.m. yesterday my
machinist lost the tip of two fingers while using a table saw
to make some new shelving. He is a retired master sheet metal
worker for a major airline. A Truly skilled carpenter. A master
tool and die maker. Very safety oriented. Said he was not
paying as close attention as he should have been. Took the
guard off the saw. Too experienced to need it?????
A tiltmeter is a training tool, and a reference. Just as a college
student uses a book for learning, the teacher sometimes uses it for a reference. For those of you that have superior
tractor operating skills, may your skill alone protect you
for your remaining years, however short they may be.
Rick

Rick Hedgecock
R&B Manufacturing
http://www.tiltmeter.com
(816)587-9814

Harv · May 10, 2001

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

A tilt meter will not stop a rollover

A speedometer will not stop you from going too fast.

A tach will not stop you from over-revving.

A temperature guage will not stop you from boiling over.

A gas guage will not stop you from running out of gas.

Not trying to give you poop, ddl. I just like to know what's going on with my tractor as much as I can. True that a rollover can happen too suddenly for anything to help, and other factors must be considered (heavy load in bucket, how high is bucket, implements, ground conditions, etc.), but as a total newbie on very hilly property, almost every situation is new to me, and the tiltmeter is just one of the things I keep an eye on to tell me if I'm heading into trouble.

My heart is in my throat when I hit 10 degrees, and I refuse to deliberately go beyond 15. When I get more experienced I can see myself getting overconfident, but I will never knowingly challenge the numbers on the meter.

Stop a rollover? Of course not. False sense of security? Maybe, but if used with good judgement (famous last words?), the tiltmeter, I believe, gives some very useful feedback.

I really appreciate your point of view, and the ramblings of a newbie probably have you rolling your eyes, but I think we're all on the same page about safety. A little healthy controversy can only serve to increase awareness. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

RobS · May 10, 2001

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

I just spoke with Rick at R&B to order my tiltmeter. I got a bit scared working in some woods this past weekend. I made some decent ruts while pulling stumps and going back through the rutted areas was kind of un-nerving. I'm hoping the tiltmeter can help me calibrate my "seat of the pants" feel plus will be a good safety message to pass on to my wife who will be sharing in the bush hogging duties this summer /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

JerryG · May 10, 2001

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

"Rollovers happen with sudden change in surface not because you drove on a too steep of surface."

So, as long as I don't hit a large rock /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif or get one tire in a dip/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif , I can’t roll my tractor by gradually increasing the pitch of the slope? I guess that I don’t need a tiltmeter./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

skent · May 10, 2001

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

Rob,

calibrate my "seat of the pants" feel

Ahhhhhhhh calibration. thats what I like to hear!!!!

Steve

RobS · May 10, 2001

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

Steve,

Ahhhhhhhh calibration. thats what I like to hear!!!!


I'm also planning an R & R study, but it's going to involve folding lounge chairs and martinis, not operators and repetitions!