Seat belt saves another life

[SnoFalls]

Had a good 'ol "oh heck" moment today ...

Normally I have a BH on for counterweight, but I switched it out to a landscape rake since I getting gravel friday and am just touching up some levelling for an RV pad.

But ... I needed some fill, and have a pile of gravel/rocks I pull from. Headed up the hill, loaded a bucket full, started down the hill ... you guessed it, that rake wasn't near enuf on the steep donwgrade, and the bota just pivoted on the front axel.

My bucket was only 1-2 feet up, but it all happened so fast, without a seatbelt, I woulda launched over the hood. I dropped the bucket soon enuf to control the "endo", but was still scary.

 

[SnoFalls]

oops meant to put this into the safty topic ... can a mod move it there please ...

 

[Thomas]

Whew,that could have been nasty...only takes second for snafu.

 

[texasjohn]

Congrats on being able to post your experience.... and reminding us all that seat belts are the last safety valve.....very useful. Thanks!!

I've heard that it takes 3 mistakes for an accident to happen... seems true in this case:
1) Light rear weight.. no problem except you went to a heavy front load
2) down hill slope, speed, braking changes CG and quickly, and tip starts!
3) HOORAY!!!! YOU HAD SEAT BELT ON, THUS NO INJURY ACCIDENT!!!

I know how you feel..... when used to a particular rear implement counterbalancing FEL weight... if implement changes it's easy to forget the implication and proceed to familar FEL task. So glad that you broke the trail leading to an accident.

 

[SnoFalls]

I know how you feel..... when used to a particular rear implement counterbalancing FEL weight... if implement changes it's easy to forget the implication and proceed to familar FEL task. So glad that you broke the trail leading to an accident.

Yup wasn't even thinkin' I didn't have the counter ... I remember having a bit of trouble fillin' the bucket (aka no rear weight), but it filled up nice enuf ... well too much as it came to be

Thankfully I get to *live* and learn ...

 

[safetyman]

I deal with "accidents" professionally. After an incident I often hear someone says "Boy was he lucky to...." fill in the blank with have his seatbelt on for this one. A great Green Bay Packers coach once said "Luck is when preparation meets opprtunity-glad to hear you wear prepared!

ksf

 

[Bird]

oops meant to put this into the safty topic ... can a mod move it there please ...

No sooner said than done.

 

[HomeBrew2]

Yup wasn't even thinkin' ...

To me THAT'S the lesson. Seat belts AND ROPS are neat ... keeps the mfg's attorney's happy. I've done the same as you many times ... usually with the belt, sometimes not. What makes the difference in that situation is having the bucket 1 or 2 INCHES (not feet) off the ground, and dragging the rake.

 

[Renze]

I allways keep my loader bucket as low as possible. When reversing back into a corner with an empty loader bucket 3,5 meter up in the air, and applying the brakes in the corner, it's easy to lift the inner rear wheel on my Zetor 5245.

Dutch tractors dont have seatbelts though.... not even cabless ones. They do have this warning sticker in the cab, "when the tractor tips over, dont try to jump off but pull yourself tightly against the steering wheel"

 

[Defective]

Dutch tractors dont have seatbelts though.... not even cabless ones. They do have this warning sticker in the cab, "when the tractor tips over, dont try to jump off but pull yourself tightly against the steering wheel"

Notice the most important word on that sticker...