The Big Flip

[TTTTTT]

I posted this on another forum but thought it was worth it for all to see, the danger of load shifting with an FEL, and general safety. Hope it will make others think ahead as I failed to do.


This the REALLY BAD



Was moving a heavy rock, loader a little high, angle a little steep, too high centre of gravity. Although slow speed (crawl) the rock shifted and took my momentum too far and over she went. Not a serious flip, but enough to send me off (seatbelt off- Dumb) into the ROPS which I actually cracked (the canopy) a bit when hitting. Other than a very bruised ego and feeling quite stupid, a sore back is the only result. ( I should be so lucky). I realize these things happen, but never to you ...right! After it went over(still Running), I was able to get to the kill switch in about 5-10 secs. I did see a little bit of excessive smoke

The GOOD

Got a tow truck there in about 2 hrs. to right it. Through all this, I actually decided to take pics and a video. Thinking of a future post for a look


Everything looked pretty good. Little damage. ....I thought

THE UGLY

After getting it up,I let it sit for an hour to let the fluids settle back down. Only lost a couple l. of hydraulic/tranny (25l. sump) out vent. Actually got as bucket and caught most of it. A little bit engine oil, coolant and diesel. Gave it a quick crank....2 sec crank and nothing. Bled all the fuel injection lines, new filter (filled it first with fuel)(was going to do that anyway). Loosened all the connections and use the manual pump to what I think got all the air out up to the pump. Worked my way from the fuel tank all the way to the pump. Was worried about the worst (seized engine) but figured 10secs running shouldn`t do any damage. I could also turn the engine manually with a wrench from the front. Under compression could still turn a little and same crank. Next removed glow plugs and of course could turn the engine a little better. Noticed a little oil on plugs when they came out. Gave a quick crank, and engine oil came out the glow plug locations. I turned the engine manually a little more, replaced the glow plugs and it cranked a little longer, but still no connection. At this point it was getting late, the blackflys were no help (couldn`t even hold a wrench for me and I had to get home for things for the next day

To Summarize.

The engine was fine after some expert advice from Ronald at Ranchhand Supply. See thread 'The Big Start' in Chineese tractor section



Thanks For Looking
Dave

 

[AchingBack]

I'm glad only your ego was bruised, TTTTTT. By the way, if you haven't named your tractor; Flip might be a good choice. However, you didn't really flip, you tipped. So, Tippy would be my nomination. I don't ever want to hear of any of you TBNER's flipping.

 

[vic4news]

Was moving a heavy rock, loader a little high, angle a little steep, too high centre of gravity.

Glad you and the tractor are ok. I would add one more thing to the above statement.
No ballast on the 3 point.

Vic

 

[flusher]

Glad you and your tractor are both OK.

Thanks for posting the photos. They should give all us TBNers pause to consider how easy it is to roll a CUT doing seemingly safe operations. Don't know how many times I've had unbalanced loads in my FEL bucket without rolling the tractor. No more of that nonsense for me.

My 10 acres is flat pasture land, but there are plenty of TBN members with hilly properties. Seeing this thread should impress those folks with the need to operate safely under those conditions.

 

[Frankdozer]

Why no Ballast on the 3 point hitch? Can't I keep it low to the ground?

Glad you and the tractor are ok. I would add one more thing to the above statement.
No ballast on the 3 point.

Vic

 

[jimmyj]

Thanks for sharing neighbour. Scary and a reminder to all of us. Glad no serious damage. Do you think you'll always wear your seatbelt now? I'm not being a smarty - I half the time am too lazy and I wonder what it will take to smarten me up.

Jim

 

[Mike_Kanzer]

Glad to see you are okay. Thanks for posting the photos. They will make me think twice before I do things with the tractor. You really can't be too careful. I'm not sure if three point ballast would have prevented you from tipping over. I do, however, usually have something on the rear (ie- rear blade) as ballast when I do loader work. - Mike

 

[20 20]

Glad to see you are okay. I allways try to keep the load as close to the ground as possible. Allthough I have been known to push things a little far every now and then. Ronald is a good egg.

 

[PILOON]

Phew! (mildly stated)
I've been close but never over, your post left my stomach kinda tight.
Even with loaded tires and 300lb wt and reversed rims my Mitsu often gets light up front as my terrain is very hilly.
Mt rt hand is ALWAYS on the down valve, just in case.
Glad it worked out OK.

 

[Thomas]

YIKES...glad your a okay and no damage to tactor...whew.
Thanks for sharing the heads up.

 

[TTTTTT]

Hi All,

Thanks for all the good wishes. I just thought it was too valuable an experience not to share. Hopefully we will all respect these machines more. Luckily I don't have too big an ego and not too embarrassed to share.

'The Big Start' was more fun and a good ending

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/chinese-tractors/145120-df354-starting-after-big-flip.html

I am in the process of getting some wheel weights or may load the tires to get some rear ballast as well as widening my stance

New Stance



Dave

 

[vic4news]

Why no Ballast on the 3 point hitch? Can't I keep it low to the ground?

Keeping the load low is just one of things that you should do.

The OP listed the following as things he knew contributed to the tip over:

"Was moving a heavy rock, loader a little high, angle a little steep, too high centre of gravity."

Having the proper ballast on the three point hitch will also reduce the chance of tipping. Typically, you want to keep about 65% of the weight at the rear of the tractor.

Vic

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Glad your OK....and your tractor.

Can you switch your rear tires around to get more width???

I need to show this to my Father-in-law.....he thinks i can lift something heavy & have my FEL high, but i tell him that it will flip on a side of a bank.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[TTTTTT]

Glad your OK....and your tractor.

Can you switch your rear tires around to get more width???

I need to show this to my Father-in-law.....he thinks i can lift something heavy & have my FEL high, but i tell him that it will flip on a side of a bank.

Thanks for sharing.

I was going to move the rear out to its max., but I may have trouble getting it on my trailer, so I moved it as far out as possible. I did not flip them around although I probably may get another 4"-6" wider stance if I do. I still may do this down the road.

The Rears
Before

After Note: It may look as if the right wheel is not the same distance out as the left. I had to take a second look until I realized when I flipped the tractor, the right fender bracket got bent in, so the wheel appears to be further out by about an inch.


Dave

 

[LBrown59]

I need to show this to my Father-in-law.....he thinks i can lift something heavy & have my FEL high .

Where did he get this idea?

 

[JohnDeere4300]

I was going to move the rear out to its max., but I may have trouble getting it on my trailer, so I moved it as far out as possible. I did not flip them around although I probably may get another 4"-6" wider stance if I do. I still may do this down the road.

The Rears
Before

After Note: It may look as if the right wheel is not the same distance out as the left. I had to take a second look until I realized when I flipped the tractor, the right fender bracket got bent in, so the wheel appears to be further out by about an inch.


Dave

Yea that should help some.

I owned my tractor for 7 years before i switched my rears, and the reason was because my dealer told me that it WOULD NOT make a difference.....and i post the question on here & was told that it would give me some width.

I switched them and it has helped a lot.

You was very lucky.....and glad your OK

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Where did he get this idea?

LB,

He knows everything

 

[Johndeere3720]

Ive never seen a green Jinma tractor. I like it. glad your okay and same for the tractor. The wider stance will help but I still would load the tires. Now to convince my dad to widen the rears on his Deere 3720. Atleast it has wider R4s but its never to late to be safe.

 

[TTTTTT]

Ive never seen a green Jinma tractor. I like it. glad your okay and same for the tractor. The wider stance will help but I still would load the tires. Now to convince my dad to widen the rears on his Deere 3720. Atleast it has wider R4s but its never to late to be safe.

I almost got R4's when I got the tractor, but the AG's were more suited to most of the work I would be doing. The R4's definitely have that natural lower profile and wider stance. Not that they don't look similar but mine is a Dongfeng brand not a Jinma. As a big green owner, I guess you can be excused. Could of got a Catepillar yellow, but the green was nice, and I found an off the shelf matching paint (canopy has the match)

Dave

 

[matt_isserstedt]

My thoughts are that loading the tires doesn't place the tractor's frame under additional stress. For example, if you hook a 55 gal drum filled with concrete to the 3 point, the same net loading on the tractor is accomplished (more or less) but the lift arms, links and lower arms are under a lot more stress. Load the tires and the 3 point can relax and you don't have to wrestle with the counterweight any more.

My loader tractor won't even back up a wet hill completely empty...that's how light it is to start with. I am working on getting this resolved as above.