What Attachment Scares You The Most?

[oosik]

I saw an example of SCARY just the other day. Highway dept tractor with an offset flail mower. As I watched the mower went vertical and to full extension. The tractor began to tip. The operator rapidly lowered the mower.

THEN it got exciting. Clouds of dust - rocks of all sizes being thrown everywhere - limbs, branches being thrown along with the rocks. It all happened so quickly. Nobody appeared to be hurt but I'll bet there was damage to the flail and/or offset system.

I did notice. As the operator lowered the mower - it also went horizontal and was retracted.

Even the pros have problems. A mower of any type on an extension system can be a tremendous offset weight.

 

[oosik]

Out here I am all by myself. Except for Brownie( Cocker spaniel). I have a hard, fast rule I follow. Any first time project - walk thru the entire project before putting anything into action.

There can always be unforeseen problems that I best find a solution for, before starting a project.

Besides - I know, from experience, it will take the paramedics 45 minuets to reach me - after they have been called.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Out here I am all by myself. Except for Brownie( Cocker spaniel). I have a hard, fast rule I follow. Any first time project - walk thru the entire project before putting anything into action.

Would you believe that I did the opposite today, again?

Had to move the water buffalo, and knew that the receiver on the "yard goat" was too high for the task since I've lowered the water buffalo quite a bit. No problem, I just dug out a gizmo I made a long time ago, useful for effectively lowering or raising the receiver.

Backing up to the trailer it turned out that now the pintle was a bit too low. Again, no problem. Grabbed a Hi-Lift and lifted the rear of the M1008 until I could latch the pintle.

One minor detail was that the jack on the trailer was still firmly planted and wouldn't retract any more. Thankfully it's the removable kind held in position on its round mount with a pin. Pulled the pin, drove forward, and removed the jack.

Driving a short distance with the nearly full (400 gallons) trailer I knew that unhooking it would be equally, okay more, interesting. Used the Hi-Lift to lift the tongue enough to get the pintle to clear and drove forwards a bit. Oddly enough, the trailer stayed in place instead of the Hi-Lift falling one way or the other.

Following was the iffy part. the tongue had to be lifted several inches more to be able to put its jack back in place. Without the trailer moving in any direction, at all, on uneven ground. Oh, and I should add that the dummy that lowered the trailer put the axle a bit too far forward, so lifting the tongue too far will have consequences.

Well, it worked, and I do stuff like this on a too regular basis. My secret? God protects drunks and idiots, so I'm double safe.

 

[masseyrider]

I saw an example of SCARY just the other day. Highway dept tractor with an offset flail mower. As I watched the mower went vertical and to full extension. The tractor began to tip. The operator rapidly lowered the mower.

THEN it got exciting. Clouds of dust - rocks of all sizes being thrown everywhere - limbs, branches being thrown along with the rocks. It all happened so quickly. Nobody appeared to be hurt but I'll bet there was damage to the flail and/or offset system.

I did notice. As the operator lowered the mower - it also went horizontal and was retracted.

Even the pros have problems. A mower of any type on an extension system can be a tremendous offset weight.

What professional? Maybe in your area.
I talked to the kid doing the ditches down my road this summer.
He had the big JD tractor withe the offset flail mower.
He told me he had never even been in a tractor 2 weeks before.
Hired for the summer and that was the job they gave him.
He spent more time texting at the dead end than he did mowing.
I did a better job with my Bushhog that has hydraulic offset with a 1/4 of the reach he had with that boom.

 

[kneedeep]

Anything with a PTO has the potential to hurt and or kill

 

[Rockbadchild]

Anything with a PTO has the potential to hurt and or kill

 

[MossRoad]

Reminds me of this...

Climbers rope in branch.
Branch gets fed in nice and slow with feeder. Doesn't seem to scary. You think you might be able to get out of it in time.

However, the rope gets past the feeder to the chipper, which spins a hell of a lot faster than the feeder, and, well, watch the results...

Or go to youtube and search

Demo: Woodchipper accident​

 

[big bubba]

I wanted to make this joke, but nothing was coming to me.

actually, i agree totally w/your joke. 1st thing that came to mind

 

[oosik]

When you look at the whole ball 'o wax - the equipment operator can easily be the "scariest attachment".

 

[oosik]

A lot of us have noticed this. Many never read their owners manual until something is broken or does not work. This means that "many" might have no experience nor have they ever used this particular implement or a tractor.

I am sure the equipment manufacturers and dealers acknowledged this.

Dealers should ask - "Have you ever used a tractor or this type of implement?"

Then follow up with - "Let us demonstrate the basics".

Maybe there might be less injuries and damage to new equipment/implements?

In 1982 my first ever tractor sat in my yard for five days. Yes - I started it several times but only moved it forward/back a few feet. Those five days were spent reading and trying to understand the owners manual and "tractor speak". I'm a hard headed Norwegian but I REALLY do like to know what I'm doing before taking the plunge.

Lets put this in perspective. You have a fourteen year old son/daughter. They have no experience driving any type of vehicle. Do you just hand over the keys and say - "have at it child & good luck".

In many cases this is exactly what is happening regarding a newly purchased tractor or implement.

What do you think?