Wounded on my tractor

[RayCo]

Although, I can't explain exactly how this happened, I wound up jumping off my tractor yesterday and running inside to see where my face was bleeding. I was backing up while moving some debris around, and as I stopped and turned my head around to go forward, I got smacked in the face by a 2" stick from the debris pile. It was bowed back from my loader and it sprung loose and hit me in the lip. Luckily, I didn't lose any teeth or anything; just got a bloody lip and perhaps a little blood from my lower gums.

Like I said, I can't explain how this happened, since backing up shouldn't make something spring at me from the loader. But, either way, just thought I'd share as a reminder that you have to have your eyes going in every direction around you at all times, not just your direction of travel! Sure wish I had a cab.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Glad your okay... The cab would have saved you, but that stick also would have probably busted the glass. Not sure whats worse, a bloody mouth or a $1000 repair bill.

 

[woodchuckie]

I've had most of my close calls with limbs springing off of my rops while making and improving trails. I'm much more aware of them then I used to be but you really have to watch for them.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

When I was buying my L5030 a couple yrs ago, there was one in for repair that had a log go thru the front end.

 

[Modn]

When I was buying my L5030 a couple yrs ago, there was one in for repair that had a log go thru the front end.

Been there done that on the stick hanging out of the front from the radiator.... I had a stick about 6' long hit me in the arm just yesterday as I ran over it with the front left tire. Sometimes weird things just happen I guess not matter how careful you are.

 

[IslandTractor]

Posts like this make me want to get one of those operator brush guard thingies installed. I also do a lot of brush removal and get whacked more often than I'd like. Haven't taken one in the chops yet though.

It isn't such a big deal to get some tubing to fabricate a simple four point system with a mesh screen. It could be semi permanently attached to the ROPS without drilling etc. It doesn't need to be a true logging type system to be helpful with brush. I already have a sturdy sunshade so it really would be just a matter of running tubing from the FEL post up to the sunshade bracket then adding a screen of some sort. I doubt I'll get around to doing it before I get whacked like you did however. I'm a big one for closing the barn door after the cows have left.

 

[sunnyside360]

After more than 40 years of tractoring, I've been whacked a few times. Some worse than others but none pleasant. Worst was getting a gash over the eye and having to get stitches -- scary with lots of blood in the eye and knocked practically unconscious. Hard hat with shield is not a bad idea when working in the woods.

 

[RayCo]

Cuts and things are fine. I'm now mostly fearful of getting impaled in such a situation where the stick has broken branch nubs. That would have hurt if I had gotten impaled in the mouth.

 

[LBrown59]

Although, I can't explain exactly how this happened, I wound up jumping off my tractor yesterday and running inside to see where my face was bleeding. I was backing up while moving some debris around, and as I stopped and turned my head around to go forward, I got smacked in the face by a 2" stick from the debris pile. It was bowed back from my loader and it sprung loose and hit me in the lip. Luckily, I didn't lose any teeth or anything; just got a bloody lip and perhaps a little blood from my lower gums.

Like I said, I can't explain how this happened, since backing up shouldn't make something spring at me from the loader. But, either way, just thought I'd share as a reminder that you have to have your eyes going in every direction around you at all times, not just your direction of travel! Sure wish I had a cab.

I found out you have to watch that real close when moving brush with the fel when I grubbed about .6 acres a couple of winters ago.

A Spring loaded branch just ain't healthy.

 

[LBrown59]

. I'm a big one for closing the barn door after the cows have left.

You shut the door I'll round up the cows.

 

[wushaw]

Just use this Woodsman's Pal Complete Head Protector, Safety - GEMPLER'S

It is cheaper than a cab tractor.

 

[RayCo]

Just use this Woodsman's Pal Complete Head Protector, Safety - GEMPLER'S

It is cheaper than a cab tractor.

That's a good idea. Thanks a lot wushaw. I'm constantly getting smacked in the face with things as I work on trails in the woods. Thanks.

 

[Texas Dodge]

I thought I broke my arm one time by pushing a limb out of the way, but to only have it snap back up against my arm and the ROPS Da.mn that hurt bad..................

 

[IslandTractor]

Just use this Woodsman's Pal Complete Head Protector, Safety - GEMPLER'S

It is cheaper than a cab tractor.

I have one of those. It is fine for keeping briar and other thorny things off your face while on the ground and works with unseen small branches too but it would be pretty useless to someone sitting on a tractor. In my experience the small thorny things don't grow high enough to be a problem to my face (legs and arms yes) while sitting on a tractor with my head at about 8-9 feet off the ground.

What that mask will not do is stop or even deflect a spring loaded half inch branch much less anything bigger.

It is perfectly good for the sorts of forces and branches you will run into while walking in brush but it is false safety for someone using a tractor to push brush aside.

I'd say that a hockey goalies mask or a catcher's mask would be more like it for personal protective equipment. That doesn't seem practical so I continue to focus on building some sort of medium duty frame and grill that would not stop a tree but would stop a 2 inch branch snapping back.

Check this out for a great system. Unfortunately it would be pretty expensive to build but should be perfect for a tractor that ventures into brush and woods. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kioti-owning-operating/127660-dk65-ready-right-way-clearing.html

 

[M_Brown]

Another thing to watch out for when clearing brush is backing up after pushing forward with the loader. As you go forward the loader can slip over some brush or small trees instead of digging it out and strip all the limbs from it. Then when you back up the leftover stick which is still in the ground can come at you from behind. It has only happened to me a couple of times where all of a sudden you see this spear of a stick coming up beside you from behind. I have not been stuck by one yet and hope never to but they can sneak up on you.

 

[wushaw]

Island;
I totally agree this head protection is for the small stuff. I have one too for my chainsaw work.
If you got spring loaded branches that have the potential to knocking ya out then a cage ( not a glass cab ) is what is needed for protection.

 

[tjkadar]

We've had a dozer knocked out of action by a stick about the size of my pinky. While clearing brush a sapling worked its way up through the track, entered a small hole in the bottom of the cab area (hole about the size of your pinky) and ripped open a fuel line connection. Took three tractors to tow the dozer to the shop and about a day to rip the cab apart to get at a 79 cent fitting. That was not a fun day.

Those branches have a way of doing the darndest things and catching you completely unaware no matter how well you prepare for them.