On auctions and accidents

The bad now. Darn near made a statistic of myself. Trying to line the tractor up to impliments is never terribly easy. I get it close, and then usually leave the tractor in neutral and rock it fore and aft as needed to get hitched up. This time I was on a bit of a slope. Not much of one, just a wee bit. I'd already checked to see if I could hold the tractor by just grasping a tire cleat, and I could. But trying to hitch up that blade one handedly was proving to be cumbersome.

So in a fit of stupid brilliance, I got between the differential and the blade mount, where I discovered I couldn't quite hold the tractor back in that position.

I found myself facing castration on the top of the blades hitch. I opted for getting slammed low in the belly instead, by yanking the blade up real fast. So there I sat, with the tractor squishing me against the blades hitch.

I couldn't manage to shove the tractor back. I thought about trying to roll the blade onto its back, but I didn't like the idea of catching the hitch in the face as the tractor shoved me down the hill. So I decided to swing it to the left, catching it on my thigh. Then I twisted real quick, giving me a bit of clearance between the axle housing and the blade hitch for a second, before the tractor continued rolling downhill. I leaped clear, and let the tractor crash into the blade.

Remember what I've said about having someone in screaming distance? This is what I mean. I didn't have much choice about trying something, because there wasn't anyone around. Spending several hours between the tractor differential and the blade just didn't seem like a winning situation.

There's a device I've seen at the store for helping align the impliment pins with the lift arms. I understand it works quite well. Tonight, I'll be purchasing one.

What about blocking the rear wheels with 4" x 6" wooden triangles just far enough from the wheel to let you rock the tractor? Or buy your device your referenced. Let us know how that works.

Dave Nelson

I too echo the comments saying how glad WE are that you got out with bruses to the body AND ego.

Being past 60, and never weighing over 155, I have to "finesse" my way around heavy stuff. I sometimes spend as much time getting the tractor lined up close as I do the final hitch up. I fantisize having a flat concrete floor with ALL my implements on roller dollies - yea, someday when (insert favorite "won't happen saying here!)

What I have found helpful, is to set my implements on something like bricks or boards. My rear bucket weighs almost three times what I do, but I can slid it on the bricks just a little. I get one side one and then can lever/slide the other into position. I keep the blade of my rear blade on a 2x8 that is more than long enough to let the full lenght of the blade set on. Again, I can slide it on the wood when I'd never be able to do it on the ground.

I know you are more than clever enough to figure out similar things for your implements. My fanciest implement rest is the one I finally made for my back hoe. It was always a real hassel getting it on and especially off. You have to get almost ALL the load off the top link pin before you can drive it out. I came into position of three matching screw car jacks. I made a 2 by wood frame that I can put the jacks under. One at each side and one at the back. I then marked and measured where the frame was to get the top link holes lined up exactly. To get the hoe off I just replicate those distances, and out comes the pin - well,,, I still have to help it a little. :-)

HTH

Stay safe!
Larry

In another post I've spoken harshly about stupidity. We all need to know and understand that everybody, at one time or another, does something real stupid and life threatening to somebody.

The magic is that those situations happen just once in a while. For some, literally once in a lifetime.

The scary part is that no one knows ahead of time when we are in place to be the "star in the show", that'll be on the TV news. My experience is that we get clues at the moment, but deny 'em, and the outcome is from dumb assed luck and the Grace of God.

Thanks for your post and please help pass the message that stupidity kills and cannot be legislated away by political efforts. IHank

Now we all know Nolan is a bright guy, I don't think anybody that's hung around this board hasn't been helped in some way by him.

For him to "fess up" about doing something stupid, well it just shows you....even the smart ones can make a mistake.

Here's my story: This past weekend, I went to back up my 2N to the top of a very steep hill, to dump a load of rocks from my 3 point bucket. As I got close, an alarm went off..."What would happen if I let the clutch slip, or let off the brake?" The results wouldn't have been pretty. I was one moment away from a statistic. Instead, I got her close, and hand pitched the rocks over the edge.

So when I hear about a farmer who loses his life, I am sad, and realize that just a moment of inattention is all it takes. The best safety device is between your ears, you just got to keep it maintained....get some sleep, keep hydrated, ease of the coors....etc, but most important, think it through first.

As they used to say on "Hill Street Blues", be careful out there...

Steve

Thanks for the heads-up on what could have been a tragic situation. I tried to purchase one of those alignment tools from CT Supply a while back and they advised me they no longer carry the item. I'm going to try and make my own...it shouldn't be too difficult.

--Jerry