Rushing is my worse problem. Specific to my 8N, here's a few bigies I've noticed: With an overruning clutch on that hog it certainly takes it a while to spin down to a halt. Which I frequently don't want to wait for. However, if I truly want to keep my limbs and such, I do need to take a deep breath, relax, and accept that I'm going to simply have to work things a bit slower with this old tractor. Similarly, I've noted myself in hot water a time or two dismounted with the brakes set. Sometimes I don't have them set as strongly as needed, and other times I've noticed that in jumping up out of the seat I manage to step squarely on the right hand brake pedal, disengaging the lock. Again, rushing around gets me into trouble. Set the brakes, and see if the tractor really is set. Then get up and out at a more reasonable pace, paying attention to where me feet go. I've got loader frame mounted on my tractor, and it is pretty much easier to get off the machine straight backwards. Couple this with a bush hog and a lack of patience, and you can probably see where I'm headed. I found myself standing there on the lower arms the other day, my feet just a few inches from the still rapidly spinning pto shaft. That was not bright. In fact, it was down right stupid, with capital letters. As if my boots are never muddy, the laces never undone, and my steps never misplaced, and my hydraulics flawless and locked so nothing can move. Yea, right. Dumb dumb dumb. In general,
Just about every time I have been hurt on or by a piece of machinery, it has been by hurrying. Be it trying to jump up into a seat and slipping, to short cutting a safety step (or three) to get something done expeditiously. Pause to keep your paws.
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