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kids+tractors

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chrisalma

03-30-2008 12:21:33




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How old do you let your kids,or grandkids drive your tractors? I let my 5 year old sit on my lap and drive when Im not working the tractor and we just go up and down the lane slow. Dad turned me loose on my 7th birthday on a tractor w/cab and a 20' disc in a big field.




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6U684

03-31-2008 19:25:46




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
Dad started me on the easy-to-drive 1940 SC Case by me driving through gates while he opened and watched the critters. I was8. Then with a rope to the hand clutch from the wagon, I drove while he was loading loose hay. Also drove pulling the hay rope and stopping when they yelled. If not, could have tore out the barn! By 11 I was to take a load of grain to the mill five miles away by myself. The miller would make me get off and he drove the rig over the dump pit. Always irked me...I was big stuff! I look back, now, thankful the old Case was slow (abt 12mph) because if you ever have experienced the right hand drive wheel sinking in soft road shoulders and pulling the front end over to the ditch....well thank God it wasn't a high speed H Farmall. I was never able to engage my city children in useful, important work like that although I tried several things. Leonard

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Jlmtractor

03-31-2008 15:50:15




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
when my dad owned the business he would let me take one of the trackhoes out in the field when I was five to dig holes. I always wanted to run the skidsteer but I couldnt reach the pedals. I always ran equipment when I was five or older. I was seven when we rented a trackhoe to dig and backfill a foundation for somebody at church and I got to go the job after school while my dad was still there he told me since it was getting late to push some dirt around foundation so it didnt get washed out. well about that time the man from the dealership (that dad had to talk to for weeks before he would let dad rent a piece of equipment.) came around the corner his jaw must have hit the ground seeing a seven year old kid running a 30,000 dollar machine man was it awesome to see his face

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Trapper Boy in IN

03-31-2008 14:15:11




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
I was about 8 or 9 when I was taught to drive the AC WD-45. I couldn"t reach the clutch till I was about 11. But those 45s have the hand clutch and I could reach that ok. Dad would put it in 2nd gear and let me drive up and down the lane. I did that for a few years then could run the hay rake. Now I"m 17 and can do about every thing except spray. Saftey has always been very important and dad made sure I knew about the pto and all the other dangerous stuff. Grandpa taught me not to put my thumbs inside the steering wheel on the tractors without power-steering when I was little. He broke 5 bones in his hand when he hit a bump and the wheel spun around.

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Mike M

03-31-2008 05:21:20




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
Reminds me of a funny thing my son did. I forget how old he was ? He was going to ride the 4 wheeler up to the neighbors,they live really close just across the yard 200 yards ? maybe tops. I said not to run the 4 wheeler up there. I was trying to get him to walk ( ha )and no sense starting it up just to go and shut it right off again. So I go into the house. Next thing I see is him tooling along the back yard on a little rear engine rider I picked up to resell. Well I have to hand it to him I never said not to ride the mower up there ! LOL

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Old Roy agiin

03-30-2008 22:40:03




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
I was about 10 my first driving experience 1941 chev.1 ton driving around in fields.I thought I was a big man then.even tho it was in 'grandma' gear idleling, the men would show up at the door once in a while to help me get er on course til I learned to do it right.---don't know about the future of kids today hopefuly,stay with farming If born into,Teenies won't ask if they could help stack some hay in the barn for a couple bucks,We have obout 6 of em around here,I also think learning to haul with a hay wagon,especilly with a steep exit out of the field,there would be a lot less aggressive drivers around.Would make em realize something bad could happen to them if you drive stupid !!

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Mark - IN.

03-30-2008 21:16:23




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
I can not and will not suggest what age would be all right, especially since I don't have kids of my own. But I can say that I was 8 or 9 and was operating an AC B and a Farmall H on my own. My father rode behind me for a couple of years before that, and was very cautious with me when he let me do it on my own. He taught my older brother and myself fear and respect for tractors and their usefulness, and to never be too comfortable for their unpredictabilities. He died in an accident when I was 10. Whatever you decide, be careful and try to guage or understand your children's limitations is the best advice I can offer. Be careful, take it slow, make sure they know that throttle down works good for initial braking, and how to kill the engine. Eveytime they get on it, question them if they start to get into trouble how to kill the engine...and make them show you. Make them kill it, and restart it afterwards.

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Mark - IN.

03-30-2008 21:20:40




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 Oh yeah, one more thing... in reply to Mark - IN., 03-30-2008 21:16:23  
...if they touch it when you're not around or home, they're off of it until you decide they've been punished enough. They don't pull a "Let me show you what I can do" for their friends when you're not around. Safety first.



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Don L C

03-30-2008 20:26:00




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
When I was a kid we lived on 435Ar.Dairy farm...1948 I was 12, dad and I got up at 4 AM, started milking at 5.....I ran 3 milkers....dad washed the cows and striped them dry....I also worked the fields with dad.....I had started driving the tractors when I was 9.....

The day I will rember the rest of my life, in the fall of 1950 my grandfather delivered a new '51 Farmall m (he was a large dealer)....
Dad handed me the ouners manual and told me it was mine....he had the '48 M.....It was great fun plowing behind my dad each pulling 3-14s....after dark with the lights on....it was great.....
straight exhaust with fire flying about 12"high..

I still have the manual and I bought a '51 m to restore.....Don

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E.B. Haymakin'

03-30-2008 19:43:48




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
As a poster listed below, what do we do? If we don"t train the next generation the craft will be lost. I have noticed in some families that when "tractoring" was started later, or closer to the teenage years there seemed to be little likely hood of any generational continuance of the farming operation. With the people that started at a younder age they seemed to hold a stronger attachment to continuing the tradition. Am I wrong? Maybe the spark is they can see themselves accomplishing something?, and they keep that alive. Is it worth the risk? Before the grace of God we go.

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dave guest

03-30-2008 18:17:13




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
4H has a tractor certification program for kids. My grandson 11 years old drive Cub with "deadman switch cord" attached to his pants.



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buickanddeere

03-30-2008 18:16:56




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
Some kids at age 10 can, some adults never do learn how to drive. Depends..... ..... ..... .. Kids know little of the laws of physics, mechanical items etc. All is well until something out of the ordinary occurs.
It's catch 22, most lessons learned how to keep out of trouble were learned while in trouble. Trick is to learn without wrecking something or getting crippled, killed.
My kids are put on a go-kart with a rollbar, seat belts and a helmet. Then set loose to turn donuts, power slides, run into stuff etc

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RobMD

03-30-2008 17:47:57




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 Especially dangerous when you're not around in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
The problem is not so much the ability of the kid to drive the tractor... It IS a problem, however, when you're NOT around and the kid wants to show off to his friends and/or do things himself.

Real dangers arise when children think they KNOW EVERYTHING, climb a tractor, and proceed to do something hazardous. They get cocky - They may misjudge turns, go too fast, and drive through your fence.

I've started a tractor when I was 7, and it happened to be in gear - thank heavens it stalled out before reaching the end of the barn.

I rode around in the bucket a lot, still do, and have built/repaired buildings while high up in the bucket.

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495man

03-31-2008 15:04:13




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 Re: Especially dangerous when you're not around in reply to RobMD, 03-30-2008 17:47:57  
EXACTLY

Anyone ever go on you tube and see all the tractor stunts.....it's what they'll do when you are NOT around.
You need to show them how to operate equipment properly, and let them have seat time. They need to know how for when they can operate on their own.
Maturity is a big thing...always practice safety and lead by example, I hate seeing someone get off a tractor in the field, leave it and PTO gear running, not set parking brake etc...

Examples of "supervised" might be letting your kid rake as you bale, or let them run the loader tractor loading the manure spreader for you. If you still have square bales and load them on towed wagon...great chance to learn there, you're always right "in tow"

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Beans

03-30-2008 17:34:55




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
I started driving our Allis 190XT Series 3 with NH-276 hayliner when i was only six years old. My Grandpa and cousin were on the hay wagon while i operated the baler. Only thing I had trouble with was the Clutch. I'd yell back when I needed help with it(Mostly when the baler sheared a bolt). Now i'm eight-teen and operateing anything and everything.



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phillip d

03-30-2008 16:05:07




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
I don't plan to let my son do much on his own untill he is around 13-14,or so I say while he is still only 8.I know of a case of a neighbour who was semi-retired and loving life at 67.He thought it was a great way to teach his neighbours nephew how to run equipment at 10 years of age by letting him drive the loader on a field lane while he sat in the bucket.I still almost see that ambulance tear by our farm on the way to the accident and take it's time returning to the hospital where the characteristic gentleman of a farmer was pronounced dead.It may be awfull handy cheap labour to let the young fellas drive the tractor,sure is an expensive lesson to never be forgotton when someone dies.pd.

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phillip d

03-30-2008 16:06:41




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 Re: kids+tractors are a deadly mix in reply to phillip d, 03-30-2008 16:05:07  
There are countless heart wrenching stories



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Janicholson

03-30-2008 15:52:17




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
My son was on my MD when 2.5 he loved it. He still loves tractors. He built (with some welding by me, but cutting and tacking by himself) a little yard tractor from a craftsman rear engine joke when 12, and took it to the state fair 4H. I had him drive in a big parking lot yesterday in my daily driver 57 Jeep CJ3B with an IHC K series truck cab on it. He loved it.
He drives a 350U alone, and is responsible. If engages, and realistic training happens, it creates the next generation of real people. JimN

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Mike M

03-30-2008 15:44:00




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
Yes this is a "catch 22" situation isn't it. Darned if you do darned if you don't ? people have a fit when they see riders , but then how else can they learn ? I am torn with this too. I can't remember a time when I wasn't riding on or driving a tractor with someone. I have kids now and have tried to teach them saftey and have let them ride with me some but not much. They really aren't into it like I was. I have let them run the push mower first at a young age and then the riders. I hang around and supervise ( likely more dangerous for me ! )and I make sure the equipment is in good order,brakes working and all the saftey features in place too. I haven't let them run my old 2 cyl. on their own as I don't want them to wreck them. I doubt the kids will get hurt ,but the tractor will !

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Joe Pro

03-30-2008 15:08:02




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
When I was 10 I was raking hay and running wagons, now I do what ever (16) , but I cant really picture my 14year old brother out there with the 670 and baler, he probably couldn't fing the pto lever let alone know what he is doing. Times are different when my mom was growing up she was one of 4 girls and they ran cattle and grain farmed. She can do most anything and has taught me more than dad has. My grandopa has taught me alot also. It all depends on how intellegant the kid is and theit reactions to problems.

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Goose

03-30-2008 14:59:09




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
Seems to me Child Endangermant comes into play here somewhere. Or incredible stupitity.

Our neighbor thought his 13 year old son was mature enough and experienced enough to be sent out with a 4020 and an 18' disc. He wasn't.

The funeral was three days later.



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Joe Pro

03-30-2008 14:56:23




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
I was about 2 when I drove by my self, dad put the ford 3000 in 1st gear and jumped off got on about 20 yards later, but the time I was 5 I was telling my dad how to drive and do things, we have video of me when I was 7 starting the 3000 and driving it around by my self. I Could drive and dad let me but on the MM 670's, the clutch was almost too far and it took 2 feet to push it in. When I was real young dad screwed about half a dozen 2*4's together so I could drive the lawnmower and roll the yard. It depends on the kid and there abilities.

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john d

03-30-2008 14:30:48




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
Depends on the kid, the tractor, and the conditions. When I was about a little kid, my Dad would let me ride with him sometimes. I was on the seat in front of him, and he was talking safety in my ear the entire time. When I was about 5, he started letting me drive the tractor (Farmall H) through gates and into the barn at the end of the day. I couldn't reach the clutch to work it then, so he'd put it in 1st gear, let out the clutch, and let me drive it at idling speed. When I cleared the gate, or got it into the barn, I was to "kick the switch" to stop it. That "kick the switch" instruction was so ingrained in my mind that I instinctively did it a few times as I was growing up and got the tractor started into some sort of trouble. By the time I was 7, I was raking hay with a neighbor's Farmall B in 2nd gear just fast enough to keep ahead of Dad on the H pulling a hay chopper in 1st. The next summer, I was on the H learning to cultivate corn.

Those old open Farmalls don't measure up to the safety standards of today's tractors, but I was familiar with them, we farmed flat ground, and I had the good fortune of having a VERY patient Dad who would not only take time to show me things, but would be supportive when I messed up.

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Mashbox

03-30-2008 14:25:33




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
My kids, ages 15, 2, 10 and 7 all drive my Jubilee. I stay close with the 7 year old, in the middle of the field, but she does good. And they only drive when I am out with them. I am just glad to see they have an interest in the old machinery.



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Mashbox

03-30-2008 14:22:03




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to KentS671dKS, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  

Walt davies said: (quoted from post at 21:27:47 03/30/08) HELL!! I didn't get my drivers license until I was 18 an Grampa decided it was time for me to learn so he said go get the car and he sat down an waited for me to go get it with no instructions or help. That was my Grampa he didn't tell you much unless you made a mistake then you really got it.

Walt

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Walt davies

03-30-2008 13:27:47




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
HELL!! I didn't get my drivers license until I was 18 an Grampa decided it was time for me to learn so he said go get the car and he sat down an waited for me to go get it with no instructions or help. That was my Grampa he didn't tell you much unless you made a mistake then you really got it.
Walt



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chrisalma

03-30-2008 13:23:08




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
I do believe that safety is number one and trust me I think about it always. I spent many hours with dad on the tractor before he let me go. And I discuss safety and handling with my 5 year old every time we get the tractor out. Also I tell her that anytime she wants to go for a ride just ask. I feel that way she is less likely to do it herself, and so far it is working. If she asks I get it out and she has never attempted to do it herself. And I always keep guards and safety switches on and working and I hope everybody else does also, no matter how much a pain they are.

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Dairy Farmer in WI

03-30-2008 13:11:38




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
my dad first put me on the tractor hauling manure,that was about 8? but that was all i did for a year or so. then he had me disk, then rake hay. by about 12 he had me cutting hay. 14 i was baling and plowing.
DF in WI



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James22

03-30-2008 13:02:35




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
Seven is pretty young. I was big for my age and didn't get turned loose until 8-9 years old. I don't support the safety issue about not having kids ride with their parents. Perhaps disking or rotary mowing without a cab should be avoided with younger children, but on a limited basics I've done both on level terrain. Obviously not mowing ditch or pond banks. However, I'm definitely going to be on the tractor directing someone before turning them loose on a new job, particularly if they are younger. During a 15 month period a few years ago, our county was averaging slightly over one auto accident related teenage death a couple years ago. Some drinking related, others excessive speed. Since we haven't had any teenage tractor passenger deaths after or during this period, it looks like they would better spend their efforts/money on preventing teenage traffic accidents.

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James22

03-30-2008 19:24:20




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to James22, 03-30-2008 13:02:35  
Screwed up that one sentence slightly. Should read averaged over one teenage auto accident death per month for 15 months.



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Ken Crisman

03-30-2008 12:30:42




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 Re: kids+tractors in reply to chrisalma, 03-30-2008 12:21:33  
I also started solo in the fields plowing & discing . But you wanna remember each & every kid is different . Some mature mentally more than others . First off , teach kids tractor SAFETY & teach them that they can never be old enough to think they can handle any predicament they get into with a tractor . Also there should never be any riders ( other kids ) when kids are driving . You as an adult should always be near enough to stop the tractor cold if something does happen . Good luck & God bless, Ken

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