No, after thinking back, it's really not the safest thing to do, and when looked at logically, it makes no sense, due to the risk involved.
However, as a kid, I rode on the fender all the time, I felt safe, and comfortable enough, even on some of the hills, while my father was operating the tractor and the rotary cutter, hay equipment etc. I grew up around our ford tractor dealership, I learned about tractors and got an up close view of most equipment at an early age, that really helped me learn how dangerous tractors and equipment can be, even as a kid, a side sickle, mower conditioner, baler, etc. looked like something to stay the heck away from, just by looking at it. I used to run the winch for my father on the tilt bed and flag if need be, + having been around some old time mechanics at the shop, all went a long way in learning about these things, I'd not trade those years for nothing. The best was when we used to bring new tractors for display at the fair, lot of people remember those blue ones riding up the back roads every year to get to the fairgrounds, I still have the large canvas banner we used to hang up, often wondered if anyone had any pictures of our display, great riding on the fender memories there !
There is something about this experience that went a long way to the present, I still enjoy mowing the fields with my rotary cutter/brushog, + all the things needed to keep my well worn 850 ford going, it is a bear to operate compared to the 4000 S-O-S I grew up on and ran at an early age, no way I'd have been able to jump on the tractor I have now, without having some suitable experience first.
As a kid, I can remember how my neighbor always enjoyed some company on the tractor, even while baling, if you walked into any field he was working, he'd always stop and wave you over, I never forgot that, and all these years later, I saw him baling a field by the barns and there was a youngster up in the cab, he used to smoke a pipe when I was a kid, kind of a pleasant aroma, was helping him get the round bales of straw out of the oats he planted at our place, he's been at it some 60 years now, had asked him how long, longer than I thought !
I'd be really hesitant to allow a youngster to ride with me given the same circumstances, I'd have to be real comfortable with the area I'm working in, person would have to be secure enough beside me, and it would have to be on flat, lightly sloped terrain, and I'd have to be real comfortable with the person sitting where I did as a kid, meaning he knows to hang on, be attentive and not be a distraction. I seemed to fit on the fender and had a place to put my feet and never had any trouble with it, looking back, just can't say I'd be ok with it, roles reversed, unless the tractor had a cab and still working on safe ground, nothing risky.
The oddball things that can happen, you hit a chuck hole or some far out mechanical failure, 2 people at risk and the other person could still be a slight distraction, so maybe a pass or 2 for a short ride, one side of me says just don't do it, other side thinks well, it was a god experience, only because nothing ever went wrong. Everything we do in life has risk, it is increased if you ride on the fender, even if the operator is careful, works ina slow speed, tractor is well kept, area of operation is well known, flat etc. It's a double edged sword, still tend to lean towards the safe side.
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Today's Featured Article - Hydraulics - Cylinder Anatomy - by Curtis von Fange. Let’s make one more addition to our series on hydraulics. I’ve noticed a few questions in the comment section that could pertain to hydraulic cylinders so I thought we could take a short look at this real workhorse of the circuit. Cylinders are the reason for the hydraulic circuit. They take the fluid power delivered from the pump and magically change it into mechanical power. There are many types of cylinders that one might run across on a farm scenario. Each one could take a chapter in
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