Tractor Accident

Wednesday afternoon I was involved in a tractor/disk/car accident. I was east bound on the 4 lane highway with my 560 Farmall with a John Deere RW 14 ft. disk You folks be careful in traffic with your farm machinery as there seems to be a lot of people in an allfire hurry and not paying attention to their driving.
 
Well, since I'm reading this, you must be o.k. A friend's brother died in an accident like yours. Thankfully, I don't have to contend with a lot of traffic. Drivers who aren't farmers are nuts! I take up as much road as possible anymore and allow others to pass when it's safe for ME! I've had enough close calls leaving things to another driver's judgment.

Glad to see you're OK! -Andy
 
(quoted from post at 13:39:36 05/03/13) Glad you are ok, but what are you doing on a four lane highway with machinery in the first place? No secondary roads?

There are fields along four lane roads, too.
 
When I was a teenager Dad and I moved a lot of farm eqp down two lane roads etc and I was always taught to move over anytime a car approached. I realize that isn't possible but with the size of eqp and traffic now I believe we need to have a escort when taking up over one lane as so much equipment does now.
 
Several times already this year, I've traveled down a 2 lane with my Spray Coupe sprayer ,driving partly on the shoulder.Semi's wood pass me with another semi coming from the other direction.There wood be me on one shoulder a semi on the other shoulder &another semi in the middle Their doing at least 65.I quit pulling over on the shoulder ,too dangerous.I'd rather get the finger for slowing them down than end up in the ditch upside down.
 
I have to pull the mixer grinder about a mile each way on two lane. It about makes me crazy as I can't see around it to find out whether I am about to be creamed or not. The ditches are so steep I could never go near without upsetting the whole apple cart. Orange triangles mean nothing to folks.
 
When someone gives me the finger I smile, wave and blow them a kiss! You should see the looks on their faces! Its a hoot! Better than giving them the finger back!
 
I have always been told to hog the road... when you feel its
safe for them to pass then let them pass but other than that
hog the road!
 
Get yourself a mirror if i can see whats behind pulling a Brent 644 wagon you sure could see behind a grinder. Why not have turn signals just mite save your life.
 
Several years ago was hauling corn with
c70 and had Jeep tailgating. I had in a
big chew, it sucked right along thr bed,
whipped around the back of the truck
and direct hit on the windshield. Saw it
all in the mirror, looked like it put it in
reverse :)
 
While the mirrors are great on the new tractors I don't think most people are really aware that new stuff has turn signals. They sure don't seem to take notice to them. I still usually hog the road with left turns.
 
I never hit the gravel. When I did custom application I kept my left tire in my lane and that's it. Some of the other applicators would go as far right as they could, but I wasn't going in the ditch for some jerk. I kept it in my lane and I have just as much right to be there as they do.
 
It is what they call a limited access highway with access from the farms and houses to the highway. These access roads are about a half mile apart. Our farms are located on different access roads with the only way between them is the 4 lane. Its especially tricky when you want to go left with a semi as the median access doesn't have enough room for the length of the semi. You have to make sure the coast is clear on all 4 lanes before you can proceed. This road was designed in the late 60's.
 
Disk is totaled, left tractor rim and tire is off and the rear wheel casting is cracked. The fast hitch is either broken or bent and the left fender is pushed in toward the seat. Haven't figured out how to post pictures.
 
Here is an attempt to post a picture.
a114129.jpg

a114130.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 20:53:40 05/03/13) It is what they call a limited access highway with access from the farms and houses to the highway. These access roads are about a half mile apart. Our farms are located on different access roads with the only way between them is the 4 lane. Its especially tricky when you want to go left with a semi as the median access doesn't have enough room for the length of the semi. You have to make sure the coast is clear on all 4 lanes before you can proceed. This road was designed in the late 60's.

We are getting more and more of those here in Wisconsin. People demand to go 55-65 and not be slowed down by towns.

That disc is toast! Thanks for the pictures.
 
People are idiots, i run grain cart in the fall and have almost been hit numerous times during road transport. I just smile and wave at them. Glad your ok
 
You are lucky, I got put in the ditch when a car hit me 30 years ago. I was climbing on the uphill fender by the time I got stopped.
 
I'm glad you are alright, how are the people in the car?

If you rebuild the 560 please consider adding some hazard flashers like is on newer equipment. Drivers need to actually see farm equipment, then need time to recognize there is a hazard there before they can react and only then start to slow down. When you are traveling 45 MPH slower than the traffic there isn't much time for that to happen. Drivers need to see and recognize hazard lights from at least 1/4 mile away to be able to slow down in time. A dim single red tail light pointed low at the ground and a 5 year old faded SMV sign can't grab anyone's attention until they are right on top of it, then it's too late to slow down.

Sorry for the lecture. Motorcycles, pedestians, road construction workers, bicycles, farm equipment, law enforcement and utility crews all have the same problem, drivers can't slow down if they can't see you.
 
I only have one flashing amber led light on the frame of the seat below the cushion and replaced the SMV sign last summer. I have a rear view mirror but vibrates a lot, you can tell if somebody is behind you. Wife and I were discussing how to install more flashing lights across the back or top to possibly be seen better.
 
I remember when I worked for an IH dealership in Davenport and drove combines across the twin bridges. The 915 combines even without the heads was wider than one of the lanes so I'd take both of them. There was not enough room for the large cars and trucks to get around but if you left too much space they would try to squeeze through.
 
Get external mount truck turn signal lights at advance auto. Using additional flashers and boat trailer wiring I did all of the tractors and implements on the farm several years ago for about $200.00. Boat trailer wiring harness dirt cheap and easy to work with.
 
(quoted from post at 13:50:31 05/03/13)
(quoted from post at 13:39:36 05/03/13) Glad you are ok, but what are you doing on a four lane highway with machinery in the first place? No secondary roads?

There are fields along four lane roads, too.

Amen!! If that road is the only way to get to the field, then the farmer has just as much RIGHT to be there as anyone else.
 
I used to have to travel the road with a grinder / mixer too, and you are right, you cant see behind you and makes you nervous the whole time. I once got flagged over to the shoulder on a very busy 2 lane by a lady in a mini van, I thought my wheel bearing must be on fire, or feed is leaking, or something dragging, right? Turns out , she wanted directions ! People dont think things through...
 
I"ve got a "51 Farmall M with a Farmhand F11B front loader. That loader has a pseudo-roll bar which ties together the two uprights of the loader frame. You know, I might just go online and get me a yellow xenon strobe or LED light bar to stick on my loader frame.
 
I'm glad you are alright that fender looks like it could have hit you. Last year I was moving a 241 round baler with extra lights on the sides with my 560. My son was following with a red pickup with a strobe on the top and flashers and people kept trying to pass when we moved over completely into the oncoming lane to turn left. Even semis. Sure scared me. A local large dairy has people trying to pass going uphill in no passing zones and the 4000 gallon tanker is huge. I don't understand how everyone is in such a rush to die some days. I can tell you alot of road stories from when I was driving a service van how people would pass just to be in front even if you were going to fast yourself. Started leaving later each day until it quit. They need to get up earlier in my thoughts.
 
I'm 50 now but when I went thru tractor safty when I was 12. They taught us unless you can get all the way off the road on the shoulder you should stay all the way on the road. That said two years ago I was pulling the baler and a load of hay on a two lane road my wife was following with a pickup and a guy passed us both on the shoulder,scared the crap out of me.
 
I had a mirror, but on the old Oliver cab it was nothing but a blur at any speed at all. Never did figure out how to solve that, but I dont grind off the farm anymore, so no more trouble.
 
Funny thing about drivers and warning lights, seems that they pay no attention to most lights be they red, yellow, orange, flashing or not. It seems that the only color light that most drivers react or pay any attention to is a BLUE light. But it is illegal for anything but a LEO vehicle to be equipped with BLUE lights.
 
drivers can't slow down if they can't see you.

The only reason drivers "can't see you" is because they are NOT PAYING ATTENTION, PERIOD.

You shouldn't need some dumb flashing lights. The fact that there is a big effing hunk of iron in the middle of the effing road should be more than adequate!

People drive too fast and are just lost in their own little worlds. Even if they aren't busy talking or texting, they're falling asleep, or daydreaming or gawking at the scenery instead of looking at what is in the road ahead of them.

Fact of the matter is, blinking lights aren't enough. Studies have shown that people are so used to seeing the flashing lights, they pay no attention anymore!

Notice how emergency vehicles now have "random" light flash patterns? That worked for a while, but now that people are used to seeing those, they are STILL plowing into them!!!

Nothing is going to help until there are some serious repercussions for all this irresponsible driving.
 
(quoted from post at 12:50:06 05/06/13)
drivers can't slow down if they can't see you.

The only reason drivers "can't see you" is because they are NOT PAYING ATTENTION, PERIOD.

You shouldn't need some dumb flashing lights. The fact that there is a big effing hunk of iron in the middle of the effing road should be more than adequate!

People drive too fast and are just lost in their own little worlds. Even if they aren't busy talking or texting, they're falling asleep, or daydreaming or gawking at the scenery instead of looking at what is in the road ahead of them.

Fact of the matter is, blinking lights aren't enough. Studies have shown that people are so used to seeing the flashing lights, they pay no attention anymore!

Notice how emergency vehicles now have "random" light flash patterns? That worked for a while, but now that people are used to seeing those, they are STILL plowing into them!!!

Nothing is going to help until there are some serious repercussions for all this irresponsible driving.

Last week I was hauling cattle to the sale in an OLD cruddy stock trailer, but the lights DO work. Had a semi Jackknife behind me while I sat in my lane on the highway and waited for a chance to turn left to the filling station. He followed me to the filling station and cussed me up and down, I told him if he doesnt want to call the cops over it then I gladly will. They take careless CDL drivers seriously. I was hoping for a new trailer myself!

Same thing happens pulling my baler or the 8 row planter I used to have. I can take up the whole road and people WILL NOT slow down. I was crossing a small bridge once, the planter was 3pt mount and I was able to lift the ends of the frame over the bridge but one wrong move and I would kill a row opener. A car came the other direction and got a couple yards from me pointing go back/ move over. I dumped the clutch on the 220 HP 8920 and he started moving back wards when my front tires lifted off the ground lol.
 
WOW! Looks like you took a good lick. Glad you are ok! Get some flashing amber lights mounted on the tractor and equipment if you are going to travel highways. Any parts house would have the parts you need. Also check EBAY, I have bought lights there too.

CT
 

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