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Near Death Experience

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EricB

01-05-2005 07:34:45




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Like many Farmalls my W4 has the choke and starter button mounted in the lower left. It is very awkward to reach both at the same time. For the last 30 years(about 5000 starts)I have stood just behind the tractor and started it from the standing position. May 20th at 4:33 PM after a busy day I need to get it out of the shed. Its a small shed and I park them close together. Yep! It started. It was in reverse! It instantly crushed my chest into the tire of the next tractor behind me. I struggled to hit the kill switch and waited for the last four turns of the engine. I placed the tractor in 1st and moved it ahead on the starter to free myself. Only then did I notice my leg moved ahead with the tractor. The draw bar had gone through my boot, through my leg and out the other side. I removed my leg from the bar,got a clean rag from the lambing box in the barn and used my belt over the missing section of my leg to control bleeding then hobbled 100 yards to the phone in the house.
A month in hospital but I was real lucky. My leg looks weird but it works Ok!
I learned ALWAYS BE SITTING INFRONT OF THE CONTROLS BEFORE STARTING THE TRACTOR.
Have a Happy and Safe New Year!

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Kelly C

01-06-2005 17:50:38




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to EricB, 01-05-2005 07:34:45  
Eric.
I was going to make a comment. Some thing to the effect " I always check to see if my tractors are in neutral before I hit the starter"
I do do that.
But then I remembered that I was not born with that habbit. I was just lucky that my tractors were not in as good of tune as yours. Mine just rolled a couple feet on the starter. My only cost for that lesson was a "D'oh kelly you dumb dumb better check to see its out of gear 1st".
Some times lessons are free and some times they cost alot. I hope yours are free from now on.

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JDknut

01-06-2005 03:24:08




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to EricB, 01-05-2005 07:34:45  
My neighbor did the same thing last summer. Got off the tractor to check the hay rake, then started it whilst he was on the ground, sure enough it was in gear and ran right over him. He was lucky and survived, but spent a lot of time in intensive care and is now in a wheelchair, altho he expects to walk again this year. He did get his deer, tho, in hunting season, got a permit to hunt from his truck.

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and they say im the stupi

01-05-2005 19:21:44




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to EricB, 01-05-2005 07:34:45  
now i understand why they put so many safety switches on equipment.



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26Red

01-05-2005 15:21:18




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to EricB, 01-05-2005 07:34:45  
Have any of you installed a starting safety switch on the clutch? Thinking about doing that on my H and 300. Would be even better if you had a seat switch that wouldn't let you start or dismount the tractor unless you had the brakes on also.(Hydrostatic zero turn mowers are that way)

I was watching RFDTV last week and a guy was trying to get off his mint JD H while it was slowly rolling backwards- even the interviewer was suggesting he use the parking brake.. apparently it is hard to set from the seat?

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lee

01-05-2005 11:59:26




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to EricB, 01-05-2005 07:34:45  
tractors can be dangerous even though there are many who might not realize it. Some would say your story has been playing out across America for 100 years and many a good operator has come out alive and smarter for it. Just because the shift lever seems to indicate neutral doesn't mean it actually is either. In most cases, if you're going to stand beside or behind it while starting, it's a good idea to bump the starter with ignition or kill switch in off position to insure she's really in neutral.

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dej(JED)

01-05-2005 10:54:31




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to EricB, 01-05-2005 07:34:45  
I had a similar happening occur in the yard. I stood behind the M with a loader on it and started it. It usually needed choked a lot. Not this time though, it started the first time. Yep it was in reverse and knocked me down, but I caught the drawbar and hung on until I could pull myself up enough to hit the key. You can never be careful enough.



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farmallman

01-05-2005 10:47:20




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to EricB, 01-05-2005 07:34:45  
Just thank God that u are OK



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jahaze

01-05-2005 10:02:55




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to EricB, 01-05-2005 07:34:45  
Just another wake up call to be careful. I was crushed while standing behind my JD D on steel two year ago. Still have the scar above my hip where one of the lugs made an impresion. My hips still give me problems, and probably will for the rest of my life. Never quite look at a tractor the same way now.



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CNKS

01-05-2005 09:06:47




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to EricB, 01-05-2005 07:34:45  
Your story sounds a little fishy to me. With the injuries you describe, I believe you would be dead.



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Old Dan

01-05-2005 22:06:51




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to CNKS, 01-05-2005 09:06:47  
For what it's worth I thought that answer was uneccessary myself. I recall I got an equally churlish answer from you about one of my posts regarding compressor oil. I remember being somewhat taken aback both with your failure to understand the parameters of the question as well as the mean spirited answer. You must suck lemons for breakfast.



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CNKS

01-06-2005 05:06:48




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to Old Dan, 01-05-2005 22:06:51  
Ol Dan--The only answer I remember giving about compressor oil was someone who worked for a business who changed the oil in their compressors on a schedule rather than hours of use. The oil appeared clean and the guy wanted to use it in his vehicle. I said it wasn't a good idea, others said it was ok. Perhaps I should not have responded to Erics post at all, but I have the right to disagree with whoever it was that wants to put used oil in a vehicle. If it was you, I'm not sorry I don't agree with you, what I gave you was my opinion, as many of the answers on this forum are -- many are not etched in stone. This board is the exchange of information. None of us are right all the time.

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Nebraska Cowman

01-05-2005 14:32:55




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to CNKS, 01-05-2005 09:06:47  
CNKS I thought you were a better man than that. Maybe you need to freshen up on the rules of the forum. " At all times treat each other with courtesy and respect." Eric is a very lucky man.



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CNKS

01-05-2005 17:42:12




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to Nebraska Cowman, 01-05-2005 14:32:55  
I simply do not think you can be caught between the wheels of two tractors and live. I have read of many such accidents. In all cases the person was either killed, paralyzed, or at the least very badly injured followed by months or years of rehab. Eric sounds in pretty good shape to me. Perhaps he's an optimist and for some reason wanted to relate his experience, I don't know. By the way, you sounded rather short with your original answer, also.

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Sloroll

01-05-2005 18:10:41




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 It works out in reply to CNKS, 01-05-2005 17:42:12  
To drive a drawbar through a tractor leg the leg had to be held against some object, the drawbar being held against a solid object and being longer than the wheels and fenders would have slowed or help stop the tractor from going straight back. Before I wrote this I went out and played with my W4 to make sure I was right in my own mind. I layed all sorts of ways on the back of that tractor and found I would nearly be crushed but not flattened, between the seat and the fender with the shifter in easy access regardless of my position when my hand was near the starter. I wish I would have posted this earlier and I am glad no one came around when I was draping myself all over the back of my beautiful, little, full fendered, make an iron man take a cold shower, W4 McCormick Deering tractor

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Bob

01-05-2005 09:53:00




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to CNKS, 01-05-2005 09:06:47  
Even if it's a made-up story, it certainly illustrates what can happen!

I went halfway through the wall of a shed with a (green) 730 diesel that started in gear the second I pulled the "start" lever on the cranking engine.

I wasn't hurt, and the tractor was only dinged up a little, but unexpected starting in gear will scare the HELL out of a person!



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CNKS

01-05-2005 11:15:27




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to Bob, 01-05-2005 09:53:00  
I'm well aware of that -- have started many tractors from behind, just as Eric did, but I Always check to see if they are in neutral. Grew up (I'm 67) crank starting Farmalls. Was emphasized by my dad to ALWAYS see that they are in neutral. I almost never leave a tractor in gear, unless there is enough incline that it will roll. The accident could have happened, but when he said, wheel crushed his chest, and he said he was able to get in in first -- I began to wonder, as he is the 1st crushed person I've heard of to live to tell about it. Drawbar thru leg? I'm not opening my email perhaps Eric will post the picture for all to see then I will apologize.

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EricB

01-05-2005 09:46:58




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to CNKS, 01-05-2005 09:06:47  
You crack me up! Open your email and I'll send you a photo of the leg. I have a digital camera beside me on the desk.



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Nebraska Cowman

01-05-2005 09:00:21




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to EricB, 01-05-2005 07:34:45  
Oh shoot, well glad to have you back in the land of the living Eric



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old

01-05-2005 08:16:43




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to EricB, 01-05-2005 07:34:45  
That is why I always park my tractors in nutrel and even then I check it to make sure its out of gear when I start one no matter where I am when I start it. Learned to do that one time when I went to start a tractor and it was in gear got lucky I could jump out of the way then had to run after it and jump on to stop it. Since then I always check to make sure its not in gear. Hope you get to doing better

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Andy Martin

01-05-2005 08:05:29




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to EricB, 01-05-2005 07:34:45  
Glad you have recovered.

I generally stand in front of the left tire to work the choke and starter as required.

Although I "always" leave my tractors in neutral, I've got a buddy who always leaves them in gear. I never know when he may have been to the house to borrow a tractor so it is second nature for me to slap the shift lever back and forth to insure it is in neutral. I accuse him of trying to kill me, but he still leaves them in gear. I know he like my wife.

So you got me to thinking, what I am doing is looking for the time when he or I take it out of gear in a hurry and the fork slips out without the rail moving the gear. I guess I'm betting my life that won't happen. What is the reward if I win that bet? I'm not a gambler, but the casinos offer better odds because if I win I get the same thing as if I don't bet.

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Sloroll

01-05-2005 07:49:53




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to EricB, 01-05-2005 07:34:45  
Whew!!! Glad you are OK. I once started an M farmall in the same position shedwise. I was standing on the drawbar, hit the starter. My buddy was in a Dodge Coronet reving the engine as we were jumpstarting the M. It was in reverse. I got to ride over the hood of a Dodge. Finally got my foot on the clutch (to stupid to hit the kill switch) When the M rolled off the hood my foot slipped off the clutch and over the hood We went again. Finally thought to kill it. My buddy and I ended up better than you but the car had to be drug off. Certainly gald you are tap dancing again! It could have been so much worse.

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Jay (ND)

01-05-2005 09:15:09




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to Sloroll, 01-05-2005 07:49:53  
I know this isn't appropriate but LMAO



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Allan in NE

01-05-2005 09:18:22




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to Jay (ND), 01-05-2005 09:15:09  
Jay,

Whenever you see ol' Slo come on here, ya gotta first prepare yourself. :>)

If he didn't already have the lion's share of all the money in the world, he would do well as a comedian.

Allan



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Sloroll

01-05-2005 10:24:06




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 The rest of the story: in reply to Allan in NE, 01-05-2005 09:18:22  
If you wanna laugh... It was a senior project and about 10 deg. outside. We were in heavy coats. The tractor had to be started because we were going to move our science project from outside to inside. The project?? We had a 55 gal drum of chicken errahh... "droppings" that weighed about a ton and a half or so. We needed to get the drum into the chicken house because it was to cold outside to distill methane from the drum O gold. We destroyed a car for a drum of chicken... droppings. We distilled in a quart jar what we tried to convince the science teacher was methane. When we opened the jar for the glowing slint test we unleashed a about 300,000 chicken f@rts and they had to move classes to the library and take PE out side. We effectively ran people out of half the school building. The teacher felt sorry for us after recieving a pollaroid of the car with our progress report and we reciecved an A. Honest to God true story, Even I couldn't make it up. If I had more space I'd go on because I had to eliminate a lot of detail.

By the way.. I am as poor as they come but have had a rich life. Someday I'll explain how I about burned down the shed with a 966 and a vacuum cleaner.

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Jay (ND)

01-05-2005 13:10:41




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 Re: The rest of the story: in reply to Sloroll, 01-05-2005 10:24:06  
LOL

That is it - I'm bringing the beer and a change of pants (I'll probably wet myself from laughing).

You bring, well, you.



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Sloroll

01-05-2005 13:52:15




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 Re: The rest of the story: in reply to Jay (ND), 01-05-2005 13:10:41  
We can meet at Allan's place. He is the one with the $$ and loves company too. Besides... Have you seen his office??



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CNKS

01-05-2005 18:57:42




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 Re: The rest of the story: in reply to Sloroll, 01-05-2005 13:52:15  
Yeah, he can have diare(can't spell it) loose bowels and still be at his computer.



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Jay (ND)

01-05-2005 09:25:31




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to Allan in NE, 01-05-2005 09:18:22  
If I had a portion of that money, I'd be down to help you tinker Allan. We have been getting some of that weather you are so fond of. It was a balmy -37 this morning without figuring in the wind.



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Allan in NE

01-05-2005 09:30:34




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to Jay (ND), 01-05-2005 09:25:31  
Jay,

We really got cheated on the weather thing this time around. Only 4" of snow and a quite nice -3 degrees.

Comon' down. We'll stand around and swap some tractor stories ('course I want you scrapin' old paint while ya talk). :>)

Allan



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Sloroll

01-05-2005 10:25:30




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to Allan in NE, 01-05-2005 09:30:34  
still calling for 15-17" here



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Jeff Smith

01-05-2005 11:08:08




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to Sloroll, 01-05-2005 10:25:30  
My near death experience did not require a month in the hospital, a 1952 200 worked great to move some soil to make room for a shed. I had the bucket pretty full and high up so it would not spill and I was too lazy to take down an electric horse fence so I went up a steep incline on a diagnal. Tractor started to lean, I knew what was happening, and being young and spry I stood up and jumped off, landing against an electric horse fence post(not getting zapped) I looked up to see the tractor tire was going to land on me. I rolled enough so the tire only grazed me. Had a ripped shirt and some tire marks on my side, so I went for a quick CAT scan at the ER to check for internal injuries,which was quite embarrasing since I work there. Tractor ended up upsidedown and had to pay a tow recovery guy to flip it over. a new steering wheel and new lights and it is good as new. I have a few scars.

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chadd

01-05-2005 12:42:37




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 Re: Near Death Experience in reply to Jeff Smith, 01-05-2005 11:08:08  
Did almost the same thing myself. I was moving round bales on a hilly field with the Farmall 656 Hydro and the 3 pt bale spear. I didn't think that the hill I was going up was too steep and thought that the 656 should weigh enough to keep from tipping. I thought wrong! When the front tire touched a small bump, the front end started coming up. I yanked the hydro lever back almost to neutral and the tractor froze in place, front end about 2 or 3 feet up in the air and just dangling there. You see, the Hydro on this particular tractor was beginning to weaken. So, when you moved the lever to the lowest speed settings(1/8 in. or less), the tractor just sat there with enough hydraulic pressure in the transmission to prevent rolling but not enough to actually move the tractor (kind of a makeshift park brake). I sat there with the front end in the air for what seemed like an eternity (it was actually about 1 minute). When I slowly pulled the Hydro lever toward neutral, it gradually lowered the front end down. Thank god for the Hydro, because with a normal transmission tractor, there is a good chance that I would have either broken the front axle coming back down or just would have kept rolling down the hill and flipped over. Let me put it this way, I don't drive frontwards up hills anymore while having anything on the fast hitch. Even if our 806 has 800 pounds of front end weights, it just isn't worth it.

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