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Tractor Pulling Discussion Forum

Safety/Wheelie bars

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mohead10

04-26-2006 17:49:18




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Concerned puller that lives in an area that safety seems to be an issue for some. I am with a club that enforces safety rules and wheelie bars but am aware of a club that has newly formed and does not enforce safety with wheelie bars and claims that a stock tractor cannot flip. I have seen this happen and feel that this club is being a bit stubborn in the safety factor because they do not want to tick off a few of it's new members. I am afraid that if this club continues on this path that when an accident happens it may shut down, or come close to it, the sport of tractor pulling in this area. How do my fellow tractor pullers across the country feel about this issue of safety and wheelie bars? Very Concerned.

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Ian Johnsen

04-27-2006 22:15:42




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 Re: Safety/Wheelie bars in reply to mohead10, 04-26-2006 17:49:18  
Wheelie bars are required in our modiefied classes, but in the case of stock classes our club gives a 100lb grace to tractors with wheelie bars as an incentive. I know my wheelie bars don't wiegh 100 lbs. Good advantage over the "unsafe guys"



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Rob Mo.

04-27-2006 20:33:34




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 Re: Safety/Wheelie bars in reply to mohead10, 04-26-2006 17:49:18  
The driver has to be comfortable w/ the tractor. I tell ya'll what, when I'm on a buddies tractor I feel uneasy, cause I never know what to expect. I agree w/ the common sense. I am 22 years of age, been on a small farm all my life, & been pulling since I was about 9. We don't have a wheelie bar rule, because we have a rule that if the tractor get so high, u get flagged. I've had that front in the air just walking down the track & was expecting to get flagged, but never did. Flagman told me after he unhooked, that the reason he didn't was he seen how I was trying to set it down & he felt that I had full control of the tractor. So, builds confidence in you & lets other people know how you are. Just have a good flagman & pullers w/ come sense. Good Luck this year all.

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Lamont

04-26-2006 20:30:33




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 Re: Safety/Wheelie bars in reply to mohead10, 04-26-2006 17:49:18  
I've not seen ALL stock drawbars, but the ones I have seen on John Deere, Ford, Case, Moline, Massey, Cockshutt, IH/Farmall, Allis, Oliver, etc. would make it impossible to flip it by pulling from the STOCK, and I repeat STOCK, drawbar. The word STOCK seems to be the operative word when looking at it from the safety standpoint. In order for one of these tractors to flip it would literally have to pull the chain under the tractor. That's the whole reason for keeping the hitch point below the center of the axle. As soon as that chain pulls the drawbar down parallel to the chain, the tractor can't rear any higher. It's impossible. After saying all that, I still wouldn't argue that wheelie bars are a bad rule. It might make some feel more comfortable -especially the insurance agent.

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massey333

04-27-2006 05:31:01




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 Re: Safety/Wheelie bars in reply to Lamont, 04-26-2006 20:30:33  
I have to strongly disagree with your theory on the stock drawbar reasoning.With a 3-4 ft.chain hooked 3 to 5 inches off the ground,when the tractor drawbar gets that low the tractor will be at the tip over point.I have seen too many tractors go over or get caught in time pulling off of 18"high stock located drawbars in the last 50+ yrs,and now that 90 to 95%of the pullers have the money and NO tractor back ground or farm use expreince you have a very dangerous problem.The under 4000 lb.tractors are the worst.Just my opinion for what it is worth.

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Lamont

04-27-2006 09:45:49




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 Re: Safety/Wheelie bars in reply to massey333, 04-27-2006 05:31:01  
The drawbar will not get that low. It will only get low enough that the chain, drawbar, and tractor make a straight line. Think about it this way. If the drawbar keeps going down, eventually the chain would be pulling on the drawbar so that it would force the front of the tractor back down. This is exactly what happens. Watch a tractor when it first comes up. It will come up, then settle back down just a little. It will come up some more, and settle back down again. It will keep doing this until that straight line is achieved. (Usually the tractor spins out before this happens.) After that point the front will not go any higher. Not a theory; it's a fact. As long as every part of that hitch, including adjusters, is below that axle it is impossible to tip one over by pulling a sled down a track. These folks with adjusters above the axle are looking for trouble as are those who "pop" clutches and do other things without using some sense. Science teaches that there are 5 senses. My grandad taught me that there are 7. See, Hear, Taste, Touch, Smell, Common, and Horse. Those last two senses are invaluable.

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massey333

04-27-2006 17:15:06




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 Re: Safety/Wheelie bars in reply to Lamont, 04-27-2006 09:45:49  
Yes you are right about usually spining out first but if in my example of if the tractor drawbar has to get within 5 ins.of the ground to get your straight line pull idea,then it is too late.Forget the turn buckle theory,we were talking stock drawbars like Deeres A-C M-H,all under the axle pulls.Improper wt.on the front and anything will go over plan and simple,plus the inexperinced drivers we now have.

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Lamont

04-27-2006 18:13:57




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 Re: Safety/Wheelie bars in reply to massey333, 04-27-2006 17:15:06  
I'll agree about the inexperienced driver being a safety issue. Knowing a how a tractor behaves, especially when trying to start a load only comes with experience. As far as the tipover issue goes, if your drawbar is 20 inches high which is much higher than most stock drawbars, the chain is probably a minimum of 36 inches long and it attaches to the sled about 5 inches above the ground, there is absolutely no way the tip of your drawbar will get even close to being as low as 5 inches off the ground. The chain would have to be parallel to the ground. That means the chain would have to PUSH the drawbar down rather than pull it down. That would be one heavy chain! You could hook the chain at ground level and the drawbar wouldn't get within 5 inches of the ground. I'll guess we'll just have to disagree on this one.

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massey333

04-28-2006 09:01:09




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 Re: Safety/Wheelie bars in reply to Lamont, 04-27-2006 18:13:57  
I agree on the differnce,but the 5 tractors that I have seen upset 4 of them were division one type tractors pulling on 18 and 20 inch stock drawbars,(they never hardly slipped a wheel)the fifth one was bouncing(rearing) so much when she came up the last time she bent the bars and went over.I was 20 ft.from that one and I won't forget the site.More people have been killed or injured on Fords and like tractors than on any other style tractors by going over backwards. Thank you for the discussion and opions,I won't carry it any further.

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Lamont

04-28-2006 10:54:42




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 Re: Safety/Wheelie bars in reply to massey333, 04-28-2006 09:01:09  
OK



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mohead10

04-27-2006 03:25:51




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 Re: Safety/Wheelie bars in reply to Lamont, 04-26-2006 20:30:33  
The safety I am concerned about is the fact that this neighboring club ( not my club) is not pulling from stock hitch but are pulling from a 20 inch hitch plus allow a top cut tire and some have built motors. I am all for tractor pulling from anyone who wants to pull I am just concerned about safety because I have seen to many accidents. I want the sport to live on and not gather a bad rep.



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Lamont

04-27-2006 09:27:28




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 Re: Safety/Wheelie bars in reply to mohead10, 04-27-2006 03:25:51  
As long as 20 inches is below the axle and ALL OF THE HITCH PARTS,(in case something breaks), are below the axle it won't tip over by pulling a sled down a flat track. It's simply impossible. I've seen some of these tractors with hitch adjusters attached above the axle. That should not be allowed even with wheelie bars. That's asking for trouble if that hitch breaks. Then the top part of your adjuster is effectively the hitch point.

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TWL

04-26-2006 18:58:58




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 Re: Safety/Wheelie bars in reply to mohead10, 04-26-2006 17:49:18  
Wheelie bars are required in our pulls.Does your club carry insurance? The insurance company could use them as a safety requirement.



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alliswc

04-26-2006 18:27:30




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 Re: Safety/Wheelie bars in reply to mohead10, 04-26-2006 17:49:18  
the pulling club i belong to does not require wheely bars on farm stock, but they use a flag man to stop you if he thinks the front end is too far off of the ground.



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JD hauler

04-26-2006 18:03:34




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 Re: Safety/Wheelie bars in reply to mohead10, 04-26-2006 17:49:18  
The clubs around western Pa dont mandate bars for stock tractors, We highly recommend them for younger pullers or new pullers, yes bad things can happen in a hurry, and $30.00 of steel might just prevent a serious accident and save your club from getting into trouble.



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halfbreedm

04-27-2006 21:39:25




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 Re: Safety/Wheelie bars in reply to JD hauler, 04-26-2006 18:03:34  
i guess where most of you guys pull the flagman can tell if things are going to break before it breaks so that the flagman can stop you before something happens to you or your tractor. as for stock darwbars ur pulling on bolts that are 50 plus yrs old not saying you guys dont know how to handle a tractor but things happen fast williebars are for your safty



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Torquenut

04-28-2006 05:26:09




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 Re: Safety/Wheelie bars in reply to halfbreedm, 04-27-2006 21:39:25  
Well said! I am a firm believer in the WB's!!! Things happen extremely quick anyone who has pulled should know or should I say admit this.



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