starting a tractor person early

ericlb · Dec 22, 2016

my 8 year old grand daughter loves old tractors, ive taken her for ride before, but yesterday she learned how to work a clutch, and is actually driving this cub, while her legs are just a little too short to depress the clutch fully if she sits on the seat by herself, she can work it by sitting on my lap, she enjoyed the driving so much we ended up driving all the tractors, i started when i was 9, and that was a work thing not just playing

Russ from MN · Dec 22, 2016

That's great that she's interested, and learning about gears and a clutch! There are a lot of people now days that would be helpless in a straight stick vehicle. I started driving our farm truck when I was so small I could not reach the clutch and see over the dash at the same time, and I only had one accident!

Married2Allis · Dec 22, 2016

That's so wonderful to see. My neighbor's daughter started early like that, now she has her own Massey-Harris Pony and a hit-and-miss engine.

jeffcat · Dec 22, 2016

I could just barely drive the 350 when I was 7. I would drive the tra tor and fence wagon . By the time I was 11 was driving my grand dads IH pickup down the back roads to the fields.

Tech 7 · Dec 22, 2016

Started out with a hand clutch. Was really confused when I encountered a non-green tractor the first time.

James Howell · Dec 22, 2016

Good for her and keep her encouraged.

She's now got a life-long memory with you.

Thanks for sharing your photo with us.

Geo-TH,In · Dec 22, 2016

Enjoy them as long and as often as you can. Make as many memories as possible. My granddaughters loved to go shopping for Christmas gifts. They were so happy. Asked if we could do it again. They loved playing in the snow. I would use tractor to pull them on sleds. We had great fun. Now they are teenagers hanging out with Grandpa isn'tfun any more.

Enjoy it well you can.

Jim in Ma. · Dec 22, 2016

Just add a 4x4" block to the clutch peddle.

4wdtom · Dec 22, 2016

Maybe she needs her own tractor that you could help her with.

FBH44 · Dec 22, 2016

Well, I'm gonna say it; no children on tractors, never, ever. Search this site for the horror stories, the tragic stories. If nothing, imagine if that little girl tells her friends "Let's go out and drive Pop's tractor, I know all about it. C'mon!!" Your owners manual will say never, ever, allow children onboard.

wilson ind · Dec 22, 2016

saw the picture and wondered how long before the guy gets criticized. How will they learn? Provide a tractor simulator?

Ozlander · Dec 22, 2016

(quoted from post at 17:55:13 12/22/16) Well, I'm gonna say it; no children on tractors, never, ever. Search this site for the horror stories, the tragic stories. If nothing, imagine if that little girl tells her friends "Let's go out and drive Pop's tractor, I know all about it. C'mon!!" Your owners manual will say never, ever, allow children onboard.

Spoil Sport.

showcrop · Dec 22, 2016

Good for you! Give her some real life.

Geo-TH,In · Dec 22, 2016

Bill, I look back and think my dad wanted to kill me. My dad tried to teach me how to drive a tractor when I was 3. I started driving a jeep when I was 5. Had a motorcycle before I went to first grade. I was operating a combine, baler, cultivated corn, plowed, disked and drove a truck long before I had a drivers license.

The things my dad made me do back then would get him in trouble today, child endagerment. Never really got hurt. Worst thing I flipped a tractor while loading logs on truck to take to saw mill. Didn't get hurt becasue rear wheel of tractor hit a large log and preventing tractor from crushing me.
geo

SweetFeet · Dec 22, 2016

Good job, Grandpa!

My husband gave our 4 year old grandson a ride on our rusty Regular in late summer. He let him sit on his lap and steer the tractor for a bit. The next time they came to visit, the first thing the little guy said was, "Grandpa, I want to drive your tractor again."

Janicholson · Dec 22, 2016

Not engaging kids in fundamentally interesting things beyond the thumbscrews of a smart phone and TV is a very destructive policy. Everything in life has risks. properly supervised responsibly conducted training is priceless. To expect a 13 year old to take a sudden interest is not happening today. I chose to get my sone involved in steering as soon as he could get to the wheel on my lap. As soon as he could deal with each control within reach he was there. It is a responsibility that borders on an obligation. Jim

oldtanker · Dec 22, 2016

I don't care how much you try they may hit a point where they are no longer interested. My 13 year old grandson loved tractor rides and such. Now he could care less. Now it's all about computer games.

Rick

Bobl1958 · Dec 23, 2016

We all knew someone one would..hehe

Mike M · Dec 23, 2016

Can the seat be adjusted forward ? Should be easy to put a block on the clutch pedal. Maybe for later when she is a little older.
I learned on a late JD B. They have pretty good room for a kid to stand and operate the controls while an adult sits and keeps an eye on everything.

Destroked 450 · Dec 23, 2016

Dad started me out at age 5 on his 8N, by age 10 neighbors would call wanting me to work their fields.
Everything is about safety today without teaching responsibility, just stick them in front of the tv with a video game and then not under stand why they become worthless young adults wanting you to wait on them hand and foot.
When my grand kits come to visit and ask to ride the tractors, if weather is good I take them.

starting a tractor person early

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads