A Close Call

I'm gonna put myself out there...as to hopefully get everyone who runs a skid steer thinking. No one would ever know.....to critisize or make a comment....if i didnt post. But i believe mistakes are avenues for someone to learn . I've been running this skid since it was bought new in 99'.....lots and lots of hours. Should i know better ?
Was i paying more attention to the George Straight Song (The Fireman) in my head phones ?
Was i thinking about my next task instead of the one at hand ?
The answer...all of the above lol.
The more old i get..the more i dont like skids..for pushing brush and doing this stuff with. Great for dirt and gravel work !

Was just picking up a stump that had been dug out.
This stump came back in my lap faster than I could react....and let's face it..theres no where to jump or duck in the cab lol. Be safe fella!

 

Like the informative post, but certainly don't like the situation. Glad it didn't turn out to be worse.

 

Thanks buddy. I knew better...thats for sure. Glad my guardian angel was watching. That scenario could have led to all sorts of bad things. I stopped and got the tractor after that

 

X2, glad it didn't turn out badder.

 

We take it for granted that all the OPE...saws, splitters, skidders etc are DANGEROUS tools. Easy to get lax and "zone out" while using them, especially after many years of experience with them. It takes a simple and lightning quick accident to remind us of such danger.

Scary stuff there HF. Glad you came out okay and thanks for posting. Hoard on and work safe.

 

Did ya poop a lil?! Glad you are ok bud. Hoe lee....

 

A wee bit !

 

I got hurt a lil in a track loader. Didn't have my seat belt on, came over a hidden bump in deep ferns at a good clip. When I finally stoped being ping ponged around the cab I was bleeding fromy forehead from smashing out the dome light in the front. It was a rented Terex RC30 if I recall. Lil 48" wide former ASV.

 

Oh man..thats horrible ! Could have been pintched right out of the cab...or knocked out...dang. glad your ok man ! I bet you felt that for a few days at least.

 

Sheesh, that is another reminder of how dangerous the work that we do is, glad you are ok. I have lost friends to tree work.

 

Thank you for sharing so that others may learn. It would have been less embarrassing to just keep quiet and not tell anyone. We all need a reminder of how quickly thing can go wrong while operating a tractor or piece of equipment. Hope you can make it down this weekend, would enjoy shaking hands with you.

 

Yep. After that I decided to buy a new Kubota tractor lol. I rented the track loader to see if I wanted to buy one. There really is no need for me to own one but I'd still like one. A Cat 249 with their suspension undercarriage.

 

They are definitely nice ! As i get alil older..I prefer to keep the buisness end a lot further in front off me ! A smashed grill on a tractor is better than a smashed leg..chest..or head on us !! Not saying that stuff can't happen on a tractor too...but the whole angle and distance of everything changes for the better in my opinion.

But when it's time to hook gravel..stones...or dirt....nothing beats a skid !

 

They definitely have the edge when it comes to some things !


Don't worry..the bucket bottom spring back after I remove the rock lol !

 

I'm sorta looking for a 50's Oliver crawler with a blade for my tracked machine fix. Not really seriously looking but still "looking". OC3 / hg or an OC4.

 

I ran a similar unit a lot at place I used to work. Us machine repair millwrights were on a rotating schedule to come in 1/2 hr before first shift started to go move media back into the blaster. It was a large building and the unit had a big snow removal size bucket. Light materials bucket. It was 90 ish hp and turbo. In winter the rotation also included snow removal with the skid and that was on a 3 am wake up call rotation. That unit had an enclosed, heated cab, which I I ever buy one, it will have heat and ac.

 

We are alot alike my friend ! I've been looking for a crawler..or crawler loader. Same oc-3 or 4....but the john deere 440 ic..or icd (detroit) diesel) have been peeking my interest. Not sure if I want to dive into undercarriage/ steering clutch issues yet in my life. I dont have any sort of really garage space !

 

My dad had a 68 gauge Oliver Cletrac HG when I was a kid. Former muck farm unit. No hydraulics. He pulled manual type ground turning implements and had a big snow plow with a custom made hand operated winch to raise and lower it. The joy of running that machine has never left me.

I do like the steering set up of the Oliver over the Deere and others. Both tracks always have power even in a turn. The disadvantage is they can't turn around in their own length. Later they offered spot turn on some models.

 

We will have to talk about the differences. I know very little..would love to get educated..on them. I just want something i can get parts for more than anything! And ease of operation and maintainence too.

In fact..I think I'll start a new thread on this Subject !

 

I hope I'm listening to George Strait next time I almost die as well! haha Just kidding. Be safe out there.