Near death experience

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

The following was posted by EricB on the Farmall forum of YTMAG. Needles ti say he got a lot of replies and advice, most of which was a little late.



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!

[beaconlight]

Lucky to be alive! He is a man of steel to have been able to help him self.

Bill

[Jim Hudson]

Always always shake hands with the gear shift lever as soon as you get close enough to your tractor to do so. I never ever leave one in gear. Some kid may come pull the starter rod. Let a wheel roll against a tree or leave pressure down on some implement. Scotch it with a big rock.

[Scott]

THAT IS AMAZING. I hope he recovers soon

[artc]

there are too many stories of that type, unfortunately. sure glad you managed to extricate yourself.

I think we ALL start them from the ground, mostly from in front of the tire. my practice is, as jim says, shake hands with the shifter. but i do it probably at least twice before hitting the starter. AND, neutral always when they are shut down.

speaking on the topic of starting, a friend was cranking a CAT 15 last summer. broke his wrist badly when it kicked back. always pull UP on the crank and place your thumb next to your index finger, not around the crank. make sure you have retarded the spark for starting.