Tractor Accident

[Barnyard]

I just got home from our 4x4 club meeting. I found out from a friend of mine there that another friend of ours who he works with went out to start his tractor before he left for work this morning to plow the snow we got over night. Nobody knows what happened for sure but Pat was found lying in his driveway with severe injuries after the tractor had rolled over him. Don told me he only knew that Pat was in bad shape and had no other info. The word is he apparently laid there for several hours before somebody found him.

I first met Pat at the shop where I get my high lift serviced and we became quick friends. It turned out he sang in our church choir until moving to Indiana several years ago. Pat is a super great guy who goes out of his way to make sure his customers are treated right.

Fellas, ALWAYS, make sure you are aware of your surroundings and your footing when getting ready to use your tractor in the snow. It could be he started the tractor in gear, but that is all unknown for now. It only takes a quick second for something to go wrong.

[Clint Carter]

Sorry to hear that Bill, will keep him in our prayers

[Rudi]

1 second of forgetfulness can lead to unexpected results. I sure hope he recovers. In our prayers (+)

[BJ Moretz]

I hope he recovers from this. He will be in my prayers for sure. My first year with a steep cement driveway, I was scraping the snow off. My tractor started to turn sideways. I decided to jump off and let it go. I slid down the hill with it and luckily put my foot against the blade to keep from going under it. I learned a lot in those few seconds. I now have a larger tractor with chains for that job.

[ricky racer]

1 second of forgetfulness can lead to unexpected results.

I have a practice that I adhere to when ever using any of my hand start tractors. Each time I park the tractors I put the tractor in neutral, set the brakes, get off the tractor and turn off the gas and let it run until it runs out of gas and dies. I do this every time, no if ands or buts. Before starting, I turn on the gas, set the spark (if applicable) and throttle, check to make sure the tractor is in neutral and brakes are still set, choke it and crank it over.

One time while backing my '29 Regular into the shop and it quit. It ran out of gas but I knew it might because the tank was nearly empty. Backing it up the slight grade into the shop was enough to move the little bit of gas in the tank to the front and away from the tank outlet, starving the tractor causing it to quit. I jumped off, grabbed the gas can and poured in a gallon or so (I don't keep much gas in tractors that I don't use much) so I could get it in the shop. I set the spark and throttle, engaged the crank and gave it a whirl. She fired right up for just a couple of revolutions but I had left it in reverse when it died and it took off towards the back wall of the shop. Fortunately it only fired a few times and died again which is unusual because she runs pretty good. Anyway, it scared me to death and I felt totally hopeless as the tractor started taking off. My routine was broken when the tractor died and I didn't check to make sure that the tractor was in neutral before starting. I slipped up this time and almost paid a price for it.

Be careful out there!!