Stupid, Stupid Mistake

hello randy,thank you for sharing,gave your ok ,it is easy to forget sometimes ,crank starting tractors that are driven into shed is a another way to be crushed against a wall ,be safe ,bruce oz

hello randy,thank you for sharing,gave your ok ,it is easy to forget sometimes ,crank starting tractors that are driven into shed is a another way to be crushed against a wall ,be safe ,bruce oz

hehe. I worked at a mechanic shop near the beach, a rusty metal gas station building. The guy in the next stall hit a remote start button to crank a VW Rabbit during valve adjustment. It was in gear and ignition on. It pushed his toolbox thru the metal wall and into the 30 foot deep pit where they had just removed the old waste oil tank. He got out of the way, he and the car were fine but his rollaway was destroyed.
An once of prevention,,,

All,

I read this post with great interest.

When I was 13 years old (I'm 68 now) I was allowed to drive some of our tractors on our ranch.

As I grew in years and experience (and finally graduated to driving our two D7's) I always rememered what my Dad taught me. NEVER, NEVER, start a tractor unless you be sure it is out of gear. There had been a few occasions when I was glad I adheared to the rule. It could have been disasterous.

So, 22Randy, thank you for reminding us of one of the main safety rules and I am extremely pleased you are still here to tell us about the situation.👍

22Randy, this is the best thing that could have happened to you. Rarely when one is told anything do they listen, but when things like this happen you never forget. You'll be more careful now, I now that I am from starting a tractor in gear. You'll never make this mistake again.

The first lesson I was taught by my father when he put me on a D4 at 9 years old was, never get off a machine before setting the park brake and engaging the clutch, that way you know its in neutral and the clutch/pilot bearing won't warm up and 'grab'.
Just a year later, one of his workmates ignored the rule and leaned over the fuel tank of the D2 to drive the winch rope out for more slack and ran over himself!! He left seven children under eleven years old.
I'm 62 now and have never ignored the rule.