Maintain your machine’s folding guards, people!

smcapstick · Jun 24, 2018

As title, don’t go whizzing along the road with your guards tied up with some scruffy old length of baler twine - when the string snaps, you’ll hit something.

...just like some old boy did to my Sprinter, half an hour ago!

He had a ratty old bit of rope holding his mower side guard up but it had snapped without his knowing. And, because his mower was 14 inches wider than he thought, he hit my pickup at 40KPH.

It’s a good job it wasn’t the Navara he clouted!

colhonk · Jun 24, 2018

Did he stop?

smcapstick · Jun 24, 2018

colhonk said:
Did he stop?

He did

He's fairly local so there's no worry of him falling off the face of the planet. He didn't have a registration plate on his tractor, though

Robt · Jun 24, 2018

Er, I’ll think you’ll find he doesn’t need a reg plate as it’s a tractor and he was in a hurry , oh and working on a Sunday when everyone else was home also negates the need for a plate

Dave W · Jun 24, 2018

Pics on facebook other week. 6 rotor tedder unfolded one side and twatted 4 cars on high street. Not clipped 4 cars, actually flattened 4 roofs. How do you do that? Hitting one car is bad but almost understandable but 4!!!

smcapstick · Jun 24, 2018

Dave W said:
Pics on facebook other week. 6 rotor tedder unfolded one side and twatted 4 cars on high street. Not clipped 4 cars, actually flattened 4 roofs. How do you do that? Hitting one car is bad but almost understandable but 4!!!

I can only think of two situations where that could happen:

1) Young lad, big tractor with a bouncy cab and loud music - not enough impact to notice.

2) Granddad driving!

Dave W · Jun 24, 2018

smcapstick said:
I can only think of two situations where that could happen:

1) Young lad, big tractor with a bouncy cab and loud music - not enough impact to notice.

2) Granddad driving!

Something around the latter

milkloss · Jun 24, 2018

Do you do driveways with left over tarmac?

Al R · Jun 24, 2018

milkloss said:
Do you do driveways with left over tarmac?

Got any scrap boss? Not even an old battery?

Will he pay though @smcapstick ?

Wellytrack · Jun 25, 2018

Ouch..

As you yourself said it could have been worse, though that probably doesn’t make you feel much better right now

Im a nervous wreck taking wide stuff out on the road dicing with traffic.

Thoroughly hate taking trailed mowers/rakes on roads 2 thirds of the size they should be..

smcapstick · Jun 25, 2018

milkloss said:
Do you do driveways with left over tarmac?

Al R said:
Got any scrap boss? Not even an old battery?

Will he pay though @smcapstick ?

Yes, yes... I know it looks a bit gypsy!

A couple of weeks ago, I was waiting at some temporary traffic lights in Sedbergh. A high-sided Transit tipper was coming the other way. The driver was a great big, tattooed, shaven-headed traveller type. As he passed, he gave me a proper ‘Alright, mate’ nod and smile, as if we were in the same like of work!

The very next day I made some enquiries about having the dropside body acid dipped and resprayed, as well as the cab sign written. It’s happening soon!

Anyway, all should be well. I videoed the whole affair, just in case. I sounds a bit OTT, but in a clear-cut case like this, proof of liability helps.

farmerbill · Jun 25, 2018

smcapstick said:
I can only think of two situations where that could happen:

1) Young lad, big tractor with a bouncy cab and loud music - not enough impact to notice.

2) Granddad driving!

First thing I thought of was electric blooming spools. I hate the things. Got them fitted to two tractors because they were only marginally more than manual but I won’t have them again.

To be fair on the Deere they’re quite good, they’re out the way and can’t really be accidentally activated. But on the Deutz they’re almost dangerous. Two very lightweight thumb switches sit under your thumb on the main multifunction gear-lever and it’s so easy to accidentally nudge them I can’t believe it’s legal. I know they should be locked out on the road but it’s easy to forget that.

Frankzy · Jun 25, 2018

farmerbill said:
First thing I thought of was electric blooming spools. I hate the things. Got them fitted to two tractors because they were only marginally more than manual but I won’t have them again.

To be fair on the Deere they’re quite good, they’re out the way and can’t really be accidentally activated. But on the Deutz they’re almost dangerous. Two very lightweight thumb switches sit under your thumb on the main multifunction gear-lever and it’s so easy to accidentally nudge them I can’t believe it’s legal. I know they should be locked out on the road but it’s easy to forget that.

You could jusy not use them, I've mapped the most used outlets to the loader joystick for this reason.
Or you could just keep your hand away from the multifunction lever while on the road...

ollie989898 · Jun 25, 2018

Unsafe machinery should be cut up with a gas axe, it's a scourge on the industry.

michael N123 · Jun 25, 2018

Do you actually do any highway maintenance

smcapstick · Jun 25, 2018

michael N123 said:
Do you actually do any highway maintenance

Yes. I'm a good citizen

...and it came with that ghastly sticker on the back.

michael N123 · Jun 25, 2018

ollie989898 said:
Unsafe machinery should be cut up with a gas axe, it's a scourge on the industry.

Noo he should of used stronger string

robin banks · Jun 26, 2018

michael N123 said:
Noo he should of used stronger string

Totally agree. They should ban the use of round baler string for this type of job. It's just not up to it. When will people ever learn!!!
It should be mandatory that you only use good big square bale string. Or if you are really stuck small square bale string and really that should be renewed within 3 years max. The big square bale string should also be renewed but in a slightly more appropriate timescale such as every 10 years.
And anyone not following these guidelines should have the book thrown at them. Or the very least put on a course to teach them 'best practice'.
Of course even square bale string won't make up for poorly tied knots. A personal bugbear of mine. So I won't even go there.
Now let's make the roads and farms safer people.

Maintain your machine’s folding guards, people!

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