Talk About A Bad Day!!
Brookwood
Member, Moderator Posts: 13,729 ******
Last Sunday I had about 6" of snow on my long downhill driveway and proceeded to fire up my Kubota tractor with the 55" blower on the front end. Just another day here in beautiful northern lower Michigan. Ya! Right!
Well, this could be a long post but please bare with me. I had just put on a pair of new tire chains on the old girl that I bought from the Kubota dealer last winter. All was going well as usual when suddenly the blower hit something that shut down the tractor like a land mine!! Boom! Very sudden stop at the top of the hill. One of the chains had come off and I didn't see it under the snow I was blowing. Chain got all caught up in the blower and totally sheered off all of the 3 pins in the unit.
I spent the next hour or so unwinding the chain and getting the wedged parts out of the back auger using a crow bar. My knees were feeling the stress from the hard asphalt so I grabbed my dogs outdoor garage oversized doggy bed to use as a knee pad. (it was close by) Anyway, got all the chain out finally and replaced the sheer pins. I was just about whipped but felt pretty good for a job well done as I got back up on the seat and started the ole Kubota back up and running.
Hit the blower engagement to get the driveway finished and pulled forward...........BOOM! The tractor jumped a bit into the air before shutting itself down by itself. I had just hit the dog bed and totally turned it into a tightly wound and shredded snow blower stopper!!!!!!!!!!!😖😰😭
All this time I was really banging up my poor hands that were scheduled for Wednesday surgery fix as I have shared. Didn't get this mess straightened out until the next day having to cut and pull all the stuffings out and re-replace all the sheer pins again. Ended up having to see my surgeon on Tuesday just to make sure I didn't mess up the hands too badly. At least all of that went well!
All I can say sharing my story with you all is that I have moments where if Oliver Hardy needed a temporary replacement for Stanley Laurel, he'd be choosing me in a heartbeat!!
Comments
When I start to have days like that, I put the tools away and find an old western movie to watch on T.V. Judy used to joke that I wasn't allowed to use power tools if I was home alone! At least I think she was joking. Bob
I too have had those days. Glad you got that behind you and was still able to get the hands fixed up.
I sucked up about 100' of 4 foot high field fence in a flail mower once, all in about 3 seconds... Guess what I did all afternoon.
Funny how things that really get to you in a bad way when they are happening turn into some pretty FUNNY moments when you look back on them some time later! I told this story to a neighbor and he about broke out in tears of laughter. He said that I should be thankful that my dog wasn't laying in the bed when it got sucked up!
I gave you an LOL, Todd, but I know that crap ain't funny!
Have you loaded your rear tires? Ive got a Kubota and blower and I put waste anti freeze in the tires and Ill never use chains again.
Not gonna try to top your story Brook, but most of us have been there or near, stuff happens, not funny at the time for us but after a short time they can be hilarious! Glad it worked out for you!
I had been using some 17lb monofilament line to hang some ornaments for the wife. Left the spool laying under the edge of a chair. Then the wife started vacuuming. She rolled up about 200 feet of mono in the vacuum in about 5 seconds! Took me half an hour to get that rat's nest out.
I have big wheel weights on my back wheels J\J. The reason I bought the chains was because of another mishap that happened to me last winter season. I mentioned my driveway is on a steep hill. Last year my Kubota became a toboggan and slid all the way to the bottom totally out of control. I needed to change my underwear after that ride! Another time as I was coming up the hill the tractor started spinning its wheels and I found myself sliding down backwards. I just hate thrill rides! 😲
I just have to get those chains on them tires good and tight. I am going to try criss cross tying them with heavy duty Bungys. That is when I can fully use my hands again.
B-wood. I may be your twin. Sounds just like something I would do, often.
I will guess most all of us have had more than a few moments and look around to see if any one else saw us mess up .
I have had my share + more
I am just glad I managed to live thru them all 😁
Sounds to me like chains are your answer! they really make a difference.
@Brookwood
See if you can find a set of these or something similar.
I had issues with loose chains on our Kubota last winter but put a similar device on it this year and haven't had a single problem. You'll have to do some lookin' to find the right size and there are different styles. Stay away from the ones with plastic clips.
I keep saying I want to go somewhere and experience huge snow....but yall's stories scare the crap out of me!
Come on up, Kasey! It's not something to be afraid of, but you dang sure better respect it.
Thanks Neo for this ^^^ 🙂 I will do some checking for proper size needed.
Two good bungees work well.
I feel your pain almost just like you felt it.
I have the same set up on my Kubota tractor and have done the exact same thing that happened to you.
When I did it the weather was awful. Cold and wind blowing and no place to get out of it. I had to take many breaks as my hands were frozen because I could not get things out of the blower with gloves on.
You are not alone if that is any consolation.
Yeah, that's a lot of fiddling. As with firearms, there's a LOT more to owning and safely operating something than writing a check.
When he lived in the land of snow and ice (Iowa), Son ran a plastic snow sled through his snow blower. Next spring when the snow bank melted, the culprit who left the sled in the driveway had to pick up ALL the tiny pieces. There were some very stern warnings about what would happen if any of the pieces were overlooked and went through the lawnmower later.
But Stanwood, did the dog get a new bed?😦
Not yet. But he will. I spoil that boy rotten!
Weights are better than filling the tires and there is no way either replaces chains. Chains are a must have if you're going to move any amount of snow and for sure if there's hills involved.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
I was thinking the same thing.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Quit mowing and went to town?
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Think I’ll just stick with the blade I have on the tractor.
Learning to cultivate soybeans on an old tractor with hand clutch and everything manual, I got overwhelmed at the end of the row and hit the fence. Staples popped out of those posts for a hundred feet. Guess what I did after I finished that field of beans.