Fell Off My Toy.

2underage · Feb 5, 2016

I have finally done it. I bought a toy that is too big for me.
I bought a big excavator for my pleasure and now I have discovered it is to big for me to get on or off it. I got on by driving my loader tractor close and the stepping into the bucket and then up onto the track of the big brute. I played with it for a while taking out some brush rows and rocks. Now I am done playing but, how do I get down and go home?
I have a very weak back so jumping seems out of the question and the tracks are covered in mud so I am not to eager to lay down and roll off.
It will do me no good to yell for help, I am too far from home and my wife is working on taxes and likely listening to TV. I decide I will have to jump, bad back and all so I position myself near the edge of the track and brace myself for a big jolt to my lame back. Did I mention that the tracks were muddy, well add slippery to that and envision what happened next.
.
I was facing the cab of the machine when I bent my knees to leap backwards from the beast but suddenly my feet decided to skid toward the cab and launch me, back first, off the machine onto the muddy ground. No I was not badly hurt, just some mud on my face[literally] and a little rub to my pride. Then I discover that my wife has seen it all as she was coming to check on me. When she shared her displeasure with me that really hurt.
Anyone want to buy a really big toy?

retired farmer · Feb 5, 2016

Build you a fold down ladder for it like is on some of the big combines.

Doug-Iowa · Feb 5, 2016

I would really like to have a big excavator, but with all the stuff buried around here I'd certainly get myself into trouble with it. Gas lines, wiring, water lines, etc would not be safe from me! I have two fiber optic lines on my place and cutting one of those could really make for a bad day.

jm. · Feb 5, 2016

With your condition of course a cell phone is a have to have. Then right quick you will learn how to park it to make it easier to step down. I have a cat 320c and most times I position the bucket right at the front left side of track . I can step down from cab to track then walk down and use bucket to get to the ground. Be careful and figure it out because you can fall and hit you head. A broken arm is one thing but a lick to the side of the head could be fatal . Or get you a folding step ladder and place it somewhere so you can walk the machine back to dismount with the ladder.

ed will · Feb 5, 2016

Hi, know how it is! Maybe you could take 1/2 a step ladder and use it to get up then pull it up with you and strap it along the cab for later

notjustair · Feb 5, 2016

It's embarrassing to say, but of all of the large tractors and things around here, I have fallen off of a Farmall M three times this winter. I keep one hooked to the mixer grinder all of the time. I only use it every week or so to grind feed. We have had some light snows where my boots were hard and slick on the bottom and I bit it climbing back on after unloading. Once I hit the drawbar with both knees - after that I was smart enough to just go for the ground. The first time was six weeks ago and these knees are still bruised!

Rick Kr · Feb 5, 2016

I made a step for my dozer. Tracks were just a bit too high. I could do it, but it was a stretch, especially if muddy.

No reason you couldnt bolt in a light step somewhere into the middle of the tracks.

Rick

glennster · Feb 5, 2016

another option you could try is one of the emergency fire escape ladders. they are kind of a roll up ladder that come in a canvas bag for second story fire escapes. after you get on the machine, roll it up and put it in the cab, then unroll it and leave it hanging when you exit the machine.

J.Wondergem · Feb 5, 2016

Maybe take a small step latter when you get in and throw it up behind the cab. That way it'll be there when you want to get off.

Bill in IL · Feb 5, 2016

I would sure like to see this big machine if its too big to get on and off of.

Do you have a thumb on it that you can carry a set of steps or a log to help you get on and off?

RBnSC · Feb 5, 2016

I run one every day and that's how I get up and down. I also hold on to the thumb. Still bust it every now and then. You can also get a bucket of dirt put it by the track and step down on it.
Ron

Dick2 · Feb 5, 2016

Design a strong fold-down ladder. If you are having trouble now; it won't get any better in the future.

keh · Feb 5, 2016

Sounds like the voice of experience, RB. It doesn't have to be a huge machine. I have a M4000 Kubota with a FEL. That's a 45 or so HP tractor, so not large. I had to climb over the loader frame to mount the tractor, which was a big step for someone who is not as flexible as formerly. I got some import combination wrenches from a pawn shop and welded steps out of them to attach to the loader frame.

KEH

Dune Country · Feb 5, 2016

when I used to run the big ones there was always a rock or bucket of dirt to pull up next to

JMS/.MN · Feb 5, 2016

I had a hip replacement last June, and the Dodge 3/4 ton is a very high truck to get in/out of, even with running boards (pipes). I made a small wooden box, attached a rope to the top of it, and could toss it out before getting out of the truck, or pull it in after getting in the truck. Worked very well.

On an excavator, I would think it"s easy to attach a side frame with a folding ladder from an older combine, like a Gleaner or JD.

john in la · Feb 5, 2016

You just bought the wrong excavator.
They make them with cabs that lower and raise.

Ozlander · Feb 5, 2016

Now that is neat.

rick1 · Feb 5, 2016

where you located gregg

marloweg · Feb 5, 2016

pull the bucket in two the track and use as a step

IA Roy · Feb 5, 2016

In case no one mentioned it, you should have driven next to the machine you stepped up from to get on to the excavator! The reverse order of getting on to it should have worked to get off of it!

Billy NY · Feb 6, 2016

I know what you mean, I've run some large ones in the past one was a 350L Cat. The height of the track frames is definitely more than one step. I would think you could secure a 3 step stool/ladder somewhere behind the cab or something. That sounded awful to have to take a chance like that, a fall like that could be devastating or worse. I know the feeling and have made the plunge when it would have been far better to wait for help or something, not sure what you call that, anxiety maybe ? Afterwards, hindsight is always 20/20, but at the moment and even when you know better, you still do it, whatever it may be.

Blackhole49 · Feb 6, 2016

Mount a couple of steps on the track rail like in this picture.

mj · Feb 6, 2016

(quoted from post at 15:14:50 02/05/16) It's embarrassing to say, but of all of the large tractors and things around here, I have fallen off of a Farmall M three times this winter. I keep one hooked to the mixer grinder all of the time. I only use it every week or so to grind feed. We have had some light snows where my boots were hard and slick on the bottom and I bit it climbing back on after unloading. Once I hit the drawbar with both knees - after that I was smart enough to just go for the ground. The first time was six weeks ago and these knees are still bruised!

You were pretty lucky! I pulled a similar stunt just before Christmas and fractured my left kneecap. Had surgery to put in pins to tie wire to that kept it all together while it healed. So I was on crutches with ice spikes for a month or so WITH a motion-limiting brace, then just the brace and now I'm doing pretty good with one more physical therapy session scheduled. Talk about putting a kink in your plans; something like that will do it! :shock: So as the Sarge on Hill Street Blues usta say every morning as the squad headed out to the streets: 'Let's be careful out there!'.

T in NE · Feb 7, 2016

The bad day would be the one where you paid for repairing those lines!

Fell Off My Toy.

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads