How to Drive a Tractor the 1st Time (or Train Someone to) 12 Tips to Be Safe
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- čas přidán 5. 08. 2024
- In my life I've had many opportunities to share the experience of driving a tractor for the first time with my friends and family. Maybe it's happened to you...a cousin from the city visits and expresses a desire to drive your Kubota, or Deere, or Massey, (or whatever your brand is) it's nice to oblige and give them a memory to tell their friends about.
Or maybe you've just moved to the country and are contemplating your first tractor purchase and you're about to buy something you've never operated. This video (and this channel) is for you and designed to make that experience a pleasant one and, above all, A SAFE ONE! We don't want any accidents on their maiden tractor run.
I grew up on a farm and spent the majority of my career in the farm equipment business. I last worked at a dealership that usually sold about 100 small tractors a year, many to people who had no equipment experience. It's important for that first time in the tractor seat to be a good one, here are 12 tips to help make it so.
First, make sure there's a big open are to drive. Nothing any more stressful to the first-time driver than to be in tight quarters.
Second, make sure the driving area is somewhat level. Tractor rollover is a major cause of injury around equipment and it can happen quickly to even a seasoned operator. Take the chance of that out of the equation by conducting the training in a flat area.
Third, take three point attachments off. If the person driving the tractor is going to be using it later, they'll have to get used to having implements hung off the back eventually, let's not make it happen that first time.
Fourth, don't ride with them. I like to walk along side where I could easily get to the key (or shut off) in an emergency. There are people killed every year riding on tractors...one slip and an operator who is new and can't figure out how to stop and it could be ugly.
Fifth, let them know ahead of time how loud a tractor engine is. We all learned to drive a car with someone next to us calmly giving instruction, on a tractor you're yelling at them which can add to the stress level. Make sure they're prepared for that when they get on the seat.
Sixth, if the tractor has a loader, try to impress on them how much the bucket sticks out. When you're in a sharp turn that loader bucket is really moving fast, encounter a tree, car or building with it and you'll do a lot of damage.
Seventh, make sure they know how much the roll bar sticks up. They might clear a large branch but if the ROPS doesn't it could end badly. I know of a customer that almost peeled the operator station off his tractor when he hit a brace wire for a light pole.
Eighth, make sure the seat belt is on. Obviously.
Ninth, THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT...make sure the driver knows how to stop the unit. That may be letting off a hydro pedal or pushing in the clutch and the brake. It's embarrassing to admit but the first time I drove a tractor by myself I didn't really know how to stop it. I'd watched my parents drive an automatic transmission and assumed you just pushed on the brake. I was about to run an Oliver tractor through the back of a machine shed when I figured out you have to push in the clutch to stop. Also, make sure they know how to kill the engine, either by turning off a key on modern tractors or with a kill switch on older ones. In an emergency they need to know they can turn off the engine and everything will stop.
Ten, make sure they're in the slowest gear possible. The slower they're going the easier it will be to assist if something goes wrong.
Eleven, make sure the loader bucket is up in the air. I was at a product introduction one time when I watched a dealer driving a brand new tractor across a rough field, wide open, with the loader almost touching the ground. If that hits a stump you can visualize the carnage.
Finally, make sure they shut off the tractor, set the emergency brake and lay the loader bucket flat on the ground before exiting the tractor. I live in hills and am always concerned about a tractor free rolling into a valley.
If you'll follow those twelve guidelines you should have a pleasant first driving experience. If you think of anything I've missed, please put it below in the comments. STAY SAFE!
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I was driving in 1st gear in tall grass brush hogging. I took my time re-familiarizing myself with the tractor and brush hogging and turns and such first in a field that had been mowed, before going into the next field which had tall grass. Felt comfortable driving the tractor again. The bucket which was a few feet up off the ground, hit a hi tree stump hidden in the tall grass. I almost went over top of the steering wheel hitting the stump head on. Scared the piss & vinegar out of me. My seat belt doesn't work. I knew I needed a new one, but thought Id be OK in 1st gear. I'm buying a new seat belt now. I realize the importance of that belt!!!!. You betcha! I also bought some tall wooden steaks and painted them orange to stick in the ground where there are rocks and things I might hit when the grass is hi in the field.
Thank you. Yes. Tractor safety is no joke 💯
Thanks Mike! Always great points to consider.
This is the best video a novice could watch. I even rethought a few things I took for granted after picking up a few bad habits over the years. You very well may have prevented an injury or saved someones life, thanks.
These are very good lesson ideas.
I would add one more. Always end on a positive or successful point.
SUPER tips, Mike! Thanks! I think the idea of a "safety tips playlist" is terrific and I'm going to make sure I have watched them all. As a new owner, you've opened my eyes to a number of potential dangers and I hope I can stay safe because of that awareness. Can I offer that ear and eye protection are really important. My tractor, under load, produces ~90db which is borderline hearing damage PLUS the noise can make you tired quicker.
When I was about six, my dad let my ten year old sister operate our Oliver 77. After she promptly drove thru two fences, my dad caught up with her, and never let her drive it again.
Good one Mike! This happened to me when I was 12 yrs old. We were visiting relatives and my uncle Raymond had a fairly new Massey Ferguson tractor and he asked me if I wanted to drive it. Being 12, I said "heck yeah". Well after driving down a field and then back, I knew how to push the brake to stop... but that didn't stop the tractor. Luckily my uncle saw that I was struggling and ran up and threw it out of gear. Could have been worse, and I was sure glad he was watching. Thanks Mike!
Good tips Mike. Thanks for putting this together. I've gotten hung on a utility pole guy wire on my property. Scary.
For a newbie, make sure the 4WD and rear differential are disengaged. Make sure they do not mess with either control.
Thx for the video. Been driving a tractor for a few years now. Thankfully I figured things out on my own, without killing myself - but I would have appreciated this video before working on my tractor
Excellent instructions.
Great timing. I drove a tractor as a teenager, but never hydro. Taking delivery of jd2038r in 3 weeks
Thanks, Mike! We're picking up our first tractor in two weeks and I found this very helpful. Thanks again!
Glad it was helpful. Enjoy the new tractor!
Great advice!
Thanks for sharing
Teaching my boys tomorrow...wish us luck
How did they do
All solid points. Good job helping us all stay safe!
How Boutcha!
Good tips in this video. What about mounting and dismounting the tractor? When I did my lantra certification at college many years ago, we got told to treat the steps like a ladder and mount and dismount facing the machine with both hands on the grab rails. Less chance of slipping and ripping-out the back of your legs on the steps or landing awkwardly on uneven ground.
Great video.
This is great advice, my boss had me mowing an orchard with a 9' offset bush hog 5 minutes after my first time driving a tractor alone, I'd much rather your way
LOL Brought back memories. When were were kids there was always equipment around, we were always on there machines at a very young age I must admit. Different times with out all the safety stuff. Dad always used to say any one can get it going you better know how to stop before you start.
Other things I can think of.
Wear ear protection - I know you said it's loud but you didn't mention this.
4WD off. If you don't want them to rip up your nice front yard.
Practice shifting gears in a manual. At least in low range.
No diff lock.
Good video Mike! Two things I try to do. Level the bucket before you lower the loader to the ground so when you walk around it you leg doesn't get ripped open. Especially if you park your tractor in a shop Or barn. Also when using the loader in dirt or anything heavy when you back up and cut the wheel the tractor can turn over in a hot second especially if you think your superman and drive fast. I learned the hard way with these items I mentioned 🙄
Thanks for the tips!
I'd put some of them in a different order... But you covered all of the important stuff.
My dad grew up on a farm and had been using tractors for over 60 years, but the first time he used his Boomer 40 around the house instead of in the woods he ripped a down spout off the house and damaged a piece of corner trim. He had gotten used to not worrying about the forks when maneuvering in the woods. The first time my brother used my parents' old Roper mower he ran it into the back of the shed. The most dangerous thing I've had happen to me was rolling a mower when a fawn jumped out of a thicket as I was heading down hill. I instinctively jerked the wheel and over she went. My shoulder still hurts from that years later.
I am still intimidated and I have driven the tractor often. I have to remember where I need to move all the levers and gears. I keep pushing the clutch to break. there is a big learning curve on a tractor.
Great tips....you are about two years too late They are taller than you realize. I had my BX for about 2 months and went to my son's house to mow. Of course I had the rops up because of his terrain, my yard is flat so i neglect to put them all the way up. I was moving right along and as I passed under one of his maple trees the rops caught a branch and lifted the front end right off the ground. Scared me and shook me enough to never make that mistake again. Also. I keep my seat belt on now. Thanks for the video
I would add to have them go through the motions of driving straight, then slowing down for a sharp turn. I buried the front wheels of my grandfather's tractor in a plowed field when I forgot to throttle back. Didn't drive the tractor again that Summer when I was 13.
Here's another few points: 1) Everything on the tractor gets hot: hydraulic fluid, engine, engine oil, and coolant. These are things most people don't experience on a car. 2) Safety shields and switches are there for a reason, don't remove them or try to outwit them. 3) While your average speed while working is about 3 MPH, it is faster than you think. Incredible disasters happen at 3 MPH. Don't get distracted, drowsy or complacent.
Hung my zero turn mower ROPS up on low hanging apple tree branches. Having the front wheels 3 feet off the ground will capture your attention.
I grew up outside of Cleveland.
Got 25 and my toys.
What ever happened to "COMMON SENSE ".......?
I have hilly property and I used to get scared as.......but even a veteran with traumatic brain injury and PTSD can learn, if they just rely on COMMON SENSE.......
Sorry, well not really.
Thx Mike, I know you have a good heart and you care.
Happy, clean up the property season.
Lee .
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Sometimes, almost tipping over is a good thing.......ya LEARN something from that stain in your shorts.
Hahahaha......
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Best thing is ,hydrostatic.
You got drunk and your foot can't find the clutch ,hope you have a updated will. They just keep on going, like the little bunny.
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Those are great tips and I remember the first tractor I drove which was a Massey Ferguson and it belonged to the man I was working for. I was given a few tips and turned loose driving and I learned the rest on my own.
Many years ago, working a seasonal job at a cemetery, they put me on an old Ford with a brush hog strapped to its tail, set me loose to knock down the back field. A hilly, rutty field, nobody else around back there..and I never been on a tractor before. The days of safety third lol.
Great video - could have used this two years ago :-)
Thanks for the video. We bought a Massy Ferguson 911X about a month ago. My husband only able to use it only on weekend when he is not working his full time job so the rest of the time, it just sat there waiting for me to get on and do stuff on the farm because I am not working a job. It looked SO ITIMIDATING that the tractor and I just just stared at each other every time I walked pass it. So I hate things go to waste as I hate to see tractor not being use so I asked my husband to teach me how to use it. Of course, he was delight to show me. Couple of days a go, I got on and he introduce me by explaining all the basic stuff like turn on, breaks, gear, throttle, clutch...etc...WOW...so much to learn...not like automatic car...LOL. My challenge is I am only 5'1"...so I have short legs, short arms...even when I push my seat all the way down, I still need more strength power to push the break pedal among other things...so I was wondering how would a petite short women like me be able to drive the tractor this size OR you can be honest from experience teacher like yourself that I SHOULD NOT use this tractor at all. By the way, I am in my 51, has had 2 back surgeries and a right shoulder surgery in 2018.I can still do normal physical activities around farm but with caution and few limits especially lifting and hauling things. Till today, I am still INTIMIDATE by it...LOL. Sometime I wish my husband would get something smaller so I can drive easier but we already bought it and don't want to say anything to him to make him feel bad of his purchase...PLEASE any advice/tips/tricks would really help and appreciated. Thanks.
Mandie, I wish someone had answered you - - much of this affects me too!
Mandie and Woozie, I apologize for missing this the first time around. The only options I know of, at least with your current tractor, are to move the seat a lot closer to the controls so the angles aren't as tough, or try to find a lighter brake and clutch spring that doesn't require as much effort. If you ever wanted to trade tractors, a power shuttle generally doesn't require pushing a pedal to change gears, but you still have to stop with a brake pedal. A smaller tractor, possibly with a hydrostat, might cure all of those problems. Good luck!
My dad taught me how to use a manual 1964 mf135 tractor, there was a slasher on the back, going up a hill and my dad just said “go for it” and that’s how I was taught and nothing bad has happened
You're the best Mike....learned the hard way that when you turn the key on with an AC D17 and hit the start button, make DAMN sure it's not in gear! She'll fire up and start rolling! Good way to get run over by your own machine.
Great ideas. Two more. Always Wear safety glasses or a tree branch will find you. When parking the tractor in the garage, lower the ROPS bar or you will hit the house. Trust me.
Depends on your tractor and your shed. my shed's just big enough that I don't have to. Just have to make sure the door all the way up.
Having driven manual stick shift cars for years the shift being on the left is hard to adjust to. I'm always wanting to use my loader gear shift to change gears, duh. Thanks for your site!
On my Deutz, the gear shifter is in the middle. Well there's actually 2 because one for range selection and one for gears.
I'll tell you a thing that happened to me quite a few years ago now. I was working at a small factory, and this day I had been doing nothing but driving the forklift truck moving a lot of pallets, basically turning a storage inside out. Well, after work I drove home in my car, and as I went into my garage, I felt I got too far in. "I just back up half a foot before I turn it off" I thought, and started my left hand turn indicator.
All good... funny my tractor will not shut off unless you push the throttle all the way forward shutting off the fuel. Key is only for the lights. No kill switch. It'll run without a battery all day long. As long as it is being fed diesel, she'll go. I will add one thing - never be in a hurry. Always take your time. I clipped a tree limb with a ROPS mounted light and the bar a bit. (yep, I knew better and did pucker the seat) I was in a hurry to put the tractor away. Knocked off one light and didn't know it. Then a few days latter while cutting the grass with the zero turn I cut up the nice new light hiding in the grass. Did a number on the blades. Gave me a bit of another pucker moment again. And yes, I knew better but again the day with the tractor, it was about to rain and I was in a hurry. Oh, don't run in 4wd over your paved driveway or anything hard. Use 2wd when you can.
Maybe remove the front end loader if possible. It sticks out farther than most 3-point implements.
He forgot to mention the most important thing for people who can drive a stick car but just starting in manual transmission old tractors.
There are no synchros so you don’t shift like in a car.
I have to stop to shift unlike a car.
Disable the seat safety switch. Remove the pto shield. Put on a wheel spinner. Drop the rops down. Tie the seat belt out of the way. Make sure to never read the owners manual. Wait. .. .... those are all the things you shouldn't do. Listen to Mike!
Honestly, seat safety switches are stupid. Especially on HSTs because even if you leave the tractor in gear and get off it, it's not going anywhere if you're not touching the pedals.
And on a manual tractor, if you get off the seat in gear, you're gonna lift the clutch up first too quickly causing the tractor to stall so it's really not a big deal.
Then you end up having to start the tractor again and flatten your battery.
Kids and spectators need to be kept far away. Usually when you're showing off the tractor to a guest or family member, there's an audience - often with kids attending. It's very easy in the excitement of driving a large noisy machine, kids will run up to see what poppa is doing up there
Yeah but if it's a Turbo and it's hot you don't turn it off straight away
I will never have this problem cause I don't let anyone I repeat anyone drive my tractor. Great info though.
Step 13: Don't try to turn the tractor going up or down a hill
Don't drink and drive!
So that cup holder on my Kubota isn't for beer?
Very good. But I didn't hear anything about the seat belt.
It's in there...number 8 I think.
Yeah you talk more then actually show how to drive 😂