Courses on tractor driving

TAFE colleges run tractor courses in rural areas.
Be worth giving them a a call, if they don't they'll probably be able to point you in the right direction.

I know what you mean though. In practise, if it's properly balasted and you watch what load you have lifted on the linkage it should be as stable and as safe as any 4WD.

Cheers
Chris

Hi Frank.

I often work with my excavator on properties, along with another contractor who engages in slashing, back blading, etc, with a 390 series 4wd Massey Ferguson. Mate!, on hillsides in the wet you have to be soooo, careful! ,only travel straight up and down, keep implement close as possible to ground, engage diff lock if fitted, select correct gear, keep foot away from brakes! its a very similar situation to driving a 4by in those conditions. the safest thing is not to do it unless it is completely necessary!.

Take care Cheers Axle.

Hi frank

Good to see a man who knows his limitations, plenty others dont & pay the price.
A tractor is a great tool on the farm, learning how to use its full capabilites at a TAFE course as mentioned is a great idea.

Cheers Steve

as mentioned, try TAFE or check your yellow pages for a crew who do industrial machinery licencing (excavators, earthmoving, possibly trucks etc). At the least, by being in the industry one of the latter outfits might point you in the right direction if they don't do it themselves.

Another way to track someone down if you can't find them directly - get in touch with the state's OH&S overseeing body. Here I think it's SafeWorkSA. Not sure about NSW.

In WA we have Farmsafe WA Alliance which is an organisation promoting farm safety and are keen to run courses on farm (at a fee, but you get a group together). NSW may have something similar. If not I'm sure you will find there are other training companies which can provide tailor made training. When we organised a farm safety training where i worked a few years ago, we found a number of training organisations doing farm safety courses. Once again it was user pays, and we needed to get a group together, however from time to time we can access training vouchers for farm training, and these can be used to towards costs.

Frank, I started driveing tractors at about 4 years where I could not reach the clutch from the seat. I remember my Dad (bless his sole} taught me that by far that most tractor accidents occure from roll overs front to back. So If you are towing or pulling something DO NOT connect the rope above the centerline of the rear axle (ie on the top of the 3 point linckage setup.) This may sound obvious but people do it & some live to learn. Another old farmer always said that tractors are bloody dangerous because of their large wheels ( he liked tracked tractors) Haveing said that a tractor is much the same as any vehicle. If it does not feel right it probably is not. I watched a grader on a steep slope today & wondered whether the operator was very good or very stupid.

have a good day
Mike

G'day frank,
As an owner of 2 excavators and a bobcat I am always wary when operating the bobcat. One of my operators did roll it in wet conditions a while ago. Fortuanetly I don't have to operate it all that often.
We had an operator 20 years ago aoperating a 20 t excavator for which he would constantly travel the machine with his bucket too high in the air. ie di not keep the load close to the ground. My stepfather warned him he was operating dangerously and consequently a few weeks later he tipped it over, tracking on an anlgle and tipped it over into a trench. The cab landed on a stormwater pit that was not backfilled as yet. These pits were spaced 50 metres apart. Unfortuanetly he was killed instantly.
Having said this I admire your willingness to become competant in the operation of your tractor.
On the road to stockton beach from the pacific highway. The Lavis lane end. The williamtown turnoff form the Pacific highway if you were travelling north. There is a machine operators competancy place. I do not know the name but since you are in the Hunter you may be able to check them out. They are halfway down the road on the left.
Makes for a good excuse for a quick trip to Stockton beach
Peter

I learnt to drive a 4x4 tractor on my parents farm I also learnt they can get bogged as easy as a 4x4 to :(.

I would not think sliding down a slope in my 4x4 would be fun and as for a tractor even less fun.

As far as i'm concerned a course would be money well spent.

Brian

Hi Frank,
What about contacting Tocal Ag College?

They must teach their students all sorts of useful farm type "stuff"

Geoff

Frank,
Coming from the bush and being an ex-farmer I sympathise with you as I have been in similar situations. Good on you for being realistic and not afraid to ask for help.
There is a mob in the Hunter at Broke called CTM Training Solutions,
Ph: 0265791155, ask for Tony, (the Boss). I did my MC truck licence there, they also do cranes, skid steer, backhoe, etc. If they cannot help they may be able to put you on to somenone who can.
Good Luck

Dave

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for the replies and the support of common sense. I take all the advice on board. The two day courses run out of the Tocal Ag. School look like a good place to start.

Your attitudes confirm my suspicion that finding limits and techniques is best not left to trial and error.

Cheers Frank.

ps. I'm leaving the tractor on the shed until things dry out a bit!