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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