Flipped it, and landed in the creek

Damn, a hilly few acres can be exciting. This is part of the reason why I sold the old 8N, and decided to go with a big stand up hydrostat mower/tractor thingie instead. I figured I could jump clear from it if it all goes wrong. Good theory, no so easily executed.

Groundhog hole on the embankment started it. Didn't see it and dropped a tire into it. Swung me right around. OK, not the end of the world. Then the ground gave way and we both shot backwards down into the creek.

Ever try to leap clear of a tumbling mower while falling backwards into a creek? It's so not easy. Gotta give credit to my guardian angels, again. It didn't land on me in the water, and I didn't tangle with the blades while pushing against it trying to get clear.

Who needs coffee when you can have this kind of excitement?

The recovery and repair were anti-climatic. It slid right back up the new cliff and over onto the ground with ease. Turned the key and to my surprise it cranked over and promptly started. After a little spluttering and such, it was purring away, ready to continue mowing.

Glad to hear you're OK and the equipment survived.

Never tipped one over, but I had a few dramatic moments on my old Johnny Model 40. That thing would dig in and wheelstand like crazy when you were pulling heavy drag loads.

Also, the clutch was between the engine and trans, but not the PTO. So stopping while mowing with the big 6 foot rotary on the back was interesting, because the blade momentum still had direct connection to the rear axle...

Good lord dude I'm glad you are OK. Next time, just take it off some sweet jumps.

At the risk of sounding less than sympathetic, I'd suggest you practice more until you do learn how to handle it.

Strange and timely.
I just heard on the ride in today over small town radio news that locally a 75 year old man died as his riding mover went into a ditch, flipped and trapped him below in a water filled ditch.
Be careful out there!

In reply to 4cylndrfury:

I see what you did there.

You should get to work on the roll cage, stat.

Why does this topic make me think of THIS.

I know of a middle-aged fellow that was paralyzed in a similar accident. I suggest a tad more caution. Glad you survived intact.

Damn. Sounds like you got real lucky.

I haven't rolled mine yet. I loaded the tires with liquid ballast and run wheel weights, and I can finally mow the entire backyard without feeling like the mower is going to flip and kill me. Its sort of sketchy sometimes, but waaaay more stable than the unmodified tractor. I still sit hanging halfway off the seat on the uphill side just to be safe.

4cylndrfury wrote: At the risk of sounding less than sympathetic, I'd suggest you practice more until you do learn how to handle it.

Oh lord, I lol'd.

4cylndrfury wrote: At the risk of sounding less than sympathetic, I'd suggest you practice more until you do learn how to handle it.

I'm guessing this is a direct quote from something snarky that GPS wrote to another user?

Duke wrote:

4cylndrfury wrote: At the risk of sounding less than sympathetic, I'd suggest you practice more until you do learn how to handle it.

I'm guessing this is a direct quote from something snarky that GPS wrote to another user?

The op, Foxtrapper, said it in this thread:

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/sprockets/this-sucks/53278/page1/

In reply to dculberson:

D'oh, user-ID fail on my part. I meant Foxy, not GPS. Thanks!