The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Two questions Gentlemen;

1,
When we left England for Canada in 1984, a safety frame had to be fitted on a tractor not wearing a safety cab.
I note in the pictures on this forum, that no such frames are fitted. What happened and when?
I cursed that safety -frame we had on the old FM, hit a rough bit and whack our head on it!

and 2,
What difference in traction is there between the old 11-12.4 -36" tyres, and the 16.9 -30" we see over here??

Thanks in advance!
Richard.

I can answer the first one.

If your tractor is used in any form of agriculture, horticulture, livery, pigs or cattle the tractor you are using must comply with the Safety Legislation which includes Noise and Welfare, what ever the age or whoever is using it. That is the Law.

This means it should at least have a safety frame. The frame may be removed for working in low buildings, say, working with a loader loading a spreader. If you the pick up the spreader to go and spread the load, the frame should then be in place.

The tractor should also comply with the noise regulations which specify the noise level reaching the drivers ear and the time he is allowed to operate in that environment without a break. This break could be up to a week after a couple of hours work, in a worst case scenario.

Then there is the welfare legislation that takes into consideration dust levels and seating. The owner of the tractor is held responsible for the Health and Safety of their selves, their employees and any other persons in the vicinity. The Regulations state that an owner can be fined for allowing an infringement, the employee can be fined for the same infringement as they and the owner are jointly responsible. In the case of an owner/driver he/she is fined as both an employer and as an employee.

If a tractor is registered as a historic vehicle and only used on the show ground for display purposes then there is no need for a safety frame.

The grey area as far as I can see is tractors after 1970 that were equipped with a safety frame or cab from new. The Law states these should not be changed or modified yet people remove them because they look better.

What should be remembered is that if you are operating a tractor without a cab or frame and you unfortunately injure yourself it is your responsibility and you may be liable for any injury or damage to third parties. In the case of any accident the noise like a jet engine you may here will be the insurance companies distancing themselves from your claim.

We do not need frames or cabs on our tractors because they are not used for work. (are they)?

I worked for some years explaining HSE Legislation to farmers, food producers, garages and workshops and grain storage companies. I was used as a lead instructor for the local HSE offices and worked with inspectors to get the Regulations over to farm staff. I even instructed the Ministry of Defence site managers using civilian workers on Lakenheath and Mildenhall Air Bases. That was a bit interesting!!! I did Health and Safety evaluations on Ford's Dagenham site where the maintenance staff were driving tractors and trailers inside the factory, beside the production lines, clearing the waste. That again was interesting especially the cardboard compressor which was outside in the rain, with three phase electricity panels open and no protection covering the buzz bars, all surrounded by a deep puddle of water.

Regarding the tyre question a lot will depend on the land and the ballast on the tractor. Heavy land requires a narrower tyre to get the best traction unless you use a wider tyre that is heavily weighted and so cuts in to get a grip.

Richard,

Being in the U.S.A. I can't say for sure about the roll bar, no law exists currently that would prevent a private owner from (recreationally) using a tractor they own with no ROPS (roll over protection system). I can say from experience though that there will be a difference between the tire sizes you mention. If your engine has the power to overcome the traction of the narrower 12.4, and you are using a comparable tread design in a 16.9, you may find that the wider tire has less chance of slipping and you can get more power to the ground. It may also be true that the wider tire can float better on soft ground, which has its pros and cons. It's good if you don't need the traction, but bad if you float so much that the tread won't sink through the mud to the gravel below when you do need the traction. I've never had traction issues with a good wide tire, unless there is a lack of tread left anyway.

Hope this helps.

Rob

Brian and Rob,

Thank you both for your replies and detailed answers.
I do recall seeing folding safety frames back then, that would eliminate the low -building on-and off problems.
What prompted this, is I keep seeing pictures on here of some lovely old tractors that are Apparently working and not wearing this stuff.
Given, some of these are in areas of the world where we don't have such restrictive legislation, but I know for sure some of these pictures are of tractors 'working' back in the UK.
I was hoping that for once legislation had been relaxed. (!)
I remember our old safety officer back home had more accidents than anyone else I knew of............too damned busy snooping while he was driving to take notice of other road users.
I'm pleased I live where I do. If I roll my tractor that's my own fault. (call it individual responsibility maybe?)

We have a little steam show here in the summer. stationary engines, bit of threshing and such.
No areas cordoned off, no string around the running engines or anything. If you want, yes you can walk up and shove your arm through the flywheel! Common sense is still a bit alive out in the country here, and yes, the parents watch their Own kids!
Just as it Should be.

Rob,
Thanks for the info on tyres and such. It all makes sense.
The kids here that like real wide tyres on their trucks spend a lot of time in the weeds in winter, which is sort of the same as you are saying with tractor tyres!

Thank you both again.
Richard.