We are at the tail end of a week long adventure of putting 500 cubic yards of sand into our house foundation. I borrowed my neighbor's bobcat to dump the sand over the edge. My tractor is on the inside to distribute the sand and level things out. The first load of sand this morning as I approached the wall the bobcat tipped forward and in an instant I found myself face to face with the concrete wall. A small piece of rebar punched out the windshield.
Amazingly the windshield was the only thing damaged. Once I was sure nothing else was hurt (including myself) I fired up the machine and righted the it with the bucket. I was kinda rattled for the next twenty minutes but the rest of the day went without incident.
Bobcats are like an E-ticket ride!
-grampa dan
[ May 26, 2012, 10:54 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
Posted by Bob Sauls (Member # 11321) on :
We're surprised that you haven't retro-fitted that BobCat with Nemo-styled, hover craft components, whipped out by the Multi-cam yet. Glad that you were not hurt Dan.
Posted by Cal Trauter (Member # 10938) on :
Hey Buddy, thanks for sharing this, I'm grateful you're okay. I appreciate that things do not go perfectly no matter what. Take care out there. Posted by Pat Welter (Member # 785) on :
Dan,Dan,Dam,glad you weren't hurt or pierced by the rebar...Exactly how did you get out of that thing when it was sitting on the door or does this bobcat have a side entrance/exit?? Just remember ya ain't as young as you used to was...looks like thing are progressing though...Stay Safe my friend...Pat.
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Since the windshield was instantly gone I didn't have to open the door to crawl out. There was n't much room for me to squeeze out but there was enough.
Today is the last day of filling in the foundation... and I am very glad! Pics of progress to be posted soon!
-grampa dn
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
That kind of looks like the U Cart concrete trailer incident in the customer's parking lot thirty years ago. Had to shovel one and a quarter yards back in once the trailer was subdued. Really bad day...
Posted by Duncan Wilkie (Member # 132) on :
Geez, that's scary, glad you're okay Dan.
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Hey...be careful out there. We don't want to loose our best source of inspiration. Glad you're OK. At least you will have some interesting stories to tell around the camp fire.
Looking forward to seeing the in-progress photos.
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Those walls don't appear to have any fiberglass reinforcement. They look so plain. Did you skip a step? No sculpting? I'd expect your foundation to be upheld by lots of little characters holding hands.
Glad you're OK How's your neighbor with this? How are you getting your tractor out?
[ May 28, 2012, 10:06 AM: Message edited by: Rick Sacks ]
Posted by Mike O'Neill (Member # 470) on :
Careful there Dan,
I have a bobcat of about that generation, now I know why someone welded about a half ton of metal plate to the back of it ... counterweight!
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
My neighbor took everything in stride real well. He's a good sport and a great guy! I will be replacing the window at my expense - no problem.
The little tractor was easy to get out of the foundation when I was done. I stacked up a bunch of pallets and blocking and laid down some sturdy planks. On the outside of the wall I used the Bobcat to build up a good sized pile of sand to drive on. Then I put the tractor into low gear and idled it over the wall.
-grampa dan
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Bobcats are very handy, but can be extremely dangerous.... I've operated one myself quite a bit over the years.
A buddy of mine that has one, told me of a friend of his that also had one... (friend of a friend story).... He said the guy had his bucket raised up and another guy walked up to it and stuck his head around by the cage messing with something and the operator accidentally lowered the bucket arms... took his head right off... maybe this was an urban rumor... but that's what he told me.
Anyway... I've had a heavy bucket load combined with too 'jerky' of forward movement and a declined landscape tip me forward too... a bit scary when it happens. Usually you can use the arms and bucket rotation to get you back on all-four tires again.
Anxious to see how the project comes... this is your new house you're building, right?
Posted by Mike O'Neill (Member # 470) on :
Was an accident similar to that in one of the mining companies here about 10 years ago. Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Here in the U.S. we have a government agency called OSHA that would probably put you in jail. (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Mike - yes, they can be very dangerous. Also, I guess it goes without saying that the *seatbelt* is probably the most important safety feature in a Bobcat. Bobcats have a tendency to get bucking like a mechanical bull when you go over bumps/uneven ground... by virtue of the setup of the drive handles. I can tell you that the seatbelt saved my life more than once, I am sure. Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
ha, ha Dan, lay off the coke ca cola; don't feel bad...I tripped right over a rescue cat cage on the cement like an old lady and am pretty sore, but no broken bones, must be the good coffee I drink or the glucosamine..glad I'm not the only one that follow's murphy's ethics of life
[ May 30, 2012, 10:32 PM: Message edited by: Deb Fowler ]
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
Ray, OSHA only regulates businesses with 10 or more employees. The owner can violate all he wants, if he's suicidal.
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
...and this is why I hired a tree service company to get rid of the 74 ft Grey Poplar tree behind my shop. If I'd have done it, you'd be seeing the results on "America's Dumbest People", or some such show, with them interviewing from under the tree.
I make signs. For everything else, there's always someone else better qualified to do it and I'm not that ambitious to learn a new trade at this point.
Very, very glad you're okay, Dan. That could been a lot worse. Best always. Rapid
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