I have just received issue No.80 of our magazine for which many thanks, it is absolutely outstanding. Please can you do something about the article on page 13, it made my blood run cold.
When I was an apprentice (68 years ago) it was drummed into us time and again:
‘NEVER PULL ANYTHING FROM THE TOP LINK PIN’
Why? It is the quickest way to kill the tractor driver.
Believe me, when a tractor flips over backwards it happens so fast that the driver has no time to react.
I have had the misfortune three times in my life to assist in removing a TED20, MF35 and a MFl35 from the remains of the drivers; one pulling a heavy tree and the other two trying to start heavy tractors.
Yes, each time a chain had been used, but the easiest place to attach the chain was the top link pin. I would imagine, looking at the photograph on page 13, (is 13 an unlucky number?) that the hitch is designed for a solid drawbar, whicb would negate my warning to a large extent; but the attaching place for a rope or chain is still there, easily accessible for someone who is not thinking or doesn’t know about the consequences.
My sincere advice to Mr Bert Van de Kamp is to remove this dangerous device from his tractor, take it to a scrap yard and sell it, it could easily save a life one day.
My kindest regards to you and our members and please:
NEVER PULL ANYTHING FROM THE TOP LINK PIN.
Published in Journal No.81 Winter 2015/16 D.R.Field
