[AJD] Re: timing crash test

E. Thatcher ethatche at hotmail.com
Wed Feb 16 11:10:41 PST 2005


Nick, I'm glad no real lasting harm was done. You can fix the truck and your bruised ego will heal. On the positive side your mishap not only will make you more cautious in the future but will also serve as a reminder for all of us here on ATIS to pay closer attention to what we do when we're working on these old machines that we own and love. It's often too easy to get lost in the "moment" when we're experiencing frustration working on a problem with one of them and forget to pay attention to the basics that keep us safe. As much as we care about these old machines we have to remind ourselves that they are just that...machines. These old lumps of iron at best do only what they were designed to do which doesn't necessarily include taking care of their owner's best interests. 

I've come to realize (slowly, I'm old, OK!) that some of people who write in didn't grow up with the old tractors and equipment they are collecting. I'm thinking now that those of us who did are probably in the minority. That doesn't mean that we have some kind of special dispensation from the "safety gods," if anything we run the danger of becoming too familiar where we begin taking chances and circumventing known and "LEARNED" safety precautions. You guys and gals on the other end of the spectrum though, need to get out some of the old manuals that pertain to your equipment and despite the sometimes "cute" cartoons and hokey language, pay attention to the safety precautions the manufacturers spelled out. 

Be careful out there.

Eric Thatcher
Carrollton, IL

52 JD A



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