A true story that almost wasn't very funny...

HillHound · March 26, 2002

Last week my retired dad, who does alot of lawn and garden work for folks to earn $$ in his spare time, asked me pick up an old Graveley 16hp utility tractor he had overhauled at a local shop-we used his 5x10 flat trailer. I guess the tractor probably weighs around 800lbs. As we loaded it I told him to put more straps on, but he insisted one over the middle and one on the front was plenty and it's pointless to argue with him.

Halfway home I hit the brakes at an intersection and heard a "bang" and the truck lurched forward. Dad says "Hah! I think your transmission just cut out!". We climbed out and the tractor was half off the front of the trailer resting on the brackets against the jack-which was the only thing that kept it from smashing my rear bumper! When he put the one strap on he'd put it across the gear shift and brake levers, so when I hit the brakes the weight of the tractor against the strap shifted it into neutral & at the same time let off the park brake!!

This is just a typical example of what happens when I get together with my dad and some motorized equipment! I told him this overhaul almost cost him a new bumper, and he said it would'nt have been nothing a brass hammer would'nt have fixed!! Anyway, no major damage to anything except his trailer's jack mount got bent (don't worry-he'll just use the ol' brass hammer on it I'm sure).

sincityZ71 · March 26, 2002

:baa:

Glad your truck didn't get hurt. I know how it is, there is no use arguing with old men, especially fathers, they are set in there ways and think they know it all better then anyone, so you gotta just go along with it.