The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: Fieldfare on July 15, 2013, 10:58:50 pm
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Hi all- does anyone know where I might get on a Tractor Driving course in the South Yorks/Derbyshire area? (or if a one-day I could travel anywhere really).
Many thanks,
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Field fare,
I don't have any official qualifications, but I am a health and safety advisor in my work in the construction industry, and have worked with tractors since I was eleven years old.
I have a 135 along with a range of other tractors and a jcb on my small holding, I also have a baler haybob, mower, plough, rotavator, potatoe planter/digger. etc. etc.
I'd be happy to spend a bit of time showing you the ropes and demonstrating/showing you how to use the machinery you are interested in, and it's pros and cons. If you are interested I'm in Northallerton, nth Yorkshire.
Cheers. Stu
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I've never heard of a tractor course, well apart from when I did my track licence, most agri suppliers when you buy will do a hand over.
I'd take Stu up on his offer
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Thats a really nice offer from Stufe35, your only other option is your local agri college. they will do a lantra cert
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A couple of weeks ago I did the basic tractor driving course through Lantra who do courses all over the UK - http://www.lantra.co.uk/ (http://www.lantra.co.uk/)
It was fantastic. Although I'd been using ours for a year or so, I learned a huge amount and gained a lot of confidence. Our course covered routine maintenance and safety checks, hitching, three point linkage, PTO, trailers, hydraulics.
And we got to drive two John Deeres for the two days - one an older one (like ours) the other a fairly big and modern computer controlled affair. :thumbsup:
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Dan, I have never had any luck trying to get info about any courses and have failed again now to find one on the Lantra site.
You couldn't post a link to the course in question, could you?
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http://www.oatridge.ac.uk/short_courses/machinery_operation/tractor_driving (http://www.oatridge.ac.uk/short_courses/machinery_operation/tractor_driving)
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Hi all- thanks a lot for your help! Stu thanks alot...I would be very interested in taking you up on that very generous offer! I'll send you a PM. Cheers,
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Dan, I have never had any luck trying to get info about any courses and have failed again now to find one on the Lantra site.
You couldn't post a link to the course in question, could you?
The problem with Lantra is the courses they list are from other training providers, and there appears to be almost no standardisation. :(
This is the list of courses that include tractor driving, but there's a huge variation in the duration and level. And they are all over the country too:
http://www.lantra.co.uk/CourseFinder/Results.aspx?within=0&postcode=&category=0&subcategory=0&deliverytype=0&deliverymethod=0&keywords=tractor+driving&iscountrywide=False&isfunded=False&istpc=False&isacredited=False®ion=0&industry=0&project=&itemsperpage=83 (http://www.lantra.co.uk/CourseFinder/Results.aspx?within=0&postcode=&category=0&subcategory=0&deliverytype=0&deliverymethod=0&keywords=tractor+driving&iscountrywide=False&isfunded=False&istpc=False&isacredited=False®ion=0&industry=0&project=&itemsperpage=83)
The course I took was organised by Ringlink Services:
http://www.ringlinkservices.co.uk/ (http://www.ringlinkservices.co.uk/)
HTH. :)
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Thanks, Dan - that's thrown up several possibilities I could get to :) I shall be on the phone to them in due course.
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Ive just had great fun coming up with an agenda... this is going to be far more interesting than the courses I deliver at work ! Have a look see if you think ive covered everything. My plan is this will all take place in a practical environment other than perhaps the first item.
Stu’s Tractor Awareness for Smallholders !
Legislation, safety rules, user manuals, roll bars, insurance
Starting and stopping the tractor and basic maintenance checks
Petrol/TVO and diesel engines
Brakes and parking your tractor
The gears and when to use which one
Hydraulic controls and functions
Attaching and detaching a mounted implement CAT 1,2,3
Stabiliser bars, different types and their functions
Understanding position control and depth control on the hydraulics
Differential lock and its function
Use of independent brakes
Connecting an implement with PTO shaft-and the importance of PTO guards
Engaging and disengaging the PTO and -What is ‘live drive’
Different PTO connections and speeds through the years/adaptors
Attaching and detaching trailed implements
When to use a pick up hitch or a draw bar- different types and there uses/pros cons
Driving up hill and down hill with a load
Tipping a trailer and understanding hydraulic connections
Demonstration / have ago with a front loader
Demonstration / have ago with a link box
Demonstration / have ago with a topper / finishing mower
Demonstration / have ago with a drum mower
Demonstration / have ago with a hay bob
Demonstration / have ago with a baler
Demonstration / have ago with ploughs and harrows
Demonstration / have ago with a rotavator
Demonstration / have ago with a post driver
Demonstration / have ago with a muck spreader
Demonstration / have ago with a JCB
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sounds like most of bases covered ..
Don't forget AdBlue, Cab Suspension, DGPS and my favourite Auto Steer :farmer:
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Cab suspension ! I'll mention the spring under the seat ! You remind me of a story my dad used to tell of when he worked on a farm in the mid 60s. It was a particularly cold and wet winter, so on market day the farmer was off to town and said he would price up a cab for the tractor. He arrived back that evening with a new set of water proofs !
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lol yes tractors have improved quite a bit
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Wow, now I want to go visit Northallerton too :D Problem is I could never afford to buy a tractor :-\ My late brother learned in his teens and became a contractor for a few years before emigrating to NZ, and being too young at the time I never got a go at the controls, tho I loved sitting over the wheel or standing on the back or jumping on and off whatever he was towing at the time :D Don't suppose you're allowed that now, can't even sit on the wheel if there's a cab ::)
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It's ok most tractors now come with a little lady seat to the side ... they have to be little it's only 20 cms wide.
Mind you back in the day I had use of a zetor and the cab on that you used to be able to hold a party in, just a shame the rest of it was such a shed.
And don't forget health and safety is not about preventing you doing something, it's about you understanding the risks involved and reducing them to a level that is reasonably practicable.
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Hi all- I have had my first ever tractor training courtesy of Stufe35! Thanks again Stu- great course! I would definitely recommend that any beginner thinking about buying potentially dangerous kit should seek out some hands-on training/advice from someone very knowledgeable and experienced. Stu took me through the basics and gave me some really invaluable hands-on experience with his tractor and kit (see the agenda in his post of the 16th July). I definitely feel wiser and even my daily Ebay searches for various pieces of kit are carried out with more focus and confidence! This forum is excellent...but there really is no substitute for being taught first hand- to be able to fully understand and be safe you need to be able to see how to attach equipment to 3-point linkage and hear and feel the whizzing of drum mower or what 'OK brakes' feel like!
I suggested to Stu that he should offer this to other smallholders (he is a great teacher!). If you are interested PM him and try and convince him to run the course again!
Cheers,
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For anyone near the Scottish Borders, Borders Training Group do one day tractor driving courses, as well as various other agricultural things - welfare of animals in transit certificate, chainsaw, etc. etc.
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If there is anyone who lives in the scottish central belt or perthshire area, and who wants to do the same thing feel free to contact me.
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Hello Brewster - Central Scotland Smallholders Association had had some members who may have been interested in a tractor driving course - i'm not sure if you would be interested in taking a small group for a session.
Simon
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Hi Simon,
I'm happy to try and help, it would be on a free basis or maybe we could barter for some veg etc? either way it will be on a friend helping a friend basis.
We have 2 tractors one older smaller one with a loader, and one much newer one with vario transmission and front links and pto. we have most implements and if we don't, we might be able to source them for the day.
i would cover the safety aspects of both the tractors and the implements and also their use .
i think numbers wise 2-3 people would be max as people would be hanging around to do there bit.
i will put this into another post but if your interested in log processing im happy to let you see the kit working.
cheers Alasdair
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Hi Alasdair - thanks - I am certainly interested myself - anyone else out there interested either CSSA or otherwise. I can understand the basis that you suggest - certainly veg could be bartered. Interested to see log processor too - at present I am working with chainsaw and axe and struggling a bit to keep up with supply, with all the other things that need done too. What days and dates are best for you?
Simon
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Weekends are probably best, i will be starting to process on sat if you fancy coming to have a look? PM me.
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We followed this topic through and wrote to Stufe35 to ask about a day's introduction to tractor handling and safety.
He prepared a programme to meet our basic needs; handling the tractor, general tractor safety, attaching implements and demonstrating the various attachments and their uses. Ploughing, rotavating, topping etc.
We had an afternoon with him on Saturday and came away feeling confident about the choices we need to make with regard to the attachments for the tractor.
He is very enthusiastic to and has a lot of knowledge to share in a very relaxed manner.
He adapted his 'programme' to our needs and certainly gave us the best of his time and experience.
I would recommend this type of experience for people like us newbies before ever sitting down on the seat. I know that whoever sell us a tractor will give us advice and information, but this was not a selling pitch.
Stuart is very approachable and if like us, you are looking at getting an introduction to this aspect of smallholding, then here is one route to take.