Dead branches in trees are known as widow makers for a reason.

Did same thing pushing on a dead tree. Little guy on my shoulder says don't do it. Well I did it. Next thing I remember is standing in a pool of blood in my shop . No idea how I got there. 24 staples later & a year & half of neck pain later. No more playing with dead trees. Live on a forestry property lesson learned. 66 years old at the time 2020.

Glad your ok. Lesson learned do not modify safety equipment ! Never trust a dead tree they are deadlly.

I grew up in logging camps, I spent 47 years pulling wrenches on logging equipment. I have seen lots. You, my friend, are definitely one lucky fellow. Old dead trees like that are known as Widow Makers. They got that name for a reason. Good video.

You are blessed! Everyone needs to watch this video. Thank you!

Never bump or shake a dead tree with limbs, thats a great video to hopfully educate a lot of people!. I'm glad you are ok!.

Thanks for sharing this story, I suspect a lot of people would not. Hopefully you saved some others from making the same mistake!

Glad you came out of this potential catastrophe without major injury. When doing things like this every safety measure you can take is none to many. I heated our house for over 15 years with firewood and cut down every size, shape and condition of tree you could think of during those years. One thing early on a good friend admonished me to do (insisted) was " DROPPING-KNOCKING DOWN WEAR A HARD HAT" He wouldn't let me alone until i did. Gotta tell you it seriously saved my bacon a couple of times.

Thanks for admitting your mistake. It will save many people a headache. Been there done that....

I'm glad you're not seriously injured. You might talk to your welder friend and see about using a couple of pieces of heavy duty expanded metal screening, in a frame, and make removable front and rear screen guards if you plan on doing anymore tree related work.

Glad you’re okay!! That could have been so much worse!! ❤

Thanks for sharing! A lot of "new" operators using those small excavators since they are ridiculously cheap now.

Thanks for the share. Yep I too would probably remove the canopy. Your experience made me a believer to don’t change nothing! I’m currently looking to purchase a mini excavator. Best! Charlie

Thanks for the video I have ran mini excavator and big excavator when I first started running them the same thing happened to me the machine had its roof on but it busted some glass and cut me from that point on I don't do test bumps I put the bucket up and use Steady pressure to push trees over dead or alive there can be limbs you can't see that are dead

Dead trees are unpredictable, glad you made it out with just minor injuries.

About a month ago, I was helping a friend work on a truck, replacing the frame section on an f150 spring/shock tower. I had been grinding and using an air hammer to remove the rivets. It took about an hour, then another 15 minutes to cleanup the frame beneath that piece. I had been wearing my gloves, long sleeves, glasses, welding cap, and a face shield the entire time for my PPE. I thought I was done grinding, so I set the shield down. Then needed to touch up a corner of the new piece, so I just grabbed the grinder, because it’s only gonna take a few seconds to trim that up. About two seconds in, without my face shield, the wheel caught and kicked the grinder right into my face. I thought I was going to black out it hit me so hard, right in the nose. I tossed the grinder down, yelled to my buddy to unplug the grinder so no one else got hurt. I grabbed my sweat rag and held it on my face. My buddy looked and said, we need to take you to the ER. He drove me and I was in and out in less than 30 minutes - fastest ER trip I’ve ever had. They cleaned it a little bit. Gave me a couple antibiotic pills, put some butterfly stitches on it to hold it together. The bleeding had already stopped, except for a very minute “leak”. They sent me home for the night and said the surgeon office would call in the AM with instructions to go get it “repaired”. “Repaired” ended up meaning “surgery”. I had broken the bone of the nose, and cut completely through the main cartilage, and the left nostril, all the way down to the end of my nose, and it grazed the inside of the bottom of the left nostril. They had to stitch inside and out repairing all of the different layers internally, including the cartilage, and then stitch the outer tissue. They also had to put “stints” inside each nostril to keep the tissues from adhering to the wrong tissue. It was a miserable week until they finally took the stints out and I could breathe again. Boys and girls, wear your PPE AT ALL TIMES. It doesn’t matter if the job will “only take a few seconds”. It only takes one fraction of a second for that “oh shit” moment, and then it too late. Take it from me, is not worth it.

Had a similar experience with a tree, my tractor, and a sunshade on my ROPS. Tree branch broke and came down landing on the sunshade and ROPS. Ruined the sunshade but I was okay. I will take $300 for a new sunshade over $300 for a doctor/ER bill any day. I learned my lesson that day.

Dead trees are called "Widow Makers" for good reason, more dangerous than any other trees.

Glad you were relatively unharmed and able to share your story! Leave your roof on folks.

There is a reason they call those branches widowmakers. Glad you came out of it relatively unscathed.

Always watch out for widow makers whilst in the trees. I'm forever looking up while camping, hunting, etc. Sometimes they fall without a bump, I caught one much like you. Glad you're ok.

My QH12 roof was 7' 2" high. My garage door entrance is 7' even. Wouldn't fit, took it off. One of these days I'm going to cut 4" off the posts and re-weld it. You could the same. Lower the roof just enough to get it in the garage.

I turned over my little mini ex and that roll cage you took off crushed my foot almost off. Lost alot of blood and had to be flow to a trauma center. My foot is all messed up now. They are dangerous and too small to be stable..sold mine and bought a backhoe!!!

Every time I see a tractor without ROPs I shudder ...

Just watched this video. I feel like I found my twin in stupidity. I mixed three items together last March that put me in the hospital: Dead tree, ladder, old chainsaw. Tree broke before I was prepared, nearly cut my hand off when the chain raked my hand, fractured ankle. Cut deep enough to just start cutting strands of the thumb tendon. Surgeon called it a flesh wound since I did not hit any nerves, muscles or blood vessels. Yeah, STUPID came to my mind pretty fast, as well as Lazy (not preparing properly), over confident (I've cut trees before), etc, etc. Yes, my luckiest day on earth since I came away with the best possible outcome. I will never forget that lesson! Welcome to my world, and let's both not have to explain another stupid act...

Most people that take a widow maker without a hard hat of some kind never fully recover, messing with dead trees, with a saw or equipment, is VERY dangerous... glad your still walking and talking man.

Glad that you are OK.

Thanks for the warning! Just brought home my mini and was looking at a dead tree as I was going around the yard looking for things to "fix". Think I may leave that one alone for now and work on some digging first.

Death showed up that day, took a look at you, checked his list.... _"Nope, not on my list for today."_ Then he just glided away.

Thanks for sharing your lesson-learned with all of us. You may have saved a few of the "Nah, it'll be fine" cowboys from getting seriously injured. . .or worse. 👍 While the "mouse cage" probably isn't a full-on rollover protective system (ROPS), being made of steel let it take the big hit of a branch falling from a dead tree.

Thanks for an excellent educational video with a cautionary note! We are all sinners here. Carry on passing the word. You are fortunate.

I had a ht10b same one like yours. These little machine can do alot. But are dangerous if you don't pay attention what you are doing. It's good that you were not hurt.

I'd be building a decent roll over bar for that. It's small but still crush you if it slips into a trench or something. They roll easier than you think. A belt helps if you do.

Thanks for sharing I'm glad you are not smooshedededed. I run a ec220 and have knocked down many large trees the key is never bump trees use a smooth ez pushing only. I pucker up in my 20 ton machine pushing trees. I would never go after a tree with that thing. Use a chain saw than play with the trees on the ground. Second always take some time looking at the tree look for heavy dead branches or dead tops, remember the trees want revenge they will kill you. I guess we all have to learn the hard way.>>>>>>>>>> P.S that roof is not a substitute for R.O.P.S. It will not save you from large trees if you have to do a lot of tree work It might be worth investing in a bigger machine. How much is your life worth?

Uh... the machine isn't dangerous, the operator is! You should be reinforcing that roof not removing it.

Good video. Life lessons are often painful, expensive, and sometimes both.

Hey, don't feel bad! If you were to join my monthly lunch bunch, you would fit fight in. In fact, you might just be the smartest guy in the whole group! Thanks for the video. You may have saved some lives by making this.

I've got a story for you about always using seatbelts in mini excavators. I apologize in advance for how long it is. I used to own a Bobcat X-320 mini excavator until the engine caught on fire from a wiring short. Anyway... I used to dig big pits so people can either bury trash or burn it then I would come back and cover it up. When I covered it I always had the cab off to the side so I can see the blade better. I did a few pushes just fine. Then on one push as the backhoe crested the top of the dirt mound. It lurched forward and threw me out of the front of the cab. Because I kept the cab off-set the backhoe twisted as it fell and the roll cage pinned my left leg with my knee bent under the roll cage. I suspect that it probably broke something in my hip because it was laying on the ground as flat as it can be. My left foot wasn't in better shape being stuck under the other bar of the cage. After digging myself out from under the roll cage with hydraulic fluid and diesel pouring on me. I thought I would try to use the boom while standing in the cab to try and get it back upright. The hydraulics were being very sensitive at that point and every move I made with the levers would bounce me around in the roll cage like a pinball. This caused me to break 4 ribs. I got to my dad before the adrenaline wore off and told him what happened, then I went to my room and passed out from the pain and remained that way for about a day and a half. When I woke up... Me and my dad went about setting the backhoe back upright. I used a 1 ton comealong to pull the boom in and we used a 15 ton chain hoist anchored to a tree to get it back upright. We then called a mechanic to bleed the air from the engine which we didn't know how to do. We checked it over for any further damage and found none. I topped off the fluids I got back to work on burying that hole and had no further problems. I've heard it said that you're never an expert until you have an accident. Guess that makes me an expert. I've also heard it said that any crash you can walk away from is a good one. I hope you enjoy the story and don't have to learn the painful lesson that I did. There are many accident reports from people who did what I did and aren't alive to tell the story. Keep all safety warnings in mind.. they are written in the blood of the ones who either didn't survive, are permanently disfigured, permanently handicapped, or almost died. as I write this I am listening to a story on PublicResourceOrg of a loader operator that lost both of his legs in a rollover accident.

Great video. You are so lucky to be alive and not permanently broken in some way. We all get a little too confident in our worlds and do things that are just a little risky. It only takes a second to change your life forever and I have to constantly remind myself that maybe reaching too far when on a ladder or like yourself understanding the risks of any machinery can be fatal or painful. Glad you are able to share this and hopefully the message will reach someone who otherwise might take a chance and not take it now.

I boke my arm Jan 2 and took 2 months in a hard cast and 1 month with a brace 24/7 and after 3 months can get therepry for at least 2 more months so can use my hand. You are a lucky guy you did not break any bones or you would been not able to work for a very long time.

They call them branches widow makers. Glad you made it out ok.

The mouse traps proper name is a ROPS..Roll Over Protection Structures...The most important thing on any piece of equipment is that seat belt as it will keep you in place on a roll over. Old tractors never used to have them...I knew someone who was killed because the tractor didn't have a ROPS and he was pinned under the machine and crushed to death.....get in the habit of throwing on the seat belt every time. Your one lucky guy!

It may have been just a canopy to you but i consider it to be ROPs - roll over protection, for debris and would never remove it. Count your blessings you were not injured more severely, always carry your phone or let someone know when your out working with it.

I have had three trees fall on me using a 1025r while cleaning up our estate. All three where dead pines, all three where within a group of pines that were interlocked , just never know what’s going to happen with those… broken sunglasses, broken tool box and dirty underwear

I always thought most everyone over the age of 12 knew that the tops of dead trees were extremely dangerous and subject to snap off, especially when the base of tree is bumped into.

bro so glad yer alive!

Thats why there called widow makers

Glad your ok .we all do stuff we regret. Hence why I'm watching your video so I don't do anymore damage to my head Great video brother from another mother ..Tim from Australia 🇦🇺 ...oh I put a mesh on the front of my mouse trap as I pulled a branch that snaped and went through and almost impaled my body to the seat .....

In my trade a 8 to 12k reach lift is a comen tool. Every so ofter someone dies from a roll over not wearing a seat belt thinking they could jump off. Most accidents are over befor you knew it happend . Safty stuff is such a easy thing. Thank ypu for sharing your experience. Im glad wernt seriously injured. I hope your poor choice helps others to work safe. Sharing this was a very very good choice.

You are supposed to dig around the root ball first, then push it over. This keeps it from breaking like you show at 2:30.

Out here on the west coast we call redwood limbs widowmakers cause during high winds, or during logging operations, sometimes they will fall, and they can kill.

Thanks for doing the experiment so we don't have to.

Those dead limbs are called widow makers for a reason.

So what you are saying is it really had nothing to do with the mini excavator but more because of a lack of knowledge falling trees? Operator error not equipment. Glad you are ok though. As a logger for the last 20 years I’m well aware how deadly falling trees can be. Safety first always is mandatory.

Not just mini X, but any power equipment. In the first two hours of having my 35hp tractor with bucket I was cleaning weeds from under a bush. I did not see the grape vine snaking up ant to a large walnut tree about 15 feet away. There was a dead branch about 20 ft long with the grape vine looped through it that broke off and across my open station. Missed my head by less than an inch and ripped my shirt sleeve and scratched my bicep. Was not injured as you were but close enough. Strangest feeling one second I am skimming weeds and suddenly reality changed and I have an 8 inch diameter tree limb across my steering wheel. So dead branches and vines are another thing to watch out for in the woods.

Glad you're ok. You've sold me on a mini excavator tho!

Ya know, it never would've even occurred to me to pluck the roof off of a piece of equipment like that. Still, that's a good thing to keep in mind. Thanks for having the gumption to bring that story to us.

They don't call dead trees widow makers for nothing. Do not bump them. Look in the tops and see if there is anything hanging or vines attached. They are not safe . Thanks for the Pep Talk. I listened.

The Melroe Company (Owner of Bobcat skid steer manufacturing at the time ) installed a shut off switch in the seats of all skid steer loaders after an accident that killed a man. The man climbed out of the Bobcat with the loader arms and bucketful of gravel raised 6ft high. The machine tipped over , and crushed the man to death.

Dead trees are dangerous and limbs like that are called widowmakers for a reason. I'll often avoid cutting a dead tree down with a chainsaw for that very reason. Glad the injury was no worse.

I'm glad you are ok. That had to be painfull. I've been thinking about getting one of these types of excavators. I would probably get a Groundhog since I live near Pittsburgh Pa and they are closer. None of the Kymron and Grounhog models are exactly the same but one or two are very very close.

No matter how bad it is, it could always be worse! Lesson learned.😁

deadfall,,,,,yikes,, glad ya ok and thanks for sharing

Hvala za izkušnjo😮 Srečno.

Thanks for telling us your story.

Lucky you were there otherwise that branch might have done more damage to your excavator. 😉

ROPS - Roll Over Protection System

Thanks for sharing, glad was relatively minor

Pay attention to your surroundings

Any tree should be approached with caution, especially a dead tree. Always look up, always wear a hard hat with face shield. Even a small branch falling out of a tree can have you on the ground holding your head. It's not worth it, be safe. Glad you're okay.

Noted! Do NOT remove roof. Ok. Thank you sir!

We’ve all been guilty of cutting corners and every once in a while it bites us in the a*s…. Thank God you’re okay!

You're very lucky you didn't take the full impact of that branch with your neck or head. The outcome would have been much worse. I still wouldn't rely completely on the canopy for protection. I've seen dead trees break in half when disturbed. That much weight would probably crush the canopy. I hate cutting down dead trees for just that reason. Whenever it's possible I use a long cable tied to my tractor to give the tree a good jerk before I do any cutting. This will cause any weak spots on the tree to fail before I get under it with my chainsaw. I still wear a hard hat just in case. Thanks for posting the video. It's a good reminder of the danger of these trees.

We call that a tree whooping 😂 glad your ok man

It's also a roll cage, so when you crash "wearing your seat belt" it does roll over. Hints to why you ever jump off them.

First rule of messing with trees. Always look up before you start and keep checking as you go. Lot of professional loggers and arborists have lost their lives this way.

Lately we see a lot of video of people pushing trees with the tractor bucket or the min or even with skidsteer. I dont know where that came from, those machine are not big excavator, is itso time comsuming to get the chian saw to do the job.. U have been lucky thanks god. take care with your toy and enjoy.

That's why dead trees are called widow makers.

Definitely blessed, as well as your wife. Take it from a widower

They are small enough to look cute, but big enough to kill you. I'm a crane operator, so maybe that helped a bit when i learned how to run my Kubota U 25, making a mountain bike trail on steep terrain, with rocks.

Should make another video explaining trees with dead tops are dangerous.

No duh!!! I bet you won't do that again!! Tractoring 101 my dude!

Here's your sign!!!😊

You are seriously LUCKY. that larger part of the branch would have killed you. YOU NEVER push on a dead tree... The top will break and fall back on you... You are playing with death.

I don’t know why you’re saying the tractor is dangerous , it was you that created the problem. Not the tractors fault.

A lot of people with tractors have learned that same lesson.

I have a massey Ferguson 20 industrial front loader I wish I had a cage I pushed a tree over it broke above the bucket the tree top broke off and it hit me in the head bounced off the left side of my head I was lucky.

Those limbs are called widow makes

We all get caught at sometime

Biggest problem I see with these is the tracks are directly under it. Thing is extremely top heavy and off balance.

Buckle up

You learn by mistakes

It's not a sunshade or "umbrella," it is called ROPS, Roll Over Protection System. When you have a ROPS on any machine, you need to use the seat belt to keep from failing under tr ROPS, in case you roll and get tossed, the ROPS can land on you. READ THE OPERATOR"S MANUAL!

They don't call them "widomakers" for nothing.

They're called widowmakers for a reason

Or don't mess with dead trees

Dead trees are called widow makers. I'll let you figure out why. Also think you are correct in your self description.

Takes a big man to make a video of your mistake. Hope others will learn. I've done some tree work. Dead trees are un-predictable and very dangerous.

Be careful about digging around in water beds, I have heard a lot of legal nightmares that have occurred due to this. Where those stories happened, even though the water way was on private land, the homeowner doesn't own the waterway. Check out the laws where you are. This is only a warning, not legal advice.

Good video they will get you I know