Be careful guys!

[FatCat]

Sorry to hear you guys wrecks.
Cheap hand restraints.
http://bit.ly/NNfWl8

Anytime you guys add a cage to a kart these would be good to use. Also add a seatbelt. Faceplant guy you got really lucky. Cage won't do you any good if you your ejected. Lol I bet that was a ****ty feeling. Come on guys, get that safety gear up to snuff! These are perfect examples. Use the money for safety gear first. You all got money for other mods so that's no excuse. You guys are gonna turn me into a safety Nazi

Also, DO NOT add a safety belt or hand restraints if you have an open top or questionable cage. This is driver protection for enclosed buggies. Actually a safety hazard to an open cart(if you were wondering).

 

[landuse]

Hey Rob, I am sorry to hear about your hand. Bummer!! There is nothing worse than trying to do everything (especially write) with your other hand. My hand writing is so bad with my left that you can't even read it.

I hope you feel better soon

 

[OzFab]

My left hand writing is great

 

[r_chez_08]

Going hand fracture place tomorrow, will probably get a proper blue cast.
My seatbelt is broken, need to fix it.
I will look into hand restraints
Oh and today we had a talk about car crashes with school. Various people who were involved in fatal or crippling accidents in some way spoke to us.. Really made me think. There was a guy who killed his best mate and put himself in a wheelchair. Really made me think...

 

[FatCat]

Going hand fracture place tomorrow, will probably get a proper blue cast.
My seatbelt is broken, need to fix it.
I will look into hand restraints
Oh and today we had a talk about car crashes with school. Various people who were involved in fatal or crippling accidents in some way spoke to us.. Really made me think. There was a guy who killed his best mate and put himself in a wheelchair. Really made me think...

We forget sometimes how fragile we really are. I'm not trying to sound like a doushe harping on safety but safety gear on any ATV is serious business. Those horrible accidents happen to guys just like you and me. That's too bad hearing about the guy who lost his friend and crippled himself. I couldn't imagine trying to live with that.(and to get crippled in the process. Very sad) I personally know of 2 cases of people passing away while enjoying powersports. One of the guys I grew up with had a snowmobile that needed carb work so he brought it over. We cleaned the carbs and it seemed to be running good. He had no gear, jeans and t shirt. He was going to take a quick run down the field just to make sure it was good before we loaded it up. He never came back. Not really sure what happened but it was a fluke. He wasn't being a jackass, he had been riding things his whole life, but something went horribly wrong. Best I could tell from the scene he caught a ski on
big clod of dirt and tipped it. Broke his neck and killed him. I heard of a local kid and his little sister (didn't know this family) that lost their lives in an ATV wreck. The "it won't happen to me" mindset is very, very, foolish.

I guess the moral of the story is don't take your life for granted. It can end at any second.

You said school so I take it your a younger guy. I think I've got a 4 point harness and a set of hand restraints(not sure if these could be used with a steering wheel) for an Odyssey. They're red but sun faded. If I didn't throw them away they're yours. No charge. PM me an address to ship them to if you want them.

 

[r_chez_08]

Yeah, a couple of years ago I had more of a 'it won't be me' mindset. I have seen and heard horrible stories about people with normal lives, and now appreciate anything can happen to anyone.

Wow this thread is getting grim! All I did was break a small bone in my hand! Lol.
I have started 1st year of 6th form, I am 16.
Cheers for the offer for the harness and restraints, I have a harness that needs a new buckle stitching onw to the webbing, but the hand restraints could be useful, pics?
I would happly pay shipping and more if they will stop me breaking stuff again!

 

[FatCat]

I checked the garage and didn't find either. I'll check in the attic when I get time. I have a few rubbermaid tubs of parts. Hopefully I have a set in there. I looked at the set on my Odyssey. I don't think the hand restraints would work with a steering wheel. Let's figure this out though. Your in the UK so let's make you a set for less than shipping would be. It doesn't have to be fancy, just effective. Ive got to remember with a steering wheel you must turn it farther than I do in the Ody. So how could we do it while keeping your hands from getting wrapped up in them. Maybe you could make them mount on the steering columb. You would want to find a nice light material so it doesn't feel clumsy on your arms yet strong enough not to fail when your counting on them. I'm sure a local sewing store, walmart(if you have those), about anywhere. Hey, how about using some nice wide shoe strings. Bingo. Go buy the widest shoe strings you can find.(say 1/4 to 3/8 inch wide). Tie some loops for your wrists( not tight but not falling off either). Then figure out how far you can move your arms without them leaving the rollcage. Tie them to the steering columb at that length. Should be super cheap and I bet it'll work good. You want to give yourself as much reach as you safely can. If they're too short you know your nose will be itching all day! At first it will feel strange but after a couple hours you'll get used to wearing them. Hopefully some of you other guys will try this to.

 

[exenos]

Another option would be to put some meshing on the sides of your cage so your hand cant go outside the dimension of the buggy. It would work almost as well without being as restrictive. When racing buggy's its either hand restraints or heavy mesh covering any spot were your hands can go outside the cage.

 

[FatCat]

Another option would be to put some meshing on the sides of your cage so your hand cant go outside the dimension of the buggy. It would work almost as well without being as restrictive. When racing buggy's its either hand restraints or heavy mesh covering any spot were your hands can go outside the cage.

Very good idea. Didn't think of that. That would be a better option to use with a steering wheel. The Odysseys can mount directly on the yolk because of how little it turns. Will cost more but do work good.

 

[souperman000]

Very good idea. Didn't think of that. That would be a better option to use with a steering wheel. The Odysseys can mount directly on the yolk because of how little it turns. Will cost more but do work good.

If you wanted to do it cheap, you could go to the hardware store and get that orange plastic mesh (like used for construction) and zip tie it to the frame, at least until you get something of better quality.

 

[exenos]

If you wanted to do it cheap, you could go to the hardware store and get that orange plastic mesh (like used for construction) and zip tie it to the frame, at least until you get something of better quality.

That could make it worse actually, the holes in the plastic mesh are almost large enough for your hand to go through before they stretch. If you hand goes through that its in a fixed position and being smashed into the ground. Its best to do it right or not at all, although since your on a farm chez i would think that a old horse blanket would do the job well temporarily if you only go up to your shoulders with it, not sure if you have horses though.

Also, once you have something to prevent you arms from going outside the cage practice putting yourself up on two wheels and recovering, its a valuable skill to have. If you can do that then you wont even think of putting your hand out, they'll stay on the wheel trying to right yourself. I can say that the hands staying the the wheel thing works because my first would be flip a few weeks ago became a non flip despite the kart being about 30 degrees away from vertical due to me counter steering and trying to right it. During that my hand never left the wheel. Still waiting for that first big crash/wreck Haven't had a major one in 3 years of karting.

 

[r_chez_08]

I will have a look and see what I can do.
Went to the hand clinic today. I don't need a cast, just a removable neoprene splint
I can do a bit of writing now

 

[exenos]

Good to hear it's getting better! Sounds like you'll be up an running in 3 weeks instead of 6.

 

[FatCat]

Skip to 17:35ish if your impatient. A rollover while wearing all your safety gear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Nku-oY__k&sns=em

Another great one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwyY2uMIqJM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[OzFab]

Ah, good news

 

[r_chez_08]

Good to hear it's getting better! Sounds like you'll be up an running in 3 weeks instead of 6.

Hopefully!

Wow those rolls look nasty! mine was 100x less servere than them!

 

[exenos]

Skip to 17:35ish if your impatient. A rollover while wearing all your safety gear.

SNIP

Now I definitely want to make a oddy clone, they both righted themselves and continued driving! That's awesome!