I got my PT stuck!

Phils · Oct 31, 2005

The first time I've had to call out the pickup and tow strap. No amount of wiggling would help. The slope is a little steeper than it seems from the photo....

On the other hand, I had fun this weekend "working" with my new grapple bucket and box scraper.

Phil

Phils · Oct 31, 2005

A photo from the other side, not as clear tho.

Phil

toolz_not_toyz · Oct 31, 2005

What a coincidence! While browsing either this or some other forum a couple of days ago I came across a posting where someone asked about articulated tractors like the PT, and somone else responded that one of the problems with articulated tractors is that if you get too close to something like a wall (in your case, a tree) you could get stuck making the machines not that ideal for those who often work close to obstacles (like walls). I'm thinking those folks in the landscaping and grounds maintenance professions.

Thanks for proving it! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

What you really need is another PT, a bigger one, with forks, that can lift your 422 up and away!

BillCroasmun · Oct 31, 2005

Phil,
You could install a hydraulic cylinder with a plate on the end under your seat so you can push yourself out of those situations. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Don't forget to make a reversible mount so you can push off of either side! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Phils · Oct 31, 2005

Good idea on the "PT-pushback" attachment! Of course, if I'd already had one it would've been 'back at the ranch' with the hoe, which also would've gotten me unstuck.

Wish I'd read that post about articulated machines and getting "trapped". That's a more appropiate term than "stuck", I think, although the resulting forward progress is the same for both terms. My goal is to not ever have this happen again. Worst thing of all was that I needed help and I had a grinning nephew most willing.

Phil

Phils · Oct 31, 2005

Kinda scraped up my green guy, but not as bad as the tree.

Phil

stray · Oct 31, 2005

Some of you all correct me if I’m wrong but there is a maneuver that will get you out of a situation like that but you need an attachment in the front to do it. In your case you would cut the tractor all the way to the right then push down with the front end lift, lifting the front wheels off the ground. With the front wheels off the ground cut the tractor to the left. Let the wheels back down, lift the attachment off the ground and repeat until the tractor is away form the tree. This maneuver can come in handy in a lot of places. But I see you didn’t have that attachment in the front so you may have already known this. Will the tree live? LOL /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

toolz_not_toyz · Oct 31, 2005

( Some of you all correct me if I’m wrong but there is a maneuver that will get you out of a situation like that but you need an attachment in the front to do it.)

I think you're probably right stray. I remember watching some guys working in a drainage ditch with a Bobcat when they were still working on the new development at the old house. It was kind of muddy and the operator got stuck repeatedly. Whenever that happened he would use the front bucket to somehow push or pull himself out. I can't remember the exact maneuver but he never got permanently stuck. And if you think a PT ways a ton, can you imagine a skidsteer?

cqaigy · Oct 31, 2005

push down with the front end lift, lifting the front wheels off the ground. 

That's the type of manuver i use. I've got lots of trees on my place and it's easy to slip up against a tree on a side hill. I put what ever attachment is on the front, on the ground and while the fronts wheels are up, i turn the pt one way other the other depending on which side i have the tree. After a while you get pretty good /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

J_J · Oct 31, 2005

You are tight about that maneuver to get unstuck. A big log would have worked, or ever that cart. Just put the lift ends on the cart, and raise the front end and wiggle to the right move the lift arms and wiggle to the left. One might have been able to pull the cart enough to free the PT. You might even try and practice this so it will be easy for the operator the next time.

MossRoad · Nov 1, 2005

Tree hugger! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

MossRoad · Nov 1, 2005

Someone eles had a good suggestion when stuck on the uphill side of a tree like that... they said to drive around to the downhill side of the tree, if possible, and then do the wiggle. The tractor will slide down the hill, away from the tree.

Which one of you came up with that solution, anyway?

The other alternative was a chainsaw. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

toolz_not_toyz · Nov 1, 2005

Can you bypass the hydraulic pump in any way so that the tractor can be pushed?

BillCroasmun · Nov 1, 2005

Toolz,
I remember reading about a bypass valve on the pump that powers the wheels for just this reason. Not sure if it applies to all PT's but I bet it does.

Phils · Nov 1, 2005

There was NO "driving around to the downhill side of the tree". It was lodged well. I could've brought an implement down and installed it, and maybe worked my way out but it was pretty easy to hook the snatch strap to the rear hitch pin and pull the back of the PT away from the tree. Anything else would've been more work and the same trip to get the pickup and come back. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 TREE HUGGER!?!?! First time I've had that label!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

BobRip · Nov 1, 2005

I like to always have an attachment on the front for this purpose. The minihoe is the best. I did get stuck like this with a slope towards the tree. I used the come along to pull each end out a little at a time. I did not know about the PT "squirm" (my name for it) at the time.

Bob Rip

jfh28 · Nov 2, 2005

From the PT manual:

The variable volume pump mounted to the bell housing end of the engine is also the pump used to tow the machine. Open tow valves two turns. Tow machine slowly, also note these ports can be used to check high pressure.

I have not had the pleasure of needing to follow these instructions yet. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Jack

BillCroasmun · Nov 2, 2005

Hmmm, I was just thinking... I always have a tow strap with me in a toolbox mounted on the engine cover. If you couldn't use the "PT crawl" method but had another tree close by I wonder if you could do this:
Steer fully in the opposite direction away from the tree. Attach strap to the front. Take it around the the tree and back to the rear. Then steer back toward the tree. Since your endpoints would be fixed the middle should swing away from the sticking point. Haven't ever tried this but it sounds like it should work...

MossRoad · Nov 2, 2005

I'd think if the straps were around different trees uphill of the stuck tracotr, it would probably work. You may have to adjust two or three times, but is sounds good.

rox · Nov 4, 2005

Or, you could always just carry a chainsaw with you and cut down the trees. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Actually my first thought was, "Cut down the tree"

It is interesting to participate in discussions and see so many different creative ways of analyzing and attacking a problem/obsticle.