muddin'

[vtcoyote]

well in wonderful vermont the ground is still not that dry, but hey thats not enough to stop my kioti. lets just say i learned my lesson

now in order to prevent this from happening again, what are the best solutions to n00bs like me who don't believe the dealer and who want to see how much traction the tractor actually has in mud, (chains, come along, what do you like to keep handy)?

secondly, if i ever get out, what should i do, in the way of post mudding maintenance, i know about the clutch housing but are there another tips you all have picked up over the years.

View attachment 100658




thanks

more stupid mistakes to come

 

[jim_n_nh]

You can use your bucket to lift your frnt wheels out and at the same time use the bucket rotation to push you backwards while useing the differential lock to lock your rear wheels together. In the future you might try using two wheel drive to get you into trouble and four wheel drive to get you out.

My guess is that your tractor has r4 tires and they fill up with mud very quickly.

Jim

 

[JoelD]

Agreed with Jim, I typically have my machine in 2 wheel drive, that way, typically 4 is all I need to back out of what ever it is I may have gotten into.

Jim's advice is also good when equiped with a loader. I've done that same to free my machines, done the same with the hoe, pulling myself out of trouble with the curl of my hoe bucket.

When getting stuck with truck, a tow strap with a good spring to it has been very handy when pulling a stuck truck out with another truck.

As far as getting a tractor un-stuck, shovel is good to have, particularly if you've gotten so deep that your hung on frame. Come along is also good, but not a big fan as they seem to be easy to snap, and a cable going 1 billion miles per hour towards your head is not a good thing.

Best advice is, don't get stuck.

I've also used planks under tires.

Tough thing with mud is, heavy gets super super heavy in mud.

Good luck.
Joel

 

[vtcoyote]

thank you for the replies, after an hour of persistent swearing and taking down a couple of trees i was finally able to get the thing out. i think some chains or a bulldozer might be in the future.

 

[PA hayseed]

Once all four wheels start to spin you need to stop and start using the bucket. Most people just keep hammering away at the pedal and dig themselves deeper.

You can use the bucket like others have said, a come along, 10k ratchet straps work well too but are not as effective as a come along, another vehicle and tow straps works too.

I would think that you want to free the larger heavier rear end, get it moving and the rest will come. If you curl and dig the bucket, the rear end should lift just enough to throw some planks under it (or logs) then you should be good.

 

[jbrumberg]

vtcoyote:

Welcome to TBN !. Getting stuck during NE's Mud Season is part of the "rites of passage" for new tractor owners . I lost count of how many times I got stuck during my "learning curve" years . In additon to the good advise you have already received, I have used a 13# Danforth anchor hooked to a come-a-long to get me out of the mud. I now stay away from most areas of my property at this time of year. I will say that our recent weather has put "a hurtin'" on Mud Season this year . Jay

BTW: R-1's will "goo" better in mud than R-3's, but R-1's do not go in reverse as well as forward in the mud; once one gets stuck they are good and stuck
.

 

[Casco1]

I was muddin' today. The driveway I couldn't climb last year ( mud in the threads of the R4s ) I just made multiple trips haulin' 5 ton of stone with nary a spin. Chains my friend Chains. They saved my tail this winter in snow and ice and I just found out today they are just as valuable in mud. Mainly if you can move without spinning you wont dig in. I've still got a twenty foot snowpile on the side of the house.

 

[JoelD]

I think you've come up with the perfect solution. A bulldozer, I've yet to get that puppy stuck, if I did, I'm thinking that would probably be the last time I'd use as getting that sucker unstuck would be a nightmare.

I'm thinking your logic should work perfect to get the purchase of a dozer past the boss. Honey, I need a dozer in case I get the tractor stuck. I need the tank in case I get the dozer stuck, I need the crane in case,. etc, etc, etc.

I actually used the dozer once this winter to plow my driveway, my neighbors and passer's-by thought I had finally lost it. Works great on pushing snowbanks back, even better at knocking over mailboxes (self inflicted wound). Amazing how traffic stops when a dozer is crossing the street. Gotta figure out how to mount the flashing light.

As my dad always says, you can't have too many tools.

Joel

 

[Highbeam]

I stuck my bulldozer a couple of years ago. It happens very fast and before you know it the dozer has sunk the foot or so and rests nicely on the belly pan making the tracks into fine spinny things, conveyor belts. I got it out the next day using lots of logs and the hydraulics to "jack" the machine up and then run out.

Same principle as lifting your front tractor wheels and then throwing logs under the tires so that they don't go down as far. The dozer had a rear hydraulic ripper setup so I could lift its butt in the air too.

I carry a standard 2-3 ton comealong with me as recovery gear for the tractor. I've had to use it to winch the dead tractor onto my trailer and it performed well. The cable isn't long enough and I use my 4 binder chains as needed for rigging.