Well, I tried it. Either I get those maple bolts out very soon, or no shiitakes next Spring. So, nybirdman, you're right: made a mess of the trail, but my higher hardwood grove is OK. And yes, next year it'll be on frozen ground.
I ran her out in 1st gear, high range, throttled to PTO level on the tach. She walked right through the worse mud holes without spinning the front tires at all! The engine did change it's tune a little as more horsepower was called for, but it sounded good! Threw 300 lbs of sugar maple bolts into the bucket and headed back. As I approached the mud holes, it dawned on me that I now had more weight up front....and it might bog me down more, plus, should I use the ruts just created or steer for a new 'line'? I hit the mud in a new line, engine working good and hard, walked right through with no spinning. Life is good. I was stepping on differential pedal through the mud, but I sure could not see or feel any difference. This good video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=LjOwFvjIDcE
says, I think, the pedal needs to be depressed to engage - it does not 'lock in'. Anyway, I sure could not feel any difference. Second trip: same scenario....except...at second mud hole I decided to put my two right tires up onto a little high spot next to the mud hole. Maybe 18 inches higher, and drier, and heck - at least two of my tires will be on good dry land! This was a mistake, as I'm sure many of you are chuckling about right now. The lower front tires dug WAY down, up to axle, made a huge rut, and I was stuck. I'm sure there is a physics lesson here somewhere involving force and vectors...but meanwhile I could not rock it out front or back. Angry, mad, and embarrassed. Tractor one week old. Removed maple bolts from loader. Then I remembered a tip about FEL....never had one before....so I lifted whole front end up and clear of ruts, stuck 6 or 8 dead logs underneath front tires, she WALKED RIGHT OUT! Washed her off. Not going back. Lesson learned. Will CARRY bolts 150 feet past mud holes tonight. Will send photo to y'all if I can figure how.
I ran her out in 1st gear, high range, throttled to PTO level on the tach. She walked right through the worse mud holes without spinning the front tires at all! The engine did change it's tune a little as more horsepower was called for, but it sounded good! Threw 300 lbs of sugar maple bolts into the bucket and headed back. As I approached the mud holes, it dawned on me that I now had more weight up front....and it might bog me down more, plus, should I use the ruts just created or steer for a new 'line'? I hit the mud in a new line, engine working good and hard, walked right through with no spinning. Life is good. I was stepping on differential pedal through the mud, but I sure could not see or feel any difference. This good video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=LjOwFvjIDcE
says, I think, the pedal needs to be depressed to engage - it does not 'lock in'. Anyway, I sure could not feel any difference. Second trip: same scenario....except...at second mud hole I decided to put my two right tires up onto a little high spot next to the mud hole. Maybe 18 inches higher, and drier, and heck - at least two of my tires will be on good dry land! This was a mistake, as I'm sure many of you are chuckling about right now. The lower front tires dug WAY down, up to axle, made a huge rut, and I was stuck. I'm sure there is a physics lesson here somewhere involving force and vectors...but meanwhile I could not rock it out front or back. Angry, mad, and embarrassed. Tractor one week old. Removed maple bolts from loader. Then I remembered a tip about FEL....never had one before....so I lifted whole front end up and clear of ruts, stuck 6 or 8 dead logs underneath front tires, she WALKED RIGHT OUT! Washed her off. Not going back. Lesson learned. Will CARRY bolts 150 feet past mud holes tonight. Will send photo to y'all if I can figure how.