TC 35 Stuck on two stumps

Good evening forum, While clearing some logs and brush today I backed over two stumps.rear differential and front steering rod are now perfectly alighned over two stumps. Cannot backup and cannot go forward. Tried to use the FEL to lift me over and back. Hydraulics failed. I guess I broke a hydraulic line,too. I know I bent some of the steering linkage. Too dark to really find hydraulic leak or confirm an actual break.

Looks like a field repair to hydraulics first? Should I top off the fluid,start engine,and look for leak? Now that FEL is limp on the ground,it will hang up on the stumps too. Very liitle room under tractor to look and work. Advice welcome and needed.

Without photos it is hard to say . I think i would try and get the tractor off of the stumps first . Maybe a couple of railway ties etc. under the wheels fore and aft . Use a jack to lift each side , one side at a time and place the ties . You may find after you lift it a little , you can cut the stumps off with a chainsaw . The tractor should roll/drive off of the ties . Only run the engine for a very short time as your hydraulic oil is low . Once off the stumps you can survey the damage .

Iron Horse said:

. I think i would try and get the tractor off of the stumps first .

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I agree that the first goal is to get the tractor off the stumps with help from jacks and ties/planks without trying to force it off by driving/dragging it. You can do more damage that way. Even if you jack up the tractor and trim the stumps so that you can move over them.

I backed over one particular stump with my 1620 hydro once and when I looked at the situation it looked like I should just drive forward to get back over it. Little did I realize that the hydro filter hung down just in front of the axle and I put a hole in the filter as I drove forward. Not a good thing. Just like you I was out of fluid in the woods. Luckily had saved the old filter and was able to put it on, top off the fluid, cut the stump and then get it to the garage for a proper fix. I can't believe that they designed it to hang so low and without a shield. The moral of the story is that you can do more damage by bruit forcing it off.

Is the ground muddy, or is it solid?

Can you post a diagram? From what you say I think the stumps are along the centerline of the tractor with one under the rear differential, and one under the steering linkage, but I have been known to be wrong before.

Is it 2WD or 4WD? HST or gear?

Can you take some pictures in the morning and post them?

If you can get the FEL operable it will be a big help in getting out, otherwise, can you remove it in the field?

Is the stump in the rear under the differential or is it high enough that the differential is hitting it?

If the rear stump is low enough, the way out may be backwards, especially if the hydraulics are damaged to the point that the FEL has to be removed.

Without seeing it, I would think about trying to jack up the front to the point where you can put enough boards under the front wheels to get the steering linkage clear of the front stump. A stack of 3' or 4' pieces of 2 x 12 laid parallel to the direction of travel and under each front wheel might let you back up. If you can get the FEL working, lift it, put blocks under it, and then use it to lift the front of the tractor. If you can't get it working and don't want to remove it, jack up the front, block it as described and then use an additional piece of 2 x 12 as a ramp. One end on the front stump, one end just behind the FEL. When you back it up with the FEL drooping, it should ride up the ramp.

If you have to, jack up and block the rear in the same way until the differential is above the rear stump. Then back it up 2' or 3' leaving the front tires on the blocks. More blocks and another ramp should then let you back off the rear stump.

Back it to where you can work on it.

Everyone is giving great advice in my opinion. Since your transmission reservoir holds 10 gallons of fluid, I suspect you will be able to see a puddle where it is leaking. Of course, it's easy to check the reservoir level, but if the leak is on a low supply line, your fluid may have siphoned all out overnight. If you are lucky, the leak may be your return line or the big filter near the right-rear axle and you can do a patch or replace as necessary. There is a rubber hose flex joint under the right side platform. That could be your leak source. However, if you don't have FEL power, that sounds like a leak on the supply side to the pump rather than the return to the reservoir. Just can't be sure. . . .

As CurlyDave asked, is it dry around the tractor? Do you have a chainsaw? Would it be possilbe to trim the stumps with a chainsaw so you can get off them? That's about all I have to add about getting off the stumps because we are just not sure how the tractor is sitting.

Edit: Iron Horse, I see we are thinking alike. Removing the interfering stumps with a chansaw is a great idea in my opinion.

stuartshomepc said:

... Little did I realize that the hydro filter hung down just in front of the axle and I put a hole in the filter as I drove forward. Not a good thing. .

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That must be why NH sells optional hydraulic filter shields.... since I seem to snag things underneath, maybe I ought to look into one.

Good evening Tractor friends, Thank you for replies,advice and questions. Let me try to answer some of your questions. First,my tractor is a hydro/4wheel drive. I did get a better look under the tractor today and took some pictures. commentary and pictures are published here Cary's New Holland TC-35 Hydro. I will try tomorrow to jack up my tractor with bottle jacks and with timber try to get the under belly well clear of the stumps will use some boards as advised so I can drive the tractor off the stumps. Have chainsaw and will take a wack at the stumps if I can use the saw safetly. Will try to raise the FEL enough to chain the loader to the vertical posts so I can drive without dragging. Hydaulic dip stick shows fluid between the dots. Evidence of leak and damage to TEE connection--go to pictures. Thanks again,fellas. Any more advice is eagerly welcome.

My TL100A has that same rubber hose joiner in the supply pipe . I have done the same thing with a stick hitting the clamp twice . If you look at the clamp , the worm drive it pushed back . This creates an air leak as the clamp loses tension at that point . This stops the hydraulics from working . Put a new clamp on by undoing the new clamp fully , wrapping around the pipe and then making the clamp whole again , remove and discard the old clamp . This negates the need to slide the hose back causing loss of oil . Once you have centered the rubber hose so it is on an equal amount both ways , retighten the clamps . Check the oil is still in the working range and start the engine . Push the bucket control leaver almost fully forward with the bucket tilted forward so it is sitting on the cutting edge . This will lift the front of the tractor off the ground . Select reverse gear and drive backwards off the stump . When the bucket reaches the stump , carefully let the tractor back down and lift the bucket above the stump .

By the way , i like the tie frame under the tractor to strengthen the loader mounts .

thank you,Iron Horse. will try your solution. sounds less daunting than jacking and sawing. will advise on progress.

If you do choose to use my suggestion , and others may have a better one . You will need to lift the loader arms a foot and tilt the bucket first as your rams on the loader arms will be fully in with the bucket sitting flat and they can't lift like that . It may take a few seconds for the air to be purged from the sytem before the hydraulics start to work . Once the bucket is tilted , push down with the loader arms to lift the front end . Be carefull with your hand movements as you don't want to drop it on the stump . Engage the diff lock and low reverse gear and drag the bucket back along the ground as i have . You should now be clear of the stump , carefully let it down .

On edit , as i did'nt see the second stump in the photos , you will need to consider it's position before using this proceedure .