The death of an L3901

[k0ua]

Well, you all are fully welcome to keep driving your tractors up close to fires if you all want to. I am not going to risk it. I have heard of too many engine stalls from lack of oxygen up in the fire stream. An older tractor or bulldozer with its air intake up top and further back down the hood would be in my mind much less susceptible to being in a low oxygen area, but most modern CUTS suck in air right up front and run a risk. That is my story and I am sticking to it. YMMV.

 

[Oldpath05]

By the time the FD arrived, the tractor had been pulled out of the fire and was extinguished by hoses from the house. The tractor had water on it within a few minutes of getting stuck , while being pulled out, etc.

Lots of times one answer makes another question, how did the tractor get pulled out when not running?

 

[Oldpath05]

I dont see how driving up to a brush fire stops a motor, motor requires oxygen, fire requires oxygen also, so for both to run there still has to be oxygen somewhere or both would stop, Although a hydro tractor requires much more oxygen to run then a gear tractor, thats my story and I'm sticking to it..........

 

[k0ua]

Although a hydro tractor requires much more oxygen to run then a gear tractor, thats my story and I'm sticking to it..........

Yes, that is a known fact. BUT you misunderstood what was being stated, it is not the hydro tractor that requires more oxygen, it is the hydro tractor owners that require more oxygen, simply because of their larger brains! Obviously they have more brain power because they purchased hydro tractor in the first place.*



* fire suit is now on.

 

[rademamj1]

I hate to interject in such a lively and interesting conversation. Vehicles can in certain unique situations become "oxygen" starved when close to fires. Fires will put out large volumes of smoke which is a mix of both carbon particulates and CO2, and CO2 is an inert noncombustable gas which can at ground level displaces the air containing the Oxygen needed for engine internal combustion, and stall a vehicle.

Not all fires will saturate ground level with high enough CO2 to stall an engine, in fact the stronger the fire, the quicker oxygen rich air will rush into support the fire, and smoke rich updrafts will be created, which should normally have no effect on ground vehicles. Unless such vehicles are operating at a higher elevation to the fire, like in a mountain region.

 

[aczlan]

Which if this fire pit was cut into a hillside and the tractor dropped over the edge from the uphill side would explain why it shut off because it would be pulling in fresh air from the other side and the intake would be right in the smoke plume which would not have much oxygen.

Aaron Z

 

[Oldpath05]

Yes, that is a known fact. BUT you misunderstood what was being stated, it is not the hydro tractor that requires more oxygen, it is the hydro tractor owners that require more oxygen, simply because of their larger brains! Obviously they have more brain power because they purchased hydro tractor in the first place.*



* fire suit is now on.

:laughing: Some here know me to well..................

 

[Oldpath05]

Did I read right the OP got a new tractor, if so this story has a happy ending but I dont recall a picture of it.........

 

[chim]

One possibility other than being starved for oxygen would be that it wasn't in a low range and simply stalled when panic set in and the operator mashed the back-me-up end of the pedal

 

[k0ua]

One possibility other than being starved for oxygen would be that it wasn't in a low range and simply stalled when panic set in and the operator mashed the back-me-up end of the pedal

I have never seen a Kubota yet that would stall the engine with a hydro transmission even if it was in high range. The relief valve would just open. Even up against a tree.