7 hours in, and I got stuck in the muck!

[proudestmonkey]

I've had my 2230 since Tuesday. Been pretty careful until today. I've wanted to just kind of get used to it, and break it in all nice and easy like. Today, though, I decided to tackle an old rusty barbed-wire fence that runs through my part of the pond at the edge of my property.

The ground just thawed two weeks ago, and we had a good rain about 3 days ago, so I figured I better not get too close. I used a 15' nylon rope (rated at 7000 lbs.) to pull some posts from the edge of the water. I got the first two just fine, but the third one was longer and buried deeper into the muck--which I didn't know about until I got it out). I lifted the FEL to pull up on the post (first mistake--it pulled out somewhat, but also pulled my front tires into the muck). Then, I started to back out (second mistake, I had 4WD on, and buried my front tires more than half way). Oh no! Went to 2WD and hit the differential lock. Back tires spun. Tried to roll it out like a car stuck in ice. Started to get some give, but no go. I jumped off to grab my "come-along (hand winch)" only to realize there was no tree close enough. I considered trying to use the FEL to push backward away from the pond, but thought that might make things worse because it was like pudding under the FEL. If I had gotten that stuck in the mud, I wouldn't have known what to do.

Finally, I walked all the way up the big hill, grabbed a shovel, a few boards, and went to work. I also took a bunch of old dead ***** willow leaves and stuffed them into the muck behind the tires. Put it in 4WD again, backed up about an inch, got off, kicked the boards until they were under all the tires, and then tried again. Finally, slowly, the front tires grabbed wood, and gave the back tires enough leverage to stop spinning and start moving. Whew!

All in all, it was a little embarassing telling my wife, but it was a good learning experience. And with my new orange machine all full of mud, it really looked like a well-used piece of equipment (until I rinsed it off right after getting it unstuck of course). I thought of taking a picture for all of you to see it, but was afraid it might start sinking if I didn't get it out of there in a hurry (and I was a little panicked about my new toy/tool being all muddy).

 

[RonR]

Glad to hear you got out.

Coupla comments:

If you have your MMM off and don't have a skid plate, you have some exposed stuff under there (fan) that doesn't like sticks. You can make one or search here to buy one. Cheap insurance.

You can usually use your FEL and bucket to assist moving you out. Curl the bucket all the way out. Lower the FEL, the while applying reverse, curl the bucket forward. Many times, this will give you enough "UMPH" to get moving again. Works well in sand.

Have fun,
ron

 

[Av8r3400]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Went to 2WD and hit the differential lock. )</font>

Diff lock works great in 4WD too. Why disengage the front drive?

 

[JoeR]

I was doing some work near the edge of a swamp when I realized the ground below me was turning into jello. The pine needles and leaves on which I thought was solid ground started give way and the next thing I knew I had the front axle down into the muck. FEL worked great for me! Dropped it down since it has a nice flat surface area, lifted the front axle out of the mud, and hit reverse while curling the bucket, which assisted in moving the tractor in reverse. I hit the differential lock too... Luckily, I didn't have to get my shoes dirty! That FEL is great for getting you out of the muck. Next time you get stuck, give it a try!

Overall, sounds like you had a good time! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Joe

 

[proudestmonkey]

I disengaged front wheel drive because the tractor faced the pond, which meant the ground underneath the front tires was alot softer than the ground under the rear tires. So, with front wheel drive on, I was digging my front wheels in deeper. I did put it back on to get out, once I had boards under the front tires for support.

 

[proudestmonkey]

Thanks for the tip. I did consider this before getting a shovel and boards, but like I said in reference to front wheel drive, the ground under the FEL was alot softer than I had thought (which is why I was stuck). Dirt with that much water might weigh enough that, if I dug the bucket into it to push back, there was a good chance that I would not have been able to get the bucket back out, and then in addition to having buried tires, I would have had a partially buried bucket too. With sand, I can see it working and if it doesn't work, you will be able to pull the bucket back up and out of the sand. With pudding like mud, I was afraid I wouldn't have that option.

Besides, to tell you the truth, I didn't use the FEL in part because I was afraid I didn't know what I was doing (which explains why I got stuck in the first place).

 

[proudestmonkey]

Actually, now that you mention it, maybe that would have been easier. If I had avoided getting muck in the bucket, but curling it part way up before pushing it down to the ground, its bouyancy could have lifted my front tires up enough to be able to pull out with the back tires. Oh well, I got out, and it WAS kind of fun (even my wife got a good laugh out of it).

I'll keep these suggestions in mind. That's why I love this forum. I have learned a ton over the past two weeks, and still have lots to learn and do.

 

[PILOON]

Oh that bucket 'curling' works great for me also. (too often)

I also have driven my front wheels over a stone retaining wall while pushing snow over the wall because you just dont know where the wall is for all the snow!

What I do is tilt the bucket downwards slightly and lift the front wheels out of the snow then engaging the diff lock back out 'sledding' the front end on the bucket.
Works in muck as well.

 

[jsh]

Almost had you beat.
The first day with my new L3400 with around 2 hours on the clock, I was working on an area near my house where water had backup. I was making a small drainage ditch with my rear blade then I would scoop up the dirt/mud and add it to the low spots. I crossed thru the end of the ditch I just made with a bucket full of muck and unknown to me the gound had already turned to pudding and sank the front tire to the center line. Fortunately the rear tires with the differential lock backed me out after a couple of attempts. Of course my wife was watching!
What I am having difficulty with is that I supposedly live in a dessert but you would think I am in Washington state with all of the precipitation we have had in the last several months.

 

[mushrock]

I just wanted to add that you mentioned using a 15 ‘ nylon rope (rated at 7000lbs) to pull the posts and raising the FEL when pulling. While your rope is quite strong you do realize that if the rope or, for that matter, a chain breaks under stress it flies back like a whip. The more stress it is under when it breaks the faster and straighter it seems to fly, keep the FEL low and yourself out of the line of fire. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif