BX 23 on its side, or what not to do!

TroyR57 · Oct 14, 2007

I have had these photos for a few months, and though about not posting them, but finally decided to do so. I am trying to dig out a pond, and was taking on some quite big trees. The tree in question, would not go easy, first, I tried to dig around it, and as I did, I put a line about 15ft up the tree, I then finshed digging around the base, and then hooked up my truck, to see If I could pull it over, still to many roots holding. I then messed up a chan saw by cutting the main side roots holding this tree, a sweet gum, about 18 inchs in diam. I still could not pull it down with its large rootball still holding firm. I finally gave up and used the chain saw with new chain, to noch, and cut the tree, still using the line and my truck to make sure the tree falls the way I needed it to fall.

I then just keep digging around the stump, and finally get it free of the ground, but now it is down in the area, I am digging out for the pond.
I first tried to just pull the stump out with the BX 23, but the side of the hole was to high to over come, I then though I could get behine it and shove it out of the hole with the Front end loader, only one problem, this stump weights in about 1000 to 1500 lbs. I was on the side of the stump, and did move it some, but it turned on me, and rolled me and tractor over. Note here, I did not have seat belt own, and so by luck, I was able to jump clear. Rember, keep that seat beat on!!!!!!!!, may not be so lucky again.

As got up, shaken, but OK, tractor was still running, so I cut off the key, and looked at the mess I had gotten my self into. I had my trailer hooked up to my truck, so I head out to the dealer, to see If I could get their help. Only the One guy there at this time was not my salesman. My salesman was over at the other dealership. He did call in while I was there, and they let me use their large tractor, that they use to unload the new in crate tractors. It was to big to fit on my trailer, so I just drove it the two miles to my place.

The following photos, show the BX under the stump, the browed tractor picking it up out of the hole, was nice. I could not help but feel, any bump, and thoughts of truing this thing over, made me some what tractor shy.

Any way that evening, both the Mechanic, and salesman came over, and check out the tractor. We had let it set all afternoon, and after checking oil, and all fluids, just started it right up, it smoked for a few second, and then, just cleared up. I got back on it, the next day, and it works just great.

After thoughts, I should have had the out riggers out a little, and that may have caugh the tractor. I could also have used them to help upright the tractor itself, if not for the stump under the loader bucket.

Any way this is a story of what not to do.

Troy

lp333 · Oct 14, 2007

Troy, thanks for some great photos and your dramatic story. There are some important pointers here for other members. Glad to hear that both your and the BX23 survived without injury.

Singlecoil · Oct 14, 2007

Glad to know I'm not the only one!
I think we were both lucky not to hurt ourselves or the tractor.

Northland · Oct 14, 2007

thanks for sharing Troy! Glad to see you and your BX23 are OK. In the last picture it looks like an orange filter is on the ground?

Skyco · Oct 14, 2007

Yes thank you for sharing that- helps keep me on my toes to hopefully avoid such a mishap.

I think that is an orange drink on the ground- question is what was in there besides orange drink

Just kidding- glad you weren't hurt!

Tdog · Oct 14, 2007

Troy,

Glad you & your toy are OK.

I've had a tussle or two with sweetgums myself. Their tap root goes down a loooong way. Gums are very flexible - - even after digging out all the radial roots you think it should push over, but that tap root holds & the trunk just bends over. To save time & aggravation, I've started just digging out & down far enough to get a chain saw in so I can cut it off below ground level.

Keep the greasy side down.

Jack

Texas Dodge · Oct 14, 2007

Looks like in the first pic you were sitting sideways on the slope and trying to move the root ball. That is what got you when the root ball moved on you. Glad you are ok and the tractor is ok. Definitely a valuable lesson learned here.

escavader · Oct 14, 2007

Texas Dodge said:
Looks like in the first pic you were sitting sideways on the slope and trying to move the root ball. That is what got you when the root ball moved on you. Glad you are ok and the tractor is ok. Definitely a valuable lesson learned here.

TROY,
That sure puts a knot in your stomach ,seeing it over like that.Im sure glad your ok.Isee the seat either came un hooked or got mangled,either way probably good thing you bailed off.

So how did it fair?It dont look too dented up.Probably chewed up the rops a little with that chain,but looked like the only place to hook.Check thet rops out real carefull for cracks,or bends,want it to hold up incase you tumble again.Judging by the pics ,that rops probably saved the tractor from being destroyed,it would have been completely up side down.
Once again glad your ok!!!I think weve all at least come close to rolling.We all learn from our own and our buddys mistakes.by the way ..you got a class a act for a dealership there!!!Thats service above and beyond the call of duty.
ALAN

TroyR57 · Oct 14, 2007

Thanks for all the kind replies. The Orange can you see on the ground is fish food, for the few minnows, that already live in the original part of the small pond. Some more photos of the stump, where you can see the part of the root, that I cut, hoping it would let the tree fall. Also, another gum tree, that I did get down, with the little BX.

TroyR57 · Oct 14, 2007

On the question of how did it fair? It just kept on working, I did a big job for my sister, moved, three loads, of dirt, and helped move, pallets of grass around her yard.

How ever, I have noticed a slow down of the Back hoe, so with the tractor, at over 450 hrs, its at the dealer now for Service. Since I am now back on the road, have not been back to check on it. However, they are going to check on the Hyd Pressure, and I told the shop guy, Brian, to take the tractor over to his place, and use it, he needed to do some work on his pond. He even said, that he would pay the labor on the service, so I await, the results.

Even with all this, they still offered me $11,000. toward a trade for a B26.