Dumbest Thing you have done with your tractor

[Defective]

Many years ago, I dug a nice little pond by the house. The roadway to the barn ran along one side of the pond.

One day in late December, we had a bit of a snowfall followed by a quick melt, then a bunch more snow.

At the time I had a pair of semi-restored 8Ns that were great for puttering around the yard & roadways on doing odd jobs.

Can anyone guess what might happen when the end of your rear blade bumps a rock as you're plowing the snow off the ice with a lightweight two-wheel drive tractor?

I did have the presence of mind to shut the old girl down as she started to slide down the bank toward the thin ice. I also managed to abandon ship.

Some days later my wife asked me where the other tractor was. I told her it was in storage for the winter. :thumbsup:

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Dumbest thing I ever did with a tractor was sell it.

Joe H

That's the worst!!!

 

[BoonvilleKid]

I had highway tires on my 2500GMC 4WD pickup. Due to high mileage they were nearly bald. I really needed some new mud-tread tires for the work I was doing but when I found out they cost about $1,000 I got tight and thought I could finish the job with the baldies. Then I got stuck. Not deep, just down about 3" at each tire. Being alone I couldn't get anybody to help pull me out so I got my 955JD with a mounted backhoe and a 15-foot chain. Since the ground was frozen I couldn't get enough traction with the tractor to put the pickup out of the pockets. After several attempts I had broken the chain where I only had about 8-feet left. Still couldn't pull it out. Then, I had a great idea. I started the pickup, put it in low gear, got out and ran and jumped on the tractor and started pulling. The idea here was that the slow-moving truck would be just enough to help the tractor pull the truck out of the ruts. Then I would quickly run back to the truck and stop it before it hit the back of the tractor. This might have worked except for three things: The 15-foot chain was now only half as long, the truck, once it was out of the ruts moved faster than I had anticipated and most important, the tractor is hydrostatic, not gear driven. The second I got the truck out of the ruts I jumped off the tractor, headed for the truck. 'Course, the tractor stopped. The truck kept coming. I think I mentioned the tractor had a mounted backhoe. Just as I got my hand on the truck door handle I heard the sound of grating metal. The truck was driving the backhoe bucket up through the front grill. Just as I got my foot on the brake I red liquid from the grill being sprayed all over the tractor. I recognized that as transmission fluid. I had a hard time explaining all of this to my insurance agent. I'll have to say he was very tolerant as he handled all the charges except my deductible amount. After the insurance paid for all the repairs my deductible amount came to $1,006.00. The same amount they wanted for a brand new set of mudgrip tires. So, I spent the $1,006.00 on foolishness and still had four old baldies.

 

[vulcancowboy]

I had highway tires on my 2500GMC 4WD pickup. Due to high mileage they were nearly bald. I really needed some new mud-tread tires for the work I was doing but when I found out they cost about $1,000 I got tight and thought I could finish the job with the baldies. Then I got stuck. Not deep, just down about 3" at each tire. Being alone I couldn't get anybody to help pull me out so I got my 955JD with a mounted backhoe and a 15-foot chain. Since the ground was frozen I couldn't get enough traction with the tractor to put the pickup out of the pockets. After several attempts I had broken the chain where I only had about 8-feet left. Still couldn't pull it out. Then, I had a great idea. I started the pickup, put it in low gear, got out and ran and jumped on the tractor and started pulling. The idea here was that the slow-moving truck would be just enough to help the tractor pull the truck out of the ruts. Then I would quickly run back to the truck and stop it before it hit the back of the tractor. This might have worked except for three things: The 15-foot chain was now only half as long, the truck, once it was out of the ruts moved faster than I had anticipated and most important, the tractor is hydrostatic, not gear driven. The second I got the truck out of the ruts I jumped off the tractor, headed for the truck. 'Course, the tractor stopped. The truck kept coming. I think I mentioned the tractor had a mounted backhoe. Just as I got my hand on the truck door handle I heard the sound of grating metal. The truck was driving the backhoe bucket up through the front grill. Just as I got my foot on the brake I red liquid from the grill being sprayed all over the tractor. I recognized that as transmission fluid. I had a hard time explaining all of this to my insurance agent. I'll have to say he was very tolerant as he handled all the charges except my deductible amount. After the insurance paid for all the repairs my deductible amount came to $1,006.00. The same amount they wanted for a brand new set of mudgrip tires. So, I spent the $1,006.00 on foolishness and still had four old baldies.

How come I can see myself doing something like that????? :laughing::laughing: Yep, I can even hear that faint voice in my head saying "this is not a good idea", but of course, I ignore it!

 

[dcyrilc]

I had highway tires on my 2500GMC 4WD pickup. Due to high mileage they were nearly bald. I really needed some new mud-tread tires for the work I was doing but when I found out they cost about $1,000 I got tight and thought I could finish the job with the baldies. Then I got stuck. Not deep, just down about 3" at each tire. Being alone I couldn't get anybody to help pull me out so I got my 955JD with a mounted backhoe and a 15-foot chain. Since the ground was frozen I couldn't get enough traction with the tractor to put the pickup out of the pockets. After several attempts I had broken the chain where I only had about 8-feet left. Still couldn't pull it out. Then, I had a great idea. I started the pickup, put it in low gear, got out and ran and jumped on the tractor and started pulling. The idea here was that the slow-moving truck would be just enough to help the tractor pull the truck out of the ruts. Then I would quickly run back to the truck and stop it before it hit the back of the tractor. This might have worked except for three things: The 15-foot chain was now only half as long, the truck, once it was out of the ruts moved faster than I had anticipated and most important, the tractor is hydrostatic, not gear driven. The second I got the truck out of the ruts I jumped off the tractor, headed for the truck. 'Course, the tractor stopped. The truck kept coming. I think I mentioned the tractor had a mounted backhoe. Just as I got my hand on the truck door handle I heard the sound of grating metal. The truck was driving the backhoe bucket up through the front grill. Just as I got my foot on the brake I red liquid from the grill being sprayed all over the tractor. I recognized that as transmission fluid. I had a hard time explaining all of this to my insurance agent. I'll have to say he was very tolerant as he handled all the charges except my deductible amount. After the insurance paid for all the repairs my deductible amount came to $1,006.00. The same amount they wanted for a brand new set of mudgrip tires. So, I spent the $1,006.00 on foolishness and still had four old baldies.

How come I can see myself doing something like that????? :laughing::laughing: Yep, I can even hear that faint voice in my head saying "this is not a good idea", but of course, I ignore it!

I did a similar thing years ago, but without damage. The hill on the back drive of the farm has a 43% grade which also drops off on the right side and my travel trailer was parked at the bottom with no where to turn around. I was supose to grab the trailer and meet the family for camping in Oregon on a Friday after work (they drove down earlier in the day). It began snowing on me as I hooked up the trailer and with the light snow on the road, I began sliding backwards and nearly jacknifed the trailer as I started up the hill. I couldn't back up because the truck and trailer weren't straight, couldn't pull forward to straighten them. No traction at all. I was stuck.

At the time, I had the neighbor's JD350 crawler (dozer) at the farm. I went and got the dozer and put it in front of the truck, chained them together, and started up the hill. The truck didn't move and the crawler just spun it's tracks so I jumped off and ran back and got in the truck. This worked, but the crawler kept angling off to the side so I had to keep running back and forth between the two. Reaim the dozer, then drive the truck. Reaim the dozer, then back to the truck again. Had to do this about eight times to get the truck to the top of the hill. From the time I hooked up the trailer, it took me about three hours to move it the 100 feet to the gate at the top of the hill.

I should have met the family at about 8:00pm and didn't get there until after midnight. When my wife asked what took so long, I told her "Don't ask".:laughing:

 

[mojoinco]

Well, aside from various posts and a new gate (maiden voyage through it with the Case VAC -- yet another reason to buy the premium gate), there was the time a couple of years ago when I was driving swmbo's Minsteer (NH L125: 3 ft wide skidsteer). I had a bucket on it I was swapping for another bucket, as I was done using it.

I hadn't pinned it on (it uses two pins mounted on the side of the bucket near the bottom) as I was swapping buckets. I forgot I had some sod in it (convenient clean up while moving with the bucket earlier) and thought (a very short thought) I would just go up the slope to my left and dump the sod (maybe 15 ft over).

I go up the slope. I lift the bucket. I tilt it just a wee bit. The sod falls off -- oh, let me clarify that one, the bucket falls off WITH the sod. The Minsteer falls backwards. Seemingly forever, but really only ~30 degrees, stopping on the engine access door. I am trying every combination of lever and foot pedal, but only manage to make it shake and wiggle (and all that before it stropped falling). Then I let loose of the levers, raised my feet and let everything stop moving. WHEW!

SWMBO is ~30 feet away pulling weeds in her on going plan to remove any none productive pasture product on our 10 acres, oblivious to me attempting to roll her Precious into a metal ball. Finally I shut it off and get her attention (who was wearing the ear muffs here?). She comes over and using my [not considerable] most diplomatic charm I ask her to use her weight to stand on the QA plate to hold the front end down (there is a delicate balance of words and volume to be used in that request, no matter how slender and attractive she may be -- or happy you are that she is 'just right').

So I moved up the slope, turned around on a flat spot and picked the bucket up pointing down hill. SWMBO was cross eyed (that I tried to tip her 'ladies machine'), but got over it. I think she hid the key for a couple of weeks. But that's another story.

 

[Soundguy]

That's the worst!!!

same here.. traded one I regret...

soundguy

 

[LBrown59]

I did a similar thing years ago, but without damage. The hill on the back drive of the farm has a 43% grade which also drops off on the right side and my travel trailer was parked at the bottom with no where to turn around. I was supose to grab the trailer and meet the family for camping in Oregon on a Friday after work (they drove down earlier in the day). It began snowing on me as I hooked up the trailer and with the light snow on the road, I began sliding backwards and nearly jacknifed the trailer as I started up the hill. I couldn't back up because the truck and trailer weren't straight, couldn't pull forward to straighten them. No traction at all. I was stuck.

At the time, I had the neighbor's JD350 crawler (dozer) at the farm. I went and got the dozer and put it in front of the truck, chained them together, and started up the hill. The truck didn't move and the crawler just spun it's tracks so I jumped off and ran back and got in the truck. This worked, but the crawler kept angling off to the side so I had to keep running back and forth between the two. Reaim the dozer, then drive the truck. Reaim the dozer, then back to the truck again. Had to do this about eight times to get the truck to the top of the hill. From the time I hooked up the trailer, it took me about three hours to move it the 100 feet to the gate at the top of the hill.

I should have met the family at about 8:00pm and didn't get there until after midnight. When my wife asked what took so long, I told her "Don't ask".:laughing:

I had highway tires on my 2500GMC 4WD pickup. Due to high mileage they were nearly bald. I really needed some new mud-tread tires for the work I was doing but when I found out they cost about $1,000 I got tight and thought I could finish the job with the baldies. Then I got stuck. Not deep, just down about 3" at each tire. Being alone I couldn't get anybody to help pull me out so I got my 955JD with a mounted backhoe and a 15-foot chain. Since the ground was frozen I couldn't get enough traction with the tractor to put the pickup out of the pockets. After several attempts I had broken the chain where I only had about 8-feet left. Still couldn't pull it out. Then, I had a great idea. I started the pickup, put it in low gear, got out and ran and jumped on the tractor and started pulling. The idea here was that the slow-moving truck would be just enough to help the tractor pull the truck out of the ruts. Then I would quickly run back to the truck and stop it before it hit the back of the tractor. This might have worked except for three things: The 15-foot chain was now only half as long, the truck, once it was out of the ruts moved faster than I had anticipated and most important, the tractor is hydrostatic, not gear driven. The second I got the truck out of the ruts I jumped off the tractor, headed for the truck. 'Course, the tractor stopped. The truck kept coming. I think I mentioned the tractor had a mounted backhoe. Just as I got my hand on the truck door handle I heard the sound of grating metal. The truck was driving the backhoe bucket up through the front grill. Just as I got my foot on the brake I red liquid from the grill being sprayed all over the tractor. I recognized that as transmission fluid. I had a hard time explaining all of this to my insurance agent. I'll have to say he was very tolerant as he handled all the charges except my deductible amount. After the insurance paid for all the repairs my deductible amount came to $1,006.00. The same amount they wanted for a brand new set of mudgrip tires. So, I spent the $1,006.00 on foolishness and still had four old baldies.

Guys this works better with 2 drivers.

 

[dcyrilc]

Guys this works better with 2 drivers.

I would have loved to have had two drivers. Wasn't an option for me unless I wanted to walk 6 miles home and wait until the family returned looking for me.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

How come I can see myself doing something like that????? :laughing::laughing: Yep, I can even hear that faint voice in my head saying "this is not a good idea", but of course, I ignore it!

That's because there's the other voice in your head saying "Let's prove it!".

...She comes over and using my [not considerable] most diplomatic charm I ask her to use her weight to stand on the QA plate to hold the front end down (there is a delicate balance of words and volume to be used in that request, no matter how slender and attractive she may be -- or happy you are that she is 'just right').

Wrong way... "Get over here and put some of that ugly fat to a good use!"

Right way... "I need a little weight on the front end here, but you'll have to do."