Embarrassing project: getting tractor unstuck

CurlyDave · Mar 18, 2006

I'll have to look into this chain you speak of. Recomend getting this at Lowes or what?

The Lowe's in Medford, OR had it in 100' lengths in a plastic box. Be sure to get the proofcoil--it is stronger. You will also need a 10' section, which will have to be cut. They can do this at the store. Most hardware stores carry the chain, but finding one with a 100' length in stock can sometimes be a challenge. 100' of 3/8" chain is not "as light as a feather". You are dealing with heavy machinery and the chain needs to be heavy also.

I do have a 4x8 piece of 3/8 in plywood here.

3/8 is probably a little light for this job, but it may work. You do realize that even 1/2" plywood is going to be shredded during this operation.

The only issue is that it's the back end of the tractor that faces my driveway, but it's at least a hundred feet away.

This is a good thing. You want to pull on the back, plus this is what will let you get the box blade off and away on the sled. Pace off the distance and get the right length of chain, maybe some extra. If you really want to play it safe, invest in a 200' tape measure (mine was $14.95) and get the length right. Extra chain is not a problem, too short and you can add a section.

Get what are called "grab hooks" for the ends of the chain. Have someone who knows show you how to use them to "grab" the chain.

I may look into that chain/paddle idea w/ the back tires. But I'm not sure I really understand that. Guess I'll be re-reading it.

If you know exactly what you are doing, this will work, but I think it is a dangerous thing for an amateur to try by himself. Especially if you have never seen it done. There is the potential for seriously tearing something up, including your own body.

The best thing you can do here is to get a plastic toy tractor, a pencil to simulate the paddle, and some light string or dental floss to simulate the chain. Sit down at your kitchen table and model exactly how you are going to do this. Watch what happens if you spin the wheels or don't stop in time. 15 minutes and a few bucks can save you untold misery. If you use the paddle going in reverse, you have less than 1/10 of a tire revolution to stop the wheels before the paddle comes up & hits the undercarriage after it comes out of the mud. Sounds like a piece of cake, right. Well, think about the fact that the load on those wheels is going to go from high to low as soom as the paddle breaks out of the mud, plus the weight of the tractor is going to cause the speed of the wheels to increase as the wheel goes over the top of the paddle and falls back into the rut. You go from needing high torque to needing the brake in an instant...

If you are going to pull with the truck, get someone who knows what he is doing to drive it. This is not a job for your wife, unless she understands pulling things with a 4 wheel drive and has experience.

Go over and ask your neighbor with the smaller tractor to at least look at your setup before you start to pull. His smaller tractor is a lot more capable of pulling you out than your truck. This job does not require 400 horsepower, it requires a very low gear. If he has hooks welded on the FEL of his tractor to attach to the chain, this is a particularly good sign that he might know what he is doing.

Since he has 11 kids, I bet the oldest one has logged more hours on a tractor than you and I put together. It may be worthwhile to have the neighbor drive your tractor and one of his kids drive his...

MX5000 · Mar 18, 2006

No matter what, your going to have to dig behind the front and rear wheels, under the body of the tractor and under and behind the box blade. If I were you and had a helper (your wife), I'd find a place that sold wire rope (store that sell winch supplies) and get 2 or 3 lengths to reach the pickup truck on solid ground. Have your wife pull you out with the pickup while you work the tractor controls. For what you'll pay for that much wire rope, you could probably call a tow truck to come out with a heavy duty winch and drag you 20' or 30' to solid ground. The reason I said 2 or 3 lengths is, If you don't need 150 feet next time, you don't have 100' extra laying on the ground. Good luck.

Howard

boomer4snow · Mar 18, 2006

At this point, I think the easiest way to do it is simply buy enough chain to reach firm dry ground. 5 20' lengths will probably run you $150-$200. hook to a truck and pull gently while somebody guides the tractor backwards maybe with a little light throttle in reverse. I know it is Pricey, but if you get some of that chain in grade 70 you have your tie downs paid for when you trailer it. A tow truck will charge you at least $75 and you have nothing to show for it. Think of it as an investment, I have chains from my dad and grandfather in my shop, you can never have enough chain. Put a heavy blanket or something heavy like a welding blanket etc in two or three places draped over the chain to guard against a chain snapping back at you.

Jstpssng · Mar 18, 2006

Plenty of good ideas, now I'll throw out an alternative suggestion. Instead of pulling backwards through your existing ruts which look rather long, how about putting down planks in front of it, then hooking onto the tree and pulling it forward? You can do this with a comealong, or I have hooked a chain on my bucket, and pulled myself out by curling it. Once it is high and dry you can keep laying planks down and work your way out around the ruts, either driving or backing to dry ground.

I've also used the chain through the rim trick successfully, but it's possible to flip the tractor if you aren't careful.
We've all been there, but you really don't do things halfway! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Trev · Mar 18, 2006

I don't suppose you are buddies with anyone who has one of those huge dual-rotor helicopters that could just pick it up and desposit it gently in your driveway for you? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

1948berg · Mar 18, 2006

Maybe this is your chance to get a ticket to the David Letterman Show. I think he has a chapter called "WILL IT FLOAT?"

RonR · Mar 18, 2006

Thought of one other thing. Look in the ruts; if your front axles have been standing in water, you should probably have the differential changed and look at the wheel bearings. Standing in water, some would leak in.

I hope you get it out today!

ron

Investorguy · Mar 18, 2006

Alright. We got it unstuck.

Pics and details coming soon.

Lots of mud though on the tractor. I've been looking for a reason to buy a pressure washer.

Investorguy · Mar 18, 2006

Okay.

I went out there to check it out this morning. Still stuck. I was kinda hoping that tractor fairies would come in the night and I'd find it towed over to my lawn. No such luck.

So I talked to my neighber who had offered help earlier. He happened to be helping out another neighbor, so they both came over to take a look. Other guy had a winch on his truck and 100ft of cable. Not quite enough, but the other neighbor had some cable too. We manhandled the BB and he went back to his house to get some railroad tie pieces.

And there she sat.

They came back and we got to work. First he worked the FEL doing the crawfishing thing. His tractor kung fu is much stronger than mine. He was able to make more headway, but not all that much more. He raised the front wheels up. We put the railroad ties in. They sunk, then I put those cement block on top of them. That help a bit.

So, believe it or not, there are railroad ties buried in these ruts.

Another view of the ruts:

You can see the marks from crawfishing our way out of the ruts.

And this is how far we ultimately had to go.

So the problem ended up being solved by a neigbors who were much more skilled in this kind of stuff than me. In the end it took a winch and skilled operator. I'll have fun cleaning out those ruts in about a month or two. I'm going to till and plow the whole area first, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for all the help and ideas. You truly are a knowledgeable bunch. I'm sure this is not the last idiotic think I'll do, so thanks in advance for next time too.