Frozen In Time

[dangerdoc]

If you don't mind banging your bucket and ice with a sledge. That should loosen it up some , and then rev it up and curl fwd.

That's exactly what I was thinking. If you have an old maul, break a line around the loader, give the bucket a few good raps with a sledge and it should be about ready to come out.

If your tires are frozen to the ground, add about 10 pounds of air to each tire then let the extra air back out. That will make it a little easier on the clutch when you move the tractor.

It should be ready to drive out then.

I've never frozen a tractor to the ground, they live inside, but I have had multiple implements frozen to the ground, I usually use a 16 pound sledge to loosen things up.

 

[CBW1999]

...I believe the "auto-thaw" principal has been mastered by WaxMan......park it in a heated garage

Hadn't though about pulling the pins and backing out, would work certainly- but I do most work with the bucket. Tried a little bit of the sledge, need to put down more sand on the ice first

The last of the ice around the tires (very little) melted yesterday...and the water flowed down to the bucket! As i start on this adventure today, i will have to chip away a channel for the water to flow through AWAY from the bucket.

Took some more pictures- swept away the snow and different angles, please enjoy a laugh, but don't spill your coffee on the computer!

 

[radioman]

Is it me or is the ice in pictures looks better ? Looks like soon you will be able to get the bucket out.

 

[WaxMan]

I don't think anyone is laughing , that can happen to anyone, except me of course If you get a snow storm you'll be pissed you can't use the tractor.
But I wouldn't start a fire near the bucket might burn the paint or buckle the bucket for life.
Have you tried curling the bucket? It might just surprise all of us. I would gently try it.

 

[PUSHINDIRT]

Step 1: Invite 3 friends over
Step 2: Fill the loader with snow and beer
Step 3: Drink all the beer
Step 4: Post pics on TBN on how the loader became "un-stuck"

 

[ACHINBAC]

CB,

It is the wide surface area of the bottom of the bucket that is the issue;

Put some lift on the FEL till your tires squash a bit, then some forward curl (dump). Then wack the floor of the rear of the bucket across the width with your sledge and it should peel loose. Some quick torch action prior in the rear interior will facilitate the release. Then a generous coating of WAX to the bottom of the bucket before next winter.

Dave

 

[J_J]

No- tires are not frozen in the ice (now at least). I have to check the right front one though. it look like it may have broken the bead (I suspect it may have slid at some point- just enough to flex it) Doesn't look inflated at the moment.

If I cannot see the humor in what I do, then i wouldn't understand why i am being laughed at!

Have you not tried to curl the bucket down in two days. I would surely have tried that. Ten whacks on the ice above the lip of the bucket with a sledge should be all that is required. It could snow, ice storm, and freeze some more.

 

[CBW1999]

Well....the deed is done, with great results

The biggest issue was the ice slab was huge and the bucket was frozen in at different depths side to side. The one side probably would have broken loose easy, but the other would not- i was afraid of serious twisting potential and that damage that may result.

I did use a round point shovel to loosen up the ice inside the bucket and to find the lower edge. That worked pretty well, but there was still allot of ice.

So, out came the charcoal briquettes and I made a 'chimney starter' out of a large metal coffee can. I thought this would do well to get the briquettes going. (1st 2 photos).

Once they were going well, I tucked the can against the side wall where the most ice was. It did not take long for the radiant heat to warm the bucket and surrounding area. I was then able to easily roll and lift the bucket out of the hole. (photo 3 and 4).

I did a rather good job of securing it in the ice as shown in the last 2 pictures Seeing how much was on the one side of the bucket might have made for some big problems if I hadn't thawed it first

So then I asked myself.....what do i do with a load of glowing charcoal?

 

[CBW1999]

So...the wife usually complains that i spend more time on the tractor than I do cooking dinner So I thought to myself, how can i achieve the best of both worlds.

Well today was that day. I already had the charcoal ready, the tractor was freed out of the ice so, I drove over to the garage and set up for a BBQ!

What better thing on a cold winter day than to enjoy some fresh, hot off the grill burgers and dogs! But in this case, I could fairly call them 'Bota Burgers and Tractor Dogs (my kids came up with the names)

Worked well, although a little slower than expected (didn't want a huge fire in the bucket) believe it or not, the paint is still intact -and for those who would ask, yes it is a clean bucket.....only been moving snow for a while now.

So, for your continued laughter, enjoy the pictures...I'll enjoy the burgers

 

[WaxMan]

Your lucky the last guy who used his tractor as a grill , it got away from him.
This could have been you.