How deep can you go?

[Mike_V]

The thread on pulling a boat out of a lake begs a question.

How deep in water can a BX24 operate?

Assuming a paved bottom, at what depth do bad things happen? I'm particularly interested in actual experiences.

It is easy to speculate about some things:

The plastic HST fan may have a problem in water. It would definitely have problems with debris floating into the blades.

The engine intake, exhaust, and electrical system are pretty high and an obvious limit to deep water operation.

What other factors need to be considered?

 

[radioman]

I wouldn't take it far at all with the BX's. If i really had to take it into the water with no fear, i would say right up to where the rubber meets the rim. any deeper would be asking for trouble. I dont think its the same as getting stuck in clay mud right up to the axles or deeper as VS the water going up to the axles. Anyone care to disagree ?

 

[cschlaps]

From personal experience doing a lot of mudding with 4x4 trucks, the lowest problem spot to worry about are axles/differentials, because they are vented. The easy solution for that was to run a rubber vent line from the axle housing to a higher point on the vehicle. I haven't checked my 3240 to see if the axles/differentials are vented, but I would assume they are.

The next higher item to worry about was usually the transmission, which is also vented. I would also have to assume that a gear transmission on a tractor would be vented, but I'm not sure about an HST.

And if water got higher than the bottom of the transmission, then you had bigger problems to worry about...like the cooling fan hitting water (not good), the alternator getting wet (also not good), or water coming inside the passenger compartment

I wouldn't (intentionally) put my tractor in water any deeper than the lowest point of the front axle hubs, which are geared. Water has a funny way of getting past seals that keep gear oil in...thus creating a nasty chocolate-milk-concoction that must be drained...

 

[mswlogo]

Thanks for starting this thread.

I was worried about vents too.

I generally agree with the when rubber meets the rim is a safe bet. But I do go much deeper than that with the Jeep (about half way up wheels) I know where the vent is. And I never shut the engine off or the muffler will fill with water.

 

[TomC]

The thread on pulling a boat out of a lake begs a question.

How deep in water can a BX24 operate?

Assuming a paved bottom, at what depth do bad things happen? I'm particularly interested in actual experiences.

It is easy to speculate about some things:

The plastic HST fan may have a problem in water. It would definitely have problems with debris floating into the blades.

The engine intake, exhaust, and electrical system are pretty high and an obvious limit to deep water operation.

What other factors need to be considered?

Well, I think that the air in the tires might have some affect on bouyancy. You going to try plowing for rice paddies? You going to use R4's? They might make good paddle wheels! Or, are you going to use your tractor to rescue stranded boaters? Try it. Let us know how you make out. Oh, and don't forget your PFD. Oh yeh, I probably wouldn't use the seat belt.

 

[Mike_V]

Well, I think that the air in the tires might have some affect on bouyancy. You going to try plowing for rice paddies? You going to use R4's? They might make good paddle wheels! Or, are you going to use your tractor to rescue stranded boaters? Try it. Let us know how you make out. Oh, and don't forget your PFD. Oh yeh, I probably wouldn't use the seat belt.

Tom,

Watching the news of the floods in the midwest reminded me of a recent storm here. A few cars in the neighborhood stalled out in water that was 1-2 ft. deep. That was before I got this really neat tractor.

I've wondered whether I would be in a position to help with the BX24 if (when?) it happens again.

The consensus here leads me to believe probably not.

Thanks to all who responded.

Mike

 

[Wombat125]

Apologies for going off topic a bit here, but I was in the Iowa floods in 1993. A remakable thing happens to a car when it is completely submerged. The horn shorts and starts honking. I was driving up and down my street in a little 10' jon boat and I could hear the horns honking on all these underwater cars. Creepy.

I also got stuck in a little flash flood under an underpass on I-25 in Denver around 2004. The water was about 3' deep and dozens of cars were stalled. I was in my wife's little diesel Jetta and was already past the point of no return. I was driving in water coming over the hood, weaving between the stalled cars for ~50 yards. That's when I decided that spark plugs were bad. I got home and found that the clean side of the air cleaner was dry and spotless. I did change the transaxle oil though since I didn't know where the breather was. We're still driving the car today.

 

[Zick]

Taken from this thread;
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/123327-working-tractor-water.html


Had mine in water up to the feet support. Really didn't want to but it saved my back moving dirt and sand bags around the house to keep it from flooding.
Finally got stuck in the mud when the ground became too soft. Had to get pulled out by my neighbors BX2200.

 

[sandman2234]

A leak in a seal, like an axle shaft can make a mess. Say for instance the seal has a damaged place at the top so it never leaks, but subjected to water pressure, you just filled the differential with dirty water.
Just something to think about...
David from jax