Alan L.
Elite Member
I was brush hogging around my tank on Saturday. Its about 3 feet low from lack of rain and so I am cutting quite a bit of stuff I have not been cutting - cat tails, willow trees, etc. I always back the cutter down to the water, just putting the tail wheel in the water, then pullling out. Not really straight back but maybe a 45 degree angle to the water.
I was feeling pretty good about the whole project and how it was looking and decided the slope was such that I could make a run parallel to the shore line, next to the water.
Bad decision.
About the time I got straight, the left front tire next to the water began to sink. I tried to turn it away from the water, but everything I did caused the tractor to head for the drink. I got scared and got off. There was no way I was going to get the tractor out.
I stood back and pondered on the situation, when my wife (who is recovering from cracking a bone in her leg in the watermelon patch about 2 weeks ago) shows up on the Mule. Stuck again???
Commenting that she has to pull me out at least once a year, she gets her 4wd yukon and I hook up the chain from the side. She is up on the dam headed away from the tank. I tied the chain to the upper part of the FEL frame on the front of the tractor (not the FEL itself), hoping this would keep the tractor from turning over.
I was afraid to get on the tractor and end up in the water with the tractor on top of me, so I got off and she pulled. I finally had to push the front HST pedal a little while standing on the ground to help. NOT a great idea safety-wise, but felt safer than climbing onto the tractor.
Actually it came out fairly easily after that.
I went in and changed my pants and went back to work......
I was feeling pretty good about the whole project and how it was looking and decided the slope was such that I could make a run parallel to the shore line, next to the water.
Bad decision.
About the time I got straight, the left front tire next to the water began to sink. I tried to turn it away from the water, but everything I did caused the tractor to head for the drink. I got scared and got off. There was no way I was going to get the tractor out.
I stood back and pondered on the situation, when my wife (who is recovering from cracking a bone in her leg in the watermelon patch about 2 weeks ago) shows up on the Mule. Stuck again???
Commenting that she has to pull me out at least once a year, she gets her 4wd yukon and I hook up the chain from the side. She is up on the dam headed away from the tank. I tied the chain to the upper part of the FEL frame on the front of the tractor (not the FEL itself), hoping this would keep the tractor from turning over.
I was afraid to get on the tractor and end up in the water with the tractor on top of me, so I got off and she pulled. I finally had to push the front HST pedal a little while standing on the ground to help. NOT a great idea safety-wise, but felt safer than climbing onto the tractor.
Actually it came out fairly easily after that.
I went in and changed my pants and went back to work......
