Andy,
I hate to admit this, especially after posting the pictures, but I didn't know that I shouldn't try to raise the bed. If I thought it would have helped, I probably would have tried. I never even thought about the damage it might cause to the frame or anything else, just that it wouldn't do me any good to have it up. I used the backhoe to pull the mud out of the dump bed and then to move it away from the rear tire.
When my neighbor showed up, he said the same thing. Too bad he didn't have the guy with the trackhoe out at his place anymore. He'd just lift out the entire truck and set it down on the road.
I need a trackhoe!!! hahaha
Bob,
The reason that silt got so bad is that I had the pin out for the dump bed. It snapped about a month ago while moving ash from my burn pile. I was hoping to have that messed cleaned up for the TBN party we had hear. Instead, I had the dump bed up in the air with lumber blocking it in position. I just put it back together last week.
That was the second time I've broken that pin. The first time it twisted my linkate too. I had it all rebuilt, and then put it back together. This time, just the pins broke off, so I went to a different welding/machine shop and had them fabricate me a new set of pins and weld it all together.
It's called Lew's if anybody in East Texas/Tyler area is looking for a good welder.
Rob,
I know your joking, but I really do need a barge. I don't know anything that is as tricky, dangerous and guranteed to cause problems compared to working around the shore of a pond!!!!!!!!!!!
Don,
Yes, the dozer was right at the top of my list for Plan B. I was thinking that I could lift the back end with the backhoe and then get on the dozer and pull it out with my chain.
One concern is that I'm on my second heavy duty chain. The previous one was used by my dad to pull a stump with the dozer. The stump stayed in place, but the dozer snaped the chain as it drove away. This was something that I was very worried about. Too much power with the dozer had me wondering if the chain would give before I tore the frame apart.
I really got lucky my neighbor was there. He's a pilot and his land is a place he just visits from time to time. He can be gone for weeks at a time, but he arrived this morning.
TrippleT,
Nope, I never did look at the drive shaft. I did park it on my road where it was dry and look for leaks. Nothing was dripping and it ran real good, so I figure it's as good as new!!!! hahaha Seriously, that's about all I did.
Once I got it unstuck, I went back to work and hauled another 7 or 8 loads.
BTDT,
Good point. I thought about taking some pics before I started and then creating a thread on what I was doing, but it just seemed too boring to bother with. I've been moving allot of dirt lately, and none of it is very interesting. Just load it, haul it and dump it.
Once I got out of the seat and saw that front tire up in the air, I changed my mind and knew I had to go get my camera. hahaha
Cliff,
Would you believe that since I started mowing around my big pond, Lake Marabou, I've gotten stuck every time? If I could drive both tractors at once, I'd bring them both down to the lake and have it ready for when it gets swallowed up. The big difference here is that the dump truck weighs allot more and my chain on the hoe stick method didn't work. It's never failed with the CUT.
Only time will tell is there's any real damage. As of right now, the locking pins are bent on the tailgate and it's a real challenge to lock it closed. I might need to get the bigger hammer out to adjust it.
Don,
That's funny!! If I wasn't on my pond eating the truck routine, yours would have been much better. hahaha
Iplayfarmer,
I think you must have been here!! I was talking to my wife Steph about what I should call this thread to make it the most entertaining. We went back and forth on it for awhille before deciding. Then as I started typing it, I forgot how to spell swollow and changed it to "ate." hahahaha
Shane,
That picture sure makes me feel better. hahaha
Eddie