POP, glug, glug, glug

PineRidge · Apr 12, 2006

The past couple of days I've been prepping a piece of ground to extend the drive another 155'. This morning I finished up the hard work of digging, leveling, and moving the dirt. Wanted to drag the landscape rake reversed so that the base would be nice and smooth for the geofabric to follow.

I had come to the end of my run and started to back up without lifting the rake I immediately heard a LOUD POP followed by glug, glug, glug and a strong smell of diesel. Knew it wasn't going to be good and since I was pretty close to the pond I wasted no time running the TC-40D up the hill and away from the pond to keep what diesel was running out away from the pond.

Somehow the rake folded up and part of it went through the plastic fuel tank. The good news is that because my toolbox was mounted above the tank at least all the tools needed to pull the tank were real handy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Gotta go check out the sending unit to be sure no damage was done there.

Just another day at the Pine Ridge 7 Ranch....... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

AndyMA · Apr 12, 2006

Oh the joys of tractoring. Sounds like you got out of it pretty easy. Hows the rake? Last fall I sheared off my 8' rake at the pivot by pushing it backward. This was a heavy duty rake I paid $1400 for in 1987.

Any pictures of the rake? Let us know what a fuel tank costs. Good luck

Andy

jinman · Apr 12, 2006

DANG! There ain't nuthin' I can say to make you feel any better. Are you going to try to patch it or replace it? I suspect replacement is the best (only?) option.

Sorry Mike, I feel for you. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

billbill1 · Apr 12, 2006

Mike, don't feel too bad, the Williams Ranch has the same kind of luck.

PineRidge · Apr 12, 2006

Jim I've already called the dealer and ordered one. Wasn't as bad as I originally thought $258.00 and I guess it could have been a lot worse. There's just two bolts that holds the whole tank on so at least to old one came off in 5 minutes. And look at the bright side, I didn't have to worry about draining the fuel out of the tank since the hole was right at the bottom. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

EPA if you are reading this post I caught every last drop of spilling diesel, I swear I did! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Was really proud of myself as everything was going so smooth on that drive extension. The weather has been real nice, seat time has been great, the job was going smoothly, I didn't hit any buried utilities (natural gas, water & electric to pole barn pass under new drive) then POW!

Bill it seems at times that the only thing happening around here is fixin broken stuff. But hey it keeps us on our toes.

1bush2hog · Apr 12, 2006

Sorry to hear about that - but could have been worse

At least it wasn't one of your rear tires that got punctured /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

jinman · Apr 12, 2006

( Wasn't as bad as I originally thought $258.00... )

I gotta do this... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Jeez, Mike. If that had been a metal tank, you would have had the pleasure of paying $500 or more. I love plastic! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Okay, prepare yourself for the onslaught of "plastic haters." /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Doc_Bob · Apr 12, 2006

( The past couple of days I've been prepping a piece of ground to extend the drive another 155'. This morning I finished up the hard work of digging, leveling, and moving the dirt. Wanted to drag the landscape rake reversed so that the base would be nice and smooth for the geofabric to follow.

I had come to the end of my run and started to back up without lifting the rake I immediately heard a LOUD POP followed by glug, glug, glug and a strong smell of diesel. Knew it wasn't going to be good and since I was pretty close to the pond I wasted no time running the TC-40D up the hill and away from the pond to keep what diesel was running out away from the pond.

Somehow the rake folded up and part of it went through the plastic fuel tank. The good news is that because my toolbox was mounted above the tank at least all the tools needed to pull the tank were real handy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Gotta go check out the sending unit to be sure no damage was done there.

Just another day at the Pine Ridge 7 Ranch....... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif )

Ouch! I am so lucky to have driven your TC40D before the accident. I can remember it the way it used to be /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Let me know when you want me to pick up that bad old rake! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bob

PineRidge · Apr 12, 2006

Let me know when you want me to pick up that bad old rake!


Bob Thanks's for giving me a chuckle. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I'm sure whatever happened to the rake it isn't anything that a half dozen welding rods can't straighten out. Does this picture look sorry or what?

Jim Yes, my 1st thought when I looked over my shoulder was there goes 500 clams out the window. I was also surprised at just how easy the tank is to remove. Two bolts, and the fuel and vent line fittings pull out of the tank using a pair of pliers. There are no threads on either connection yet they make a fuel tight connection.

Doc_Bob · Apr 12, 2006

( Let me know when you want me to pick up that bad old rake!


Bob Thanks's for giving me a chuckle. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I'm sure whatever happened to the rake it isn't anything that a half dozen welding rods can't straighten out. Does this picture look sorry or what?

Jim Yes, my 1st thought when I looked over my shoulder was there goes 500 clams out the window. I was also surprised at just how easy the tank is to remove. Two bolts, and the fuel and vent line fittings pull out of the tank using a pair of pliers. There are no threads on either connection yet they make a fuel tight connection. )

My pleasure to make you laugh /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. After the day you had, you need a laugh. Now, what about lessons learned! What will you do in the future to avoid the same error?
Bob

DieselMonk · Apr 12, 2006

Ooyyyyyyyyyyyy! That Diesel must of came out in a hurry! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

PineRidge · Apr 12, 2006

Bob DON't back up with the rake on the ground. I have told many members that these rigs were made for pulling, not pushing, I knew better there was no excuse. Guilty as charged. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

DieselMonk By the time I traveled 150' there was no more diesel in the tank. Did get it shut down before the injector pump sucked air.

If you look at the picture that I posted you may be able to see a dent in the sheet metal, forward of where the tank was mounted. The rod that punctured the tank was about to go through the backside when it dented the metal. It was on a lower plane than the back of my seat but it still concerned me, nonetheless. This happened way to fast for any type of reaction from me. When I heard the POP it was already all over.

kozak · Apr 12, 2006

PineRidge,

Hard luck on your fuel tank. At least you won't have to worry about cleaning out your fuel tank with a rag & broom mop for a while. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Vic

GATC35 · Apr 12, 2006

Mike,

Sorry to hear about your accident. The first couple of seconds when you hear that strange noise "POP" seems like an eternity. Before I had my TC-35D I borrowed my father-in-laws 1920. I had been clearing brush and ran a stob thru the right rear tire. As I backed up from the brush pile I had shower of water every revolution of the tire. About the third or fourth revolution I realized what had happened.... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Now the race was on to get the tractor to solid level ground, with a jack under it, before the tire went flat. One hundred George Washington's later and one hour of wresting a fluid filled tire back on the tractor all was well.

We all have our bad days. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

PineRidge · Apr 13, 2006

Vic Was curious so I looked into the holed empty tank and it really looked pretty clean inside. Of course it had a big hole but it was clean.

Mark I can't even imagine wrestling a fluid filled tire in my lifetime. I remember just how awkward an empty rear tire was when it had to be removed to install the 3 rear remotes. Hey do you think I should have taken the 3 rear wheel weights off first? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

billbill1 · Apr 13, 2006

Mike, right after I responded in your post yesterday, I thought- why not try and double the gas mileage on the old Chevy pickup, wash it!!! There was a small crack in the corner of the windshield, the cold water hit the glass-now there is a crack from top to bottom. It's always somethin'!!!

PineRidge · Apr 13, 2006

Bill been there, done that. Don't know about Kansas but I believe here in sunny Ohio a broken windshield is also a cite-able offense. Think the police have a deal with the glass companies..... just kidding, I don't need the Fraternal Order Of Police calling me any names here.

rdln · Apr 13, 2006

metal would have just dented /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Doc_Bob · Apr 13, 2006

( Vic Was curious so I looked into the holed empty tank and it really looked pretty clean inside. Of course it had a big hole but it was clean.

Mark I can't even imagine wrestling a fluid filled tire in my lifetime. I remember just how awkward an empty rear tire was when it had to be removed to install the 3 rear remotes. Hey do you think I should have taken the 3 rear wheel weights off first? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )
Mike, why not fix the tank? Seriously, can't you find some epoxy to fix the hole? Why should a bit of plastic get in your way? If it had been a plow tip, you wouldn't hesitate, so why now? You afraid of a little hole in a plastic tank? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

PineRidge · Apr 13, 2006

Bob there's something about the hole being at the very bottom of the tank that doesn't sit well with me. If it were half way up I might attempt a repair but not on the bottom. I filled that tank not more than 20 minutes before the mishap and believe me that diesel came out of that tank real quick. 50 bucks worth of fuel, dang!

Tell you what, I'll throw the old tank in the attic of the pole barn and the next time you come this way for a visit you'll have a a spare tank for your 40DA.