Stuck in the mud

[thoner7]

I have a new to me Massey Ferguson 150, which is a mid 1960s, 45 horse diesel machine. 2 wheel drive.

I'm afraid to admit that its just too heavy for my wet ground. With a front loader and loaded tires it's just much too heavy. I get stuck almost every time I drive it.

My old to-20 never got stuck. It's much lighter but it also seems to plant it's power to the ground much better.

So I'm looking for solutions and tips....

The biggest issue is the front tires sinking in.
I 've found some 8 and 10 in wide wheels with the proper bolt pattern for the fronts, in both 15 and 16 inch diameter s. But I'm struggling to find a tire that would be roughly 12" wide and the same diameter as the stock fronts (about 24"-26" going by memory) A small truck tire or R4 type tire perhaps? Even something from a small compact tractor or lawn tractor. Filling it with foam might help with the load rating, right? The tire size labeling is what gets me.

On the rears, wider tires wouldn't be too much trouble I don't think, but again could mess my diameters up. It's easy to swap rims on the wheels.

There's so much weight in the front, because of the loader I assume, I find myself spinning my rears tires in situations my to-20 would not have. So while I could lose a ton of weight by filling the rear tires with air, I don't know if that would help much at all..... but it would lighten the machine.

It's not a quick attach loader (obviously, it's old) so I'm not sure it's feasible to take off and on each time I need it .... with some quick attach hydraulic hose I might be able to Jerry rig something though.

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Rock Crawler]

Just a thought... but what kind of ballast are you running? Hanging maybe 1,000 lbs or so off of the rear 3 point will further plant the rears, but will also lift weight off of the front wheels and may help you with the pizza cutters in front by providing some lift so that they do not cut in as easily or as deeply.

That rear hung ballast essentially is trying to rotate the frame around the rear axle... or tries to "wheelie" the tractor... add enough weight out back and you theoretically would stand the machine on the rear axle.

 

[Scook222]

Have you looked at 11L-15 tires or other tires that are used on most hay balers or for floatation. Also, since it is 2wd you could put pretty much any tire that would fit on the front even if it is one size bigger or smaller without throwing the center of gravity of too much. If you go with 16” rims it would shift the center of gravity more toward the rear of the tractor to give more traction but the 3 point hitch would lose an inch or lift. If you find the right bolt pattern and offset on the rim, you can also use wide 15” truck tires. I have used them on hay trailers and that has help keep them from sinking into the mud a lot.

 

[CobyRupert]

I think Rock Crawler is right. It's not that you're too heavy, it's that you're too light...on the rear tires.

Adding rear ballast will lighten the front and give you traction at the wheels that need it.

 

[thoner7]

Thanks for the input. The rear ballast is antifreeze in the tire tubes. The ballest box is a good idea, but it wouldn't help me when bush hogging, which is when I need it. Plus, I really need to shed weight. I sink into the mud more than just spin tires.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Thanks for the input. The rear ballast is antifreeze in the tire tubes. The ballest box is a good idea, but it wouldn't help me when bush hogging, which is when I need it. Plus, I really need to shed weight. I sink into the mud more than just spin tires.

Flat out wrong tractor than. Just flip it and get something useable. You can spend time and energy trying to polish a turd, but at the end of it.... At best... You'll have a shiny turd that is still a P.O.S.

 

[Thomas]

Not trying to be wise @ss... can you wait until the ground dry's or is it a must to travel on?,back drag the soggy areas it will dry faster.

 

[Xfaxman]

I have a new to me Massey Ferguson 150, which is a mid 1960s, 45 horse diesel machine. 2 wheel drive.

I'm afraid to admit that its just too heavy for my wet ground. With a front loader and loaded tires it's just much too heavy. I get stuck almost every time I drive it.

My old to-20 never got stuck. It's much lighter but it also seems to plant it's power to the ground much better.

So I'm looking for solutions and tips....

The biggest issue is the front tires sinking in.
I 've found some 8 and 10 in wide wheels with the proper bolt pattern for the fronts, in both 15 and 16 inch diameter s. But I'm struggling to find a tire that would be roughly 12" wide and the same diameter as the stock fronts (about 24"-26" going by memory) A small truck tire or R4 type tire perhaps? Even something from a small compact tractor or lawn tractor. Filling it with foam might help with the load rating, right? The tire size labeling is what gets me.

On the rears, wider tires wouldn't be too much trouble I don't think, but again could mess my diameters up. It's easy to swap rims on the wheels.

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Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

Why are you concerned with tire diameter on a 2WD tractor?

I had one that I put larger diameter rear tires on:

 

[RickB]

Learn something patience. Mow when the ground is fit to drive on.

 

[WranglerX]

Liquid in rear tires plant rear tires better (traction), but it is not ballast, ballast hangs off rear of tractor and use weigh to cantilever weight off front making front end lighter.... Its the old playground teeter totter syndrome...

Dale