Stuck in the mud

[chemistski]

Was out driving around the property today on the tractor and felt the tractor sink /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. We have lots of clay where we live and we have had lots of rain and I believe there may be a spring on the neighbors property that runs down the slope into our yard. So put the tractor in 4WD and locked the differential. Could rock it a little but got nowhere. The R4s on the tractor got full of wet sticky clay and basically turned into racing slicks. So tried shoving a few boards under the rear tires and backing out. No Luck. Wife suggested using the loader to "push" the front of the tractor off of the ground. Did that and was able to shove some boards and a few bricks (use what you got on hand) under the front tires. Used another board to dig out the grooves in the tire tread. Was careful not to put any body parts under the loader arms or tractor. Lowered the tractor back down from the loader and got the baby out of the hole. Tractor had sunk down about halfway down the front wheels in the muck. Thankfully the mud hole was only a few feet long (cleverly disguised with grass on top). If there was a lot of mud in front of the tractor, probably would not have been able to lift off with the loader. Got back to the driveway and hosed the tractor off. Any suggestions about how to improve this operation if it should occur in the future (besides the obvious, know where you are going, be careful). Thanks.

P.S. The tractor in question was a JD2305, although I suspect any tractor of that size and weight with those tires would have gotten stuck.

 

[rdln]

well the best prevention is.. abstinence.

anyways you could take off the loader and greatly reduce psi on the front tires.

but thats like dropping your ammo so you can run from the enemy faster.

buy a bigger pressure washer to clean it off quicker? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[grandad]

You have a smart wife... hope you listen to her advice! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

As long as there have been tractors, there have been mud-stuck tractors. Welcome to the club!

 

[weesa20]

It sounds like you used the FEL to lift the front of the tractor but did you use it try to push yourself backward? This is a particularly useful technique with the tractor tires turning backward and the FEL pushing you backward, you will almost always get out (Unless you are seriously stuck, eg over the front tires or hood)

W

 

[browns40]

Like weesa20 said...

Lift your bucket high enough to fully dump it--so the open bucket is flat on the ground--then curl or lift & curl and that should get you moving in reverse...

Worked for me frame deep, front tires buried, facing down grade... won't disclose how many times... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[chemistski]

grandad, Yep she is a keeper /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif, and I only listen to her advice when I am smart. Yes I expect to get stuck again someday. Hopefully not too soon. Thanks everyone, keep the advice coming. I am sure there are other newbies like me who need the advice.

 

[jbrumberg]

Chemistski:
Get over the embarrassment and get used to the idea that you are going to get stuck during mud season- it is a fact of life in NE. Brown40 and Weesa20 are correct in suggesting that you use your hydraulics to push/pull you out of mud. I have had everything spinning in the air and/or mud at times. What go me out is the judicious use of hydraulics, boards, rocks, pickup truck, and a come-a-long to get me moving again. I believe that AG/R1 tires provide the traction you need at the cost of tearing up the lawn on occasion during "dry season". I also think that dumping rocks in "sink holes" is only a temporary solution as the mud will only suck the rocks under the next mud season cycle and somehow, magically the rocks will re-emerge where you least want them to surface. Buy a come-a-long. Jay

 

[HammerFour]

My main method is just to avoid using the tractor if its muddy unless I just have to do some work. The tractor tears up the yard and pastures to much if I have to use it when the ground is saturated with water or muddy......

Of course, if you have stuff you have to do, then you just have to deal with the mud. Use your bucket like others have mentioned, get to know your property so you know where to expect the soft spots, one other thing is try and keep some momentum if you do have to cross a soft spot.

 

[Cottonhawk]

"....back to the driveway and hosed the tractor off....."
Sure takes a long time to hose off those clay stucked in the tires and everywhere!
Don't ask me how I know!

 

[inveresk]

A backhoe helps. Been trenching in the meadow to install field drains and have been over the axles in mud four times this week. Used the stabilisers and dipper to lift the rear end clear of the mud and slip it sideways a couple tire widths onto clean ground so I could pull clear. Two hours to clean the beast following means the last few drain runs can wait another month.