Stuck Tractor

Tannehill Kid · Aug 6, 2012

I have a L3940 with a LA724 FEL. On other tractors I have operated in the past you could push down on the FEL and push the tractor backwards or pull it forward and get the tractor unstuck. When I try this with the L3940 it's like the valves are bi passing and looses pressure and will not push or pull the tractor so I'm STUCK

. Is this normal. I hope what I wrote makes sense.

Obed · Aug 6, 2012

Tannehill Kid said:
I have a L3940 with a LA724 FEL. On other tractors I have operated in the past you could push down on the FEL and push the tractor backwards or pull it forward and get the tractor unstuck. When I try this with the L3940 it's like the valves are bi passing and looses pressure and will not push or pull the tractor so I'm STUCK . Is this normal. I hope what I wrote makes sense.

Using my 28 hp John Deere, I can push the tractor in the reverse direction with the FEL to help get the tractor unstuck. However, my FEL does not have a lof of power for pulling the tractor in the forward direction. Obed

bikerdib · Aug 6, 2012

Like Obed said, the FEL on my B3300 doesn't have a lot of forward pull (that would be the movement to dump) but I can push myself backward pretty well. In fact, I had to do just that a few months ago. I thought I could drive through the woods after a rain. WRONG! I made it about 80 yards from the road when all of a sudden the front wheels disappeared. Even the front axle was mostly buried. Luckily the rears never sank below the bottom of the wheel rim. Using the reverse pedal (hst) and the front loader I was able to work my way back out to the gravel road, 8" at a time.

txdon · Aug 6, 2012

I've been suck like that before and had to inch my way out with a com-a-long and enough chains to the closest tree.

k0ua · Aug 6, 2012

Tannehill Kid said:
I have a L3940 with a LA724 FEL. On other tractors I have operated in the past you could push down on the FEL and push the tractor backwards or pull it forward and get the tractor unstuck. When I try this with the L3940 it's like the valves are bi passing and looses pressure and will not push or pull the tractor so I'm STUCK . Is this normal. I hope what I wrote makes sense.

You should be able to raise the bucket, then dump the bucket until the front edge is pointed straight down then lower it down into the muck. then curl which should rotate the edge of the bucket forward and the tractor backward.. Of course you need to be apply some tire rotation in the reverse direction at the same time. You should move backward a few inches, repeat procedure, without too much wheel spin so as to not dig your rears into another hole.. It is also beneficial if you have something to put under the bucket edge (log or board) so as to be able to lift the front wheels out of the slop. It is helpful to practice this technique on dry ground when you are not stuck.. If the FEL will not lift the front end of the tractor when the bucket edge is pointed straight down, then you need your relief pressure checked. It may be low.

James K0UA

94BULLITT · Aug 6, 2012

k0ua said:
You should be able to raise the bucket, then dump the bucket until the front edge is pointed straight down then lower it down into the muck. then curl which should rotate the edge of the bucket forward and the tractor backward.. Of course you need to be apply some tire rotation in the reverse direction at the same time. You should move backward a few inches, repeat procedure, without too much wheel spin so as to not dig your rears into another hole.. It is also beneficial if you have something to put under the bucket edge (log or board) so as to be able to lift the front wheels out of the slop. It is helpful to practice this technique on dry ground when you are not stuck.. If the FEL will not lift the front end of the tractor when the bucket edge is pointed straight down, then you need your relief pressure checked. It may be low.

James K0UA

That is the exact procedure you need to use. The key to it is pushing on the hydro pedal a little in reverse, if you are not it is somewhat like being on the brakes.

crazyal · Aug 6, 2012

I found that if you curl the front bucket too far in the dump position then it lacks the strength needed to push itself back out of mud. If you uncurl the bucket a little (do some experimenting) then try it you'll find it has more power. You do loose some distance it will push itself backwards each time but I think you'll find that's what you need to do.

TripleR · Aug 7, 2012

What James and others said especially with the SSQA attachment. Our tractors without it seem to have more leverage. I used this twice Sunday when I got stuck in a muddy washout, as mentioned, it works better at pointing straight down as opposed to full dump position.

JOHNTHOMAS · Aug 7, 2012

I like the previous posters have gotten myself out of no forward motion situations by dropping front bucket and curling the bucket to obtain a few inches of rear motion. Some times I've put branches, limbs and other "stuff" on the ground under the bucket and then lifted front with bucket and then curled back.