Stuck tractor

[Billy_S]

Buy a bigger tractor and pull yourself out. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Jarrett]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If you can't get it out with the loader or with the lime, try this. (After the safety police get done.) Put the range selector in neutral. Raise the loader bucket up a couple of feet out of the way. Stretch the backhoe out about half way. Put the teeth straight down. As you push the bucket straight down, pull the bucket toward the tractor. If the backhoe has enough power to over come the mud, it will pull the tractor backward. Don't do this unless the ground is level. We don't want the tractor to get away if you get out. )</font>
If there's a tree close enough, use it as an anchor point for a chain/cable. Do like Jerry said and stretch the backhoe out all the way. Instead of putting the bucket down in the ground and pulling, hook the chain to the bucket and pull with the backhoe.

 

[JimMorrissey]

Yeah, that is a good idea. Never heard of that either. Sounds good.

 

[Reg]

Several replies say "If there is a tree close enough".
Well, what if there ISN'T a tree close enough ?

In response to a similar post I suggested a (REAL) boat anchor, which was met with some derision.
In less than a minute of web searching I found a 75lb boat anchor that had 6,000 lb of holding power. I still havn't bought it, but I still havn't needed it (yet).
Anyway, at least CONSIDER ground tackle as an option.

 

[woodchuckie]

The old farmers trick of chaining an old tire to the back wheel(s) has worked real well for my sticking adventures when there wasn't a tree close enough.

 

[coasterez]

How does that work? (I'm not an old farmer).

 

[woodchuckie]

You take a tire and lay it against your buried back wheel at ground level at the front or back depending on which way you need to go. With the bead of the tire against the tractor tire you chain or tie it running the rope or chain through the openings in your tractor wheel making sure the valve stem is 180 degrees away to prevent damage when the chain slips a little. If you chain it to the rear of the tire you can back up until the tire goes around to your fender or any other obstacle. If your really stuck you can do it on both tires.

 

[RobJ]

I didn't think it was possible to be stuck very long with a BH. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[surfster]

Reg, you are absolutely correct with your ground tackle option. I have used it often. It is by far the easiest and cheapest option.
By the way, a buried spare truck tire with a chain attached to it is just about as good as a ground anchor. Remember it doesn't have to be buried deep because you aren't pulling up on it but across toward the stuck tractor.
I don't use a backhoe to pull though, I use a hi-lift jack chained to the buried spare and the tractor. I "winch" the tractor toward the ground anchor with GREAT success.
The jack is capable of 7000 lbs of force.
I should have said I don't even bother with this method until I have tried to lift the tractor up with the hi-lift and put boards underneath it.
I can lift the entire back or front of almost any tractor. Having an extra set of hands to stable the tractor while it is in the air helps reduce the pucker factor, but I have done it alone a few times.
It also works pretty well to lift the rear of the tractor, then knock it off the jack to the left or right out of the ruts. Do it twice and you are on solid ground to the right or left of the mess.
I know some are going to think I am crazy lifting one entire end of a tractor and letting it fall off the jack, but It works. I can also simply raise the machine 30 inches or more to build under it, etc.
The Hi-Lift costs $60 and is hard to break.
The reason there are never any trees around to pull from is it isn't usually wet around trees!
My methods have been tested in soggy sand on coastal beaches with an incoming tide and a $40K SUV stuck up to the frame rails. Throw in wind, rain and dark of night and you've got yourself some fun!

 

[firemanpat2910]

I had a buddy call me saturday with a stuck BH fel that he rented to clear around his property. wanted me to bring my tractor and pull him out. I loaded everything on the trailer and showed up a daylight sunday. Man was he stuck. could not get my tractor anywhere near him, but with the knowledge learned from this site I helped him crawl his way out. He had the front axle of a 4wheel drive FULL size BH under the mud, water level was over the hood. back tires to axle. he had broken every chain he had. Wanted to know if I had any chain,told him none that I wanted to waste. Told him to put stabilizers down pick up rear end, put bucket all the way in dump press it down, lift front end out of gooo. then extend bh all the way open pull and curl bucket to push. He looked at me like I was crazy but he tried it and in about an hour we walked him out. so thanks to everyone here my tractor stayed safe and clean on the trailer.

 

[40_acre_mule]

I have about 6-7 acres of swamp on my place. I get buried in mud on a regular basis. If the 4WD and the FEL can't get me out, here's what I do..
Take a 2x6 about 8-10 ft long.
Chain one end to the left rear tire.
Chain the other end to the right rear tire.
Put the tractor in low and drive over the board.
The board acts like the paddle on a paddlewheel boat.
BE VERY CAREFUL. Once you drive over the board, it will come up and hit the tractor if you go too far.
You may have to reposition the board and drive over it several times before you get to solid ground, but it works very well. It will even lift my tractor with the 6ft bushog attached.
I have driven through some stuff I couldn't even walk through on foot using this method.
I keep two pieces of chain just the right length with hooks attached to both ends and a board about 3 feet wider than my tractor for just this purpose.
P.S. This method will usually cause a coating of mud to cover the operator.

 

[chatcher]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have about 6-7 acres of swamp on my place. I get buried in mud on a regular basis. If the 4WD and the FEL can't get me out, here's what I do..
Take a 2x6 about 8-10 ft long.
Chain one end to the left rear tire.
Chain the other end to the right rear tire.
Put the tractor in low and drive over the board.
The board acts like the paddle on a paddlewheel boat.
BE VERY CAREFUL. Once you drive over the board, it will come up and hit the tractor if you go too far.
You may have to reposition the board and drive over it several times before you get to solid ground, but it works very well. It will even lift my tractor with the 6ft bushog attached.
I have driven through some stuff I couldn't even walk through on foot using this method.
I keep two pieces of chain just the right length with hooks attached to both ends and a board about 3 feet wider than my tractor for just this purpose.
P.S. This method will usually cause a coating of mud to cover the operator. )</font>

I'm sure we'll all agree it isn't the safest thing, but I did it a few times with my old Ford 600 (2wd and no loader). Now with 4WD, a loader, a better understanding of where my mucky swamps are located, and some hard-earned respect for the weight of a tractor, I luckily haven't had to try it lately. It also works with logs, and in some cases a separate short log chained to each wheel. A single board works well when backing up, but if you need to go forward you have to first tunnel through the muck to get the board in front of both wheels. Nothing can compare to the awesome spectacle of the tractor slowly and proudly rising up out of the swamp under its own power, especially after a few hours of cursing and trying other methods. (If we really weren't meant to do this, they wouldn't have put openings between the wheel center and rim to slip the chain through!) But seriously, do go very slowly and carefully because what goes around, comes (back) around...

 

[Louisiana_John]

The board think sounds cool I will try it next with my dozer. I have had dozers stuck more than once. I know when to stop before I dig way in. I got my wide pad LGP d4c stuck a few weeks ago in a hole I dug a tree out of. It was a large tree last year when it was supper dry. The dirt that went back in the hole was clay powder. This is what I did. I was by myself. I went to get my 65hp 4wd tractor. I have the BB on the back and 2, 55 gal drums full of water for ballast it also has a FEL. I got a big chain and hooked from draw bar to draw bar. Here is were it got tricky and not recommended. I put the tractor in Low Low left in gear then ran to the dozer and put in reverse at idle speed. I hopped of the dozer went back to the tractor locked the rear and opened the fuel up a little. I could not believe the 6,000lb tractor was helping the 18,000lb dozer out of the hole. Right when the dozer started to break out I shut the tractor down and ran back to the dozer. I hopped back up on the track and reached in to kick to dozer out of gear. I am glade my young boys did not see me do that.
I have a 8" piece of 12 I beam that would work good to use like you guys use the board. Short pieces of hooks and chains welded to the beam and hooked on the tracks.
John

 

[jimmysisson]

Did you have someone film that? It would be priceless for your kids when they grow up! Wow, a great stunt. Glad you and your machinery lived through it.
Jim

 

[Louisiana_John]

If I had someone to film it they would have bee on the tractor. My 9 year old can drive our little Kubota L175 good. i would have had him on the dozer.
John

 

[mike69440]

I use the BH of my L39 often several times each work session to get the tractor out of some very sticky situations. will the BH on a BX 23 completely lift the machine?

On every important thing to learn and remember is to know when you are getting stuck, don't just keep pushing on trying to make it through. You won't make it.

As soon as you realize you are in trouble, try getting out. If you must , then use care and pull yourelf or swing yourself away to better groud with the hoe.

 

[DiskDoctr]

Glad this was a rented unit. Water over the hood is very bad for it.

Uhmm... for future reference, tell you buddy he should stop driving when he hits surf /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

-JC

 

[DiskDoctr]

Glad this was a rented unit. Water over the hood is very bad for it.

Uhmm... for future reference, tell you buddy he should stop driving when he hits surf /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

-JC