hello everyone. i would like to ask about operating a tractor through a stream. i am a new tractor owner and was wondering if anyone has crossed streams and give me the do's and don'ts. now i am not totally nieve, i realize i cant burry it in water. would like some help on how high water can be and ot jack things up. thanks to everyone for helping this newbie out. i want to be safe and take care of this l3560. it sure is nice to listen to so many experienced tractor users. thanks for replies.
go easy on me
- Thread starter dwelling21
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PHPaul
Well-known member
Equipment
B2650, Pronovost snow blower, Landpride rotary mower, Howard tiller, box blade
Howdy, Fellow Mainer!
To be REALLY sure, don't run it in water over the bottom of the axle housing.
You MIGHT get away with a little deeper, but the thing I'd be worried about is transmission vents and possibly sucking water into the trans.
Also, at the risk of belaboring the obvious, you want to be sure the bottom is solid.
To be REALLY sure, don't run it in water over the bottom of the axle housing.
You MIGHT get away with a little deeper, but the thing I'd be worried about is transmission vents and possibly sucking water into the trans.
Also, at the risk of belaboring the obvious, you want to be sure the bottom is solid.
thank you phpaul for that reply. i want to build a bridge out over my second stream as it is about 22"-30" deep depending on rain. (darn beavers moving in last year didnt help
) i should build that first it looks like. i will def take your advice and be conscious of the streams bottom makeup to stay safe. thank you sir!
) i should build that first it looks like. i will def take your advice and be conscious of the streams bottom makeup to stay safe. thank you sir!
CaveCreekRay
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L3800 HST, KingKutter box scraper, KingKutter 66" rake, County Pride Subsoiler
What PH said...
Despite the Far East Kubotas being used in rice paddies, I am not sure our American tractors have waterproof bearings. You get water in the axle bearings or front or rear ends and you are in for major repairs down the road.
Same for the tranny as that fluid goes dang-near everywhere inside you machine (FEL and 3-pt).
If its more than knee deep I'd stay out of it.
Ray
Despite the Far East Kubotas being used in rice paddies, I am not sure our American tractors have waterproof bearings. You get water in the axle bearings or front or rear ends and you are in for major repairs down the road.
Same for the tranny as that fluid goes dang-near everywhere inside you machine (FEL and 3-pt).
If its more than knee deep I'd stay out of it.
Ray
plan your crossing, at a rocky place, if possible. If not, you can lay RR crosties parallel to the stream, to keep you out of the mud...
I'd walk it first, if it sucks yer boots off, yer tractor ain't gonna like it...
I'd walk it first, if it sucks yer boots off, yer tractor ain't gonna like it...
Too funny,I grew up by a swamp, learned a long time ago about " Boot suckin MUD "plan your crossing, at a rocky place, if possible. If not, you can lay RR crosties parallel to the stream, to keep you out of the mud...
I'd walk it first, if it sucks yer boots off, yer tractor ain't gonna like it...
Howdy, I go through Lisbon maine quite often. A others have said, general rule of thumb is stay out of water that's deeper than the front axle.
bcbull378
Member
Equipment
GL3830,fel,brush hog,pallet forks,disc,gannon,auger,springtooth,plow,drag,ripper
I don't know how wide this creek is but I'd bet you can build a bridge cheaper than rebuilding the trains and engine of your tractor. A bridge project sounds like a fun way to spend a few days.
Grouse Feathers
New member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
BX2370, FEL, Snowblower-BX5455, Homebuilt Forks, LP RB1560, LP GS1548
How do you make those Portuguese shoes fit your Japanese tractor.You need to put some "bota floater" on it.
No, you do not want to Google it!
A number of yeas ago I wanted / needed to build a bridge over a deep gully.
I fussed a bit over the design, but I eventually found a manufacturer of steel roof trusses that are used in industrial buildings.
I needed what I thought was about a 30 ft span.
When I called the guy, he quoted $1100. - ouch.
But then he asked - does HAVE to be 30 ft? How about 27 1/2 ft?
He had supplied a customer a couple of years before with these trusses, but the customer over-ordered - told the guy he'd pay him - but PLEASE do NOT bring them to site - he'd have a devil of a time getting them out.
OK, I said - how much?
150 bucks - delivered !
These trusses will hold over 2 tons - they are 16 inches high. The abutments were square steel tubing bolted into the rock. In you case you may have to pour concrete.
The decking was 2x6 pressure treated bolted to the trusses - the width of the deck was 42 inches to prevent idiots on snow mobiles racing over the bridge in the winter.
.
So, my suggestion . think about your design, - look for some innovative way of doing it.
You'll have fun building it - we ( my wife and I) did all of the work.
Miro
I fussed a bit over the design, but I eventually found a manufacturer of steel roof trusses that are used in industrial buildings.
I needed what I thought was about a 30 ft span.
When I called the guy, he quoted $1100. - ouch.
But then he asked - does HAVE to be 30 ft? How about 27 1/2 ft?
He had supplied a customer a couple of years before with these trusses, but the customer over-ordered - told the guy he'd pay him - but PLEASE do NOT bring them to site - he'd have a devil of a time getting them out.
OK, I said - how much?
150 bucks - delivered !
These trusses will hold over 2 tons - they are 16 inches high. The abutments were square steel tubing bolted into the rock. In you case you may have to pour concrete.
The decking was 2x6 pressure treated bolted to the trusses - the width of the deck was 42 inches to prevent idiots on snow mobiles racing over the bridge in the winter.
.
So, my suggestion . think about your design, - look for some innovative way of doing it.
You'll have fun building it - we ( my wife and I) did all of the work.
Miro
Another way of crossing a small stream is to buy an old mobile home frame, back it through and over the stream, pour some concrete, for footings, pile some dirt, at each end, and viola, a bridge is born, for low $...
My cousin did that and has been running a L3830 and a L45 over it 12+ years.Another way of crossing a small stream is to buy an old mobile home frame, back it through and over the stream, pour some concrete, for footings, pile some dirt, at each end, and viola, a bridge is born, for low $...
miro, def gonna build a bridge. i have a neighbor who mills trees so i am gonna talk to him about milling me some 8"x8"x20' hemlock railroad ties. i will find out the cost first from him. i will get them to the stream, set them a few inches apart and tie them together somehow or use concrete footers. gonna think hard on this thanks for the ideas
thanks for the ideas
CaveCreekRay
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L3800 HST, KingKutter box scraper, KingKutter 66" rake, County Pride Subsoiler
If you want to drive over it, out West a popular solution is to get a flat-car frame and cover it with heavy timber. My neighbor did that to cover a wash in his front yard. The expensive item is the concrete piers that holds up the bridge. Those need to be engineered. For longer or wider applications, they put a series of these flat cars in a row or side-by-side and cover them.
The flat car is not that expensive but you will need a crane to place it.
Ray
The flat car is not that expensive but you will need a crane to place it.
Ray