Tractor Disasters and Owner Abuse

[Speed25]

The whole purpose of having 4WD is to enable you to 'reasonably' go places you could not traverse in 2WD. Not as a safety/rescue measure for using 2WD only.

Learn the capabilities of your 4WD, drive judiciously....and you'll avoid becoming stuck the majority of the time.

Huh, I thought 4wd was to get you places you really shouldn't be, and then having recovery equipment on hand was to get you back out when you got stuck...
Hmm, wonder how hard a receiver winch install would be on my little BX... Probably easier than the alternator and battery upgrade, but Curtis sells a bolt-on, high-amp alternator kit for this tractor for the cab A/C units.

 

[Flintknapper]

Huh, I thought 4wd was to get you places you really shouldn't be, and then having recovery equipment on hand was to get you back out when you got stuck...

Well it can work that way too.

Often times depending on the ability of the operator to make 'good judgments'.

I have certainly been stuck in some of my 4WD drive vehicles over the years. But in those 50+ years I can honestly say it was probably less than a dozen times.

I have a Brother in Law however that can (and does) bury his truck, tractor, 4 wheeler almost daily. But I think he also gets up each morning and eats a big bowl of 'stupid'.

There are two camps on the subject. Those who will only use 2WD until things get sketchy....and THEN engage 4WD to get out. Those who engage 4WD BEFORE you need it and then continue on judiciously.

Its a free country. Everyone pick which one works best for you.

 

[jaxs]

The whole purpose of having 4WD is to enable you to 'reasonably' go places you could not traverse in 2WD. Not as a safety/rescue measure for using 2WD only.

Learn the capabilities of your 4WD, drive judiciously....and you'll avoid becoming stuck the majority of the time.

According to what my brother told me while we were digging my recently acquired 4wd Blazer out 20 miles from civilization "all this ^&@# thing is good for is getting us farther from help before becoming stuck".

 

[Flintknapper]

According to what my brother told me while we were digging my recently acquired 4wd Blazer out 20 miles from civilization "all this ^&@# thing is good for is getting us farther from help before becoming stuck".

All of my vehicles are 4WD and all are equipped for 'Self Recovery' (save for the most extreme circumstances).

While it is certainly true 4WD (in most forms) can take you farther from 'help' than 2WD will, I still view 4WD as something beneficial.

Of course... it is incumbent upon the operator to know the reasonable limits of the machine and driver.

That said, things happen....and sometimes you'll get stuck.

Since you know that might happen many miles from 'help' it is wise to equip yourself with some self recovery gear.

And what do 'Brothers' know anyway.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Our place has too many hills and grades, 4wd is always on, on the tractors.
Wife's ride is AWD so yes always in 4wd.
Truck pretty much goes into 4wd when the snow flies and stays that way for most of the winter.
Yes if the roads are clear I'll kick it off, but for us that's a rarity over the winter.

 

[Shadetree605]

Our place has too many hills and grades, 4wd is always on, on the tractors.
Wife's ride is AWD so yes always in 4wd.
Truck pretty much goes into 4wd when the snow flies and stays that way for most of the winter.
Yes if the roads are clear I'll kick it off, but for us that's a rarity over the winter.

went to my deer woods a couple weeks ago, i knew we had to ride through some deep mud, i locked my b2100 into 4wd before we left camping area. why ?..simple...i did not want to step down off the tractor into 3ft of mud to get pulled out, needless to say..i did not get stuck..lol.

 

[toxcrusadr]

I know the feeling. It took a feat of will just facing the ditch, looking at where I was about to go!! If I decide to do it again, I'll try to take a video to show that I'm not BSing!

There is a fine line between BXing and BSing, and based on the pics here, some tractors have stumbled right over it!

 

[Trimley]

Here's one area I mow. The camera on top of the grille guard.

Video

20240601_160236.mp4 | Powered by Box

app.box.com

 

[In Utopia]

Here's two of mine, not orange, but blue can get in trouble to.
First, while grading a trail for a neighbor using a box blade 2 feet wider than than width of wheels. Snagged a stump or rock, pulled me around. Couldn't back up, couldn't go forward, it was steep downhill full of trees. Took a dozer to get me out.
Second was and incident while shredding. Have no idea how it happened and have no memory of it happening. I think a large limb kicked up, came up over the tire did damage to me and bent the steering wheel down. Spent 4 days in a trauma center with multiple injures.
Chit can happen fast.

 

[DustyRusty]

Time to update this thread with some new pictures.

 

[skeets]

Yep there are times you think ahh no,,, and other times it HELL NO!!!!

 

[Bearcatrp]

Was that yours?

 

[NCL4701]

As bad as that BX looks I think I’d rather have ridden out whatever happened to that than to have been on what looks like a L4701 behind it. The L (or maybe MX?) looks like it came off a trailer at high speed or something awfully heavy was dropped on the back end. ROPs wiped off like nothing.

 

[DustyRusty]

Time to bring this back to life. Below are the pictures of a LandPride Grapple that was used on a BX tractor. I can't decide if it was abuse or poor quality that killed this LandPride Grapple. What are your thoughts? I think that I might have to add some reinforcements to my LandPride Grapple.
Auction comments on damage: KTAC SALVAGE| Cause of Loss **Collision,- using the grapple to pick up a log and while doing so, the grapple snapped** LAND PRIDE SGC0554 /SERIAL #2038567

 

[GreensvilleJay]

My vote is probably bad design and poor welds. The failure is at the 'pivot' point of the arms, where straight steel and round steel are to become one.
I cant think of how operating the grapple could cause that damage. What I don't see is ANY grease let alone Zerks in the last picture. It is possible the 'tube' section was 'rust welded' to the shank of the bolt.
Ideally that 'tube' should be 3x thicker and have a Zerk.
One of those 'have to see it ,to tear it apart, to see why it failed.

 

[NCL4701]

Picking up a log may have been the last thing it did, but suspect raking with the lid had something to do with that. If not, just a design that relied too much on a bad weld.

 

[Geezer3d]

My guess would be that the operator ran into a tree or something while going too fast.

 

[g_man]

After looking thru this thread I'm thinking that I must baby my equipment too much.

gg

 

[rc51stierhoff]

After looking thru this thread I'm thinking that I must baby my equipment too much.

gg

I know what you mean…Whatever happened to that machine and grapple certainly took some talent.

I’ve used my 0660 grapple previously on MX even though it’s really not appropriate (sized for a BX or B), and it was not damaged in any way that I am aware of.

But if they can be salvaged and found at the right price, could be an opportunity for someone with the time and skills.

 

[nerwin]

After looking thru this thread I'm thinking that I must baby my equipment too much.

gg

Nothing wrong with that at all!