Stuck in the mud

cturok

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Equipment
M5040
May 1, 2019
5
3
3
Paducah, Kentucky
I have a M5040 and got it stuck last night and was unable to extract it in 4x4. The front tires were spinning and digging in deeper, but the rear wheels were not pulling or spinning as I thought they should. The mud under the bucket was too deep and soft to be able to use bucket to lift an push back. A second tractor solved the problem, but I wonder if I missed an option to use tractor features to do the job alone?
 

Lil Foot

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1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
May 19, 2011
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Did you use the diff lock?
 
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Vlach7

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L47 305DT JD500C
Dec 16, 2021
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Frazier Park Ca
Sounds like a good place to stay away from till it gets dryer. Glad there was a second tractor to pull you out. Only happened once to me, but I was able to use my BH and FL to lift to get stuff under my tires.
 

Flintknapper

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May 3, 2022
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Other than using the rear diff lock (if you didn't) then you probably did all you could do. Once the Tractor is down on the frame or FEL cross member, its pretty much game over.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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If neither of the rear tires would spin and the front tires were spinning, check the tire pressure, because it's known that low tire pressure can cause the rim to spin inside the tire.
If that's not the case you have something broken internally.

If only one rear tire was spinning and one front, then like others have said, diff lock will help, engage it while the tires are not spinning, and you must hold down the lock lever to keep it engaged.

You may or may not get both wheels to spin, that is perfectly normal.
 
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cturok

New member

Equipment
M5040
May 1, 2019
5
3
3
Paducah, Kentucky
I have a M5040 and got it stuck last night and was unable to extract it in 4x4. The front tires were spinning and digging in deeper, but the rear wheels were not pulling or spinning as I thought they should. The mud under the bucket was too deep and soft to be able to use bucket to lift an push back. A second tractor solved the problem, but I wonder if I missed an option to use tractor features to do the job alone?

All good info and at first i was able to use bucket to lift front tires and put additional rock under, i gave up too soon and then the bucket was digging too deep into the soft mud as well. I did try the diff lock, but was unable to tell any affect.

Bottom line, if i had listened to my wife, i would not have taken the action which caused the problem!!!
Ouch!!!
 
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hedgerow

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Jan 2, 2015
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Malcolm NE
Bottom line, if i had listened to my wife, i would not have taken the action which caused the problem!!!
Ouch!!!
Wife's are what I call Monday morning quarter backs. Always have the answers in the hind side. You talk about stuck, one of the worst I did was years ago we had just bought a farm and I was pushing trees and cleaning up the farm with a D7 Cat. I buried it, you could step off the platform on to the ground. Heavy wrecker guy came out and looked at it and got back in his pickup and left and never said a word. We hauled in two D6 Cats and they wouldn't pull it out. This was in Dec so we were scared it would get frozen in. Hauled a dump truck load of rail road ties in and spent a week chaining them to the tracks and using a backhoe to get them under the Cat using the ties and two four wheel drive farm tractors we finally got it out. Been stuck many times over the years. That one was the worst.
 
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North Idaho Wolfman

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Jun 9, 2013
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Sandpoint, ID
Been there done that, it did drive out under it's own power!
Mud 2.jpg


Mud 4.jpg
 
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drygulch

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L3901, LA525, ever changing attachments
May 30, 2024
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Georgia
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Sounds like a good place to stay away from till it gets dryer.
That is always my immediate thought after getting myself into this type of situation.

All good info and at first i was able to use bucket to lift front tires and put additional rock under, i gave up too soon and then the bucket was digging too deep into the soft mud as well. I did try the diff lock, but was unable to tell any affect.
In my worst situation (so far), I only had a stump bucket on and it couldn't get any purchase in the muck. I was able to drag a couple recently downed small trees under the stump bucket to get me out. Otherwise, the bucket and diff lock were always sufficient. Been amazed at what I have been able to get out of.

But now if I don't have a bucket on, I'm a bit more reserved.

Bottom line, if i had listened to my wife, i would not have taken the action which caused the problem!!!
Ouch!!!
:ROFLMAO: What fun would that be...

it's known that low tire pressure can cause the rim to spin inside the tire.
Very interesting observation. I would be curious if that was the issue. Especially if no impact from from the locker.

Greg
 
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BAP

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Dec 31, 2012
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New Hampshire
Wife's are what I call Monday morning quarter backs. Always have the answers in the hind side. You talk about stuck, one of the worst I did was years ago we had just bought a farm and I was pushing trees and cleaning up the farm with a D7 Cat. I buried it, you could step off the platform on to the ground. Heavy wrecker guy came out and looked at it and got back in his pickup and left and never said a word. We hauled in two D6 Cats and they wouldn't pull it out. This was in Dec so we were scared it would get frozen in. Hauled a dump truck load of rail road ties in and spent a week chaining them to the tracks and using a backhoe to get them under the Cat using the ties and two four wheel drive farm tractors we finally got it out. Been stuck many times over the years. That one was the worst.
Best way to unstick a dozer is to dig around it with another dozer or excavator to break free the suction, then start pushing logs under it to spread the weight out and get traction. Been there done that. Used that method on a D6 and we had it free in about an hour.
 
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William1

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BX25D
Jul 28, 2015
1,118
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Richmond, Virginia
I've gotten stuck several times, the first being during the initial 'lets see what trouble I can cause' run with my brand new BX25D within ten minutes of delivery..
Since then, multiple times it was riding on the belly pan (glad I got the BXExpanded pan on before my first foray) and the ground too soft for stupid me to be able to extricate myself with the BH and FEL. I didn't know when to stop until it was too late.
Fortunately, I was able to depend on the kindness of neighbors to pull me free and now, I use a winch and tackle.
Long ago, I ran my dads Kubota into deep mud but I was a lot younger and managed to stuff logs under the tires and free myself. Got it back to the barn, washed it off. Never got caught for that oppsie! Apparently, I also did not learn a lesson.
I'm sure I'll get stuck again! Boy will be boys!

Muck Happens.
 
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Bearcatrp

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BX1880 with loader, mower and 3 point
Mar 28, 2023
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If I could figure out how to post a video, have a Russian mud video that will show you some serious stuck in the mud. About 30 minutes. Think I have to use YouTube to do it.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
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Sandpoint, ID
If I could figure out how to post a video, have a Russian mud video that will show you some serious stuck in the mud. About 30 minutes. Think I have to use YouTube to do it.
Just copy the you tube link (address) and paste it in a post