Farmall Cub

Cowboy has it. I had a Cat D-4 with the tracks frozen right to the ground. Throw a tarp over it and a torpedo heater on it, and go grab a coffee. 2-hours later, nothin but melted snow, and a nice warm seat on the dozer.

If you don't want to heat, Here's another idea. Goto Toys-r-Us, or your local Wal Mart and pick up a couple of cheapo kids toboggans. They are only a couple of bucks. Jack up each rear tire and place one under each, and tie the fronts up to the frame on the tractor (depending on which way you're planning to pull it). They should beflexible enough yet slick enough to slide right up on your truck.

Another option, although a little trickier. See if you can get your truck backed up to the drawbar, then use a comalong from the back bumper to the drawbar, and just barely lift the tires on the tractor. It would not take much to lift, and you could simply drive away with it. Depending on how your truck sits, you may even be able to use some 4x4s from the bumper of the truck back to the axles on the tractor, to keep it away from the truck, and you could push it up onto the trailer. Or, depending on how big your trailer is, take another tractor to winch it up onto (instead of using the truck), then drive the tractor up on to the trailer pulling your A. I did this once with a tractor that had burnt down and was all locked up. All you need to do is just get the weight of the tractor up a little, so that the tires will skid. It'll move real easy, even if the tires are skidding a bit.

Chad,
I have 2 propane heaters you can use. Also I have a 1.5 ton come-along with a 20ft chain that you can use. And, if you need a hand, I might be able to help.

Brian

Bigdog wrote:Chad - you can carefully place a pan of hot charcoal under the finals and tranny area. Then patiently wait for the tractor to warm up enough to thaw.

I agree with BD
you may want to put a cheep tarp around it also
I will thaw out right quick that a way
David

Cowboy wrote:Hi Chad

When we have problems with equipment in the field. We take a generator and torpedo heater.
Billy

I did exactly this to my SM back in 99. Bought the tractor. Stored it behind my garage. It was still in the 50s when I bought it. Tried to move in Jan of 99, no go!! Didn't realize there was frozen water. I have a large propane torpedo heater. Let it blow on the rear axle for a good 1 hour+. That was enough to set it free

Oooh! I like the toboggan idea better than my car hood! Cheap, and you don't ruin a perfectly good car hood.

I also realized that getting the car hood under BOTH rear wheels might be a little tricky unless you had a loader to lift the tractor up. If you've got a loader, what's the point of sliding the tractor?

You can reinforce the toboggans with 2x8s or plywood underneath the wheels.

Can you rent "wheel dollys" - have seen them in shops, and on tow trucks. You jack up each rear wheel and put one underneath. May help you drag it up your ramps.

Also the trailer rental outfits may have something, like those single axle car trailers, that may help get it up onto your trailer.

here's an example:
http://www2.northerntool.com/cat-1/89+769442.htm

The safest way to solve your problem is to pay someone to pick it up with a backhoe or loader. Then back your trailer under it. sling it around the torque tube and up she goes. Thaw it out when you get home.

I wish that was an option but i do not have the extra money for that.
Chad

I wonder if pouring a couple gallons of alcohol in the tranny would do it.

Do you think the alcohol would melt the ice? I have no idea how that would work?

It might if the alcohol were heated. Obviously, you can't heat it directly, but you could put the alcohol container in another container of very hot water to heat it up. The tarp and heater still sounds to me like the best approach, though.

I am making sleds for the rear wheels tonight and tomorrow and picking up some borrowed heaters and one way or another that tractor is coming home with me on sunday.

You might want to try a weed burner/ rose bud (Just a few names for them). it is a torch that is run off a 20lb. propane tank. We use them alot at work on dewatering pumps that will not turn because of ice in the pump.
it usually doesn't take more than 15min to free it up if there is not too much ice. Just try to heat it up evenly.

Just another idea if the heaters don't work.
zack

CJ: You're almost die East of me and it's supposed to be low 30's here tomorrow !! How about something like that heavy-deicer windshield washer solvent helping to melt the ice around the wheels ?? When someone mentioned a child's plastic sled earlier, i thought about the heavy plastic saucers the kids slide on here - maybe easier to use than a sled. Good luck, Craig

That type skids will work excellent, just weld a loop of round bar stock, say 1/2" diameter stuff to hook into and keep tractor from sliding off, and get it up to your trailer!--sonds like you got it made for loading from there, but leave the skis under the tires while your loading!--It will slide better on your ramps!!-----It WILL work!!! and good luck with your new find!! thanks; sonny