Post by 87B2XLT on May 26, 2010 20:35:08 GMT -5
... skid plates. I wished I had my camera with me when it happened yesterday. The extent of damage was only one crushed filter whose seal broke in the process. The thing has protection for the steering ram rods, but nothing else. Synopsis of what happened: I was clearing the back adjoining fenceline on my property... and got to a point where I was focusing on pushing this 4" diameter pine tree down because it was too close to the fence... it was a little too late when I noticed the huge trees that had fallen into.... the 4 ft. deep creek bed that was below me . Unfortunately, I was over-committed to felling the pine tree and my front loader bucket was hung so I could only push my front end up almost level with the rear, but I could not back up. So, had to walk up to 'camp' and get help and with a chain saw and a few tight maneuvers, I got it out... then noticed the pool of hydraulic fluid that was on one of the fallen trees. Limped it back to the shop, ran into town and got two filters and 10 gallons of fluid.... 2-2.5 hours downtime, but it's got new filters and fluid in the transmission/main hydraulic system/rear differential with no noticeable other damage. I was fortunate that: 1) I didn't crack any of the casings, etc. - it came down pretty hard, and 2) that I didn't put it end over end on top of me. Anyhow, the other result of all of it was that I'm going to engineer a skid plate to protect those filters and all the linkages, etc. underneath and straighten out the steering protection (I don't know if it was already bent when I bought it or if I bent them).... and, I am paying more attention to what is UNDER me when I'm back there.... This happened to my recently purchased 2005 Kubota M4800 4x4 with LA1002 front loader... needed this toy more than another project or a Jeep.... and other than this incident, I've been pretty happy with how it works and using it. At least now I know where that creek is on the fence line.... got to eventually figure out where it's branches run through the property so I can avoid that mistake again... and try to find the old crossing culvert... possibly put new culverts in along the fence lines where it runs through. Anyhow, just thought I'd share and make everyone's day.... heckling and comments welcomed.... ;D
Dave G
Dave G