I did some bush hogging/rough cutting/slashing whatever you want to call it this weekend.
Of course, what I calling bush hogging some people refer to it as land clearing.
I managed to only get stuck twice this time - both on the house side of the creek/ditch. I've attached pictures of the second/worst of the 2 times. Don't worry the cutter was off before it had flipped up like that - I knew it was going to do it based on the terrain I was on. That is the disadvantage/advantage of using a chain for the top link. It kept compressing the top link before. So far I haven't compressed the PTO shaft all the way - though this is probably fairly close.
Anyway, on to how I thought I broke it. I had almost finished up Sunday night after I got side tracked by installed brakes on Monica's cousin's car so I was happy. It was about 7:30 or so, almost done. I still have a patch of "trees" that I cut around that are too big for the tractor to knock over. I looked over and saw one that still had some growth under it but it also had another "tree" leaning. I drove over to it took the loader and was pushing the leaner out of the way. All of a sudden the tractor started stumbling and died.
It wouldn't start and the dash lights all were dim when I tried to start it. I get off and have a look. There was a branch that was on the ground that I had caught. It came up over top the axle and went up into the frame of the tractor. It hit the wiring for the main wire harnerss and the wire for the starter. At this point it is starting to get dark and with the tractor being where it was I was afraid to leave it thinking it would grow legs. I went and got Monica and the truck. I was also afraid it the truck wouldn't pull it out because I was along the ditch again in a bit of mud - and no tractor assist. I put the tow strap around the tail wheel and hook it to the truck. Monica had the truck in Lo-4wd and the truck pulled it out with ease. She pulled me back across to where we access the road and we then turned around to pull it forward and pulled it down the road to our driveway (500 ft. or so, all in front of our property, but I have to use the road to access the "other side" of our property). I put some things away and started looking at the tractor. I didn't try to start it again, but I did check lights and everything. They all worked. I then started checking wires and fuses all were good except for the wire I had run to add the horn the split loom was now split in another direction but the wire itself wasn't hurt. Hmmmm.....I tried to start it again. It tried to start, but the battery was low and the solenoid just kept kicking out. This is the original battery in the tractor, but it had been starting fine all day. I put the battery charger on 40-amp, hit the starter and the tractor fires right up. I put it away for the night.
Last night I go home, I check it again in the daylight and still don't see anything wrong. So I retape the wires and everything that I had undone in my trouble shooting the night before. Put the battery charger back on it and it fired right up - it still wouldn't start without it. I then went and bush hogged for another couple of hours - finished mine and did some of the neighbor's land. Tractor ran fine and came back to the barn and it is starting just fine. Looks like I dodged one this time...


Anyway, on to how I thought I broke it. I had almost finished up Sunday night after I got side tracked by installed brakes on Monica's cousin's car so I was happy. It was about 7:30 or so, almost done. I still have a patch of "trees" that I cut around that are too big for the tractor to knock over. I looked over and saw one that still had some growth under it but it also had another "tree" leaning. I drove over to it took the loader and was pushing the leaner out of the way. All of a sudden the tractor started stumbling and died.

Last night I go home, I check it again in the daylight and still don't see anything wrong. So I retape the wires and everything that I had undone in my trouble shooting the night before. Put the battery charger back on it and it fired right up - it still wouldn't start without it. I then went and bush hogged for another couple of hours - finished mine and did some of the neighbor's land. Tractor ran fine and came back to the barn and it is starting just fine. Looks like I dodged one this time...