I got home from work Friday evening, and noted that my old 4WD Mada Van was missing from the yard. Hmmm.. I asked my wife, who was busy making dinner, about the missing rig. She was suprised that it was missing, About that time my daughter walked in and casually mentioned that my teenage son and his 12 year old brother had come home and taken the van about a half hour ago. Hmmm.. He has a Isuzu Trooper, why would he need my rig? Then the Phone rings... "yes", my wife says she will be right there! Hmm.. My wife says "Now,don't get upset" as she heads out the door. Hmm... Back with two boys and no other cars, I learn the two rigs "are stuck". Where? Up an abandoned road. How bad? Not bad, "not higher than the bumpers" Both! Yep, Both. What to do? It's getting dark, and no tow truck would go on that track. Hmmmm. Well, we could use the Fordson! (List Content)
I put on my yard boots and chore coat, and a pir of gloves and head out the back door. Down to the shop where the Fordson stands, I turn on the Fuel, 'Try the battery start, just a click after sitting all winter. (Not much snow to blow this season).
Pull the choke, set the timing retarded, Grab the starter crank and give a pull. Pretty stiff, but 12 pulls had her running. Glad I put those lights on a couple years back, 'cause now it's twilight and misting rain. Pull out of the shop and step on the steering brake to clear the hickory tree that really should come down some year. Up a gentle slope to the yard, the tires sink 6 inches into the soft ground of side yard. The chains might be good, but I don't want them for the drive over. Besides they take a bit of time to mount, more in the dark, and then they need to be drawn up again after they settle. It's getting dark! 'Rack up a 20 foot length of 7/16" chain on the draw bar and off we go. The engine warms up slowly even with the air curtain drawn. About 15 min. to get to 185 degrees F by the calorimeter on the top tank. The engine is running strong and smooth after shacking out the winter cob webs. I thought I should have checked the coolant fill before I left the yard, but I know she is tight. Freezing flakes are in the air as we make our way 2 miles on gravel road ( Glad for that high ratio third "road gear") then another mile up the abandoned road. The mud is a foot deep in places. Spring run off as deep, in many others. The tracks of the two previous vehicles look a bit unsteady as we follow our way to the the place they are bogged. In many places it looks like the whole track could just slide off the exposed ledge it's perched on. Unsettling in the dim work lights of the tractor Not many places to turn around that I could see, and I don't have work lamps on the back, and now it's dark. Getting to the first rig, High centered. A chain to the tow hitch and it's drawn back along the road and out easily. The Fordson didn't even know it was there. I backed out a ways till the track widened enough to spot the van while we went for the Trooper. Only a small bit ahead of the previous spot, the road was a mire, the rig was in to the bumpers just like the report. Chain to the tow hitch, Only a slight labor was heard from the Fordson. Now, both rigs are well free, and unless some fool kid decides to go out opposite to common sense, The Fordson's job is over. The tractor is really running a Top now, and makes the drive back to the yard as comfortable as she can. My son passes me in a flurry of impatience now that his rig is freed of the mud. Back down to it's place in the shop, I turn off the lights, throttle back to a slow tick over, and close fuel tap, letting the engine die on it's own as I walk in for supper. When all are back and at the dinner table, my young son tells us that this "adventure" was his older brothers birthday present to him. Driving and "four wheeling". He also makes sure we all know that "He was not driving when we got stuck".
His older brother was at the wheel then. Happy sons, happy wife and mother, and I'm not displeased either, for I hope there was a lesson there somewhere. My son gives me a "thanks dad". My wife comments "Isn't it nice to have the right equipment". and I'm glad the Fordson has been so good to me over these past 25 years. Regards CalG
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