Kinda in a bind

[opus]

Went to move the bus.  Its been sitting since Nov.  We had snow, warm, rain, snow, ice and been cold since.  The bus sank a few inches in the ground and froze there.  Went to move it the other day, couldnt get it to move nor a wheel to spin.  Jacked up each corner, spun the wheels.  Everything spins.  Still cant move it.  Tried pulling it out but I cant get enough bite to pull it.

Ideas....aside from spring thaw?  It feels like it wants to move but I cant get it to, or a tire to spin under power.

[robertglines1]

is it a allison? what kind of bus?

[Ace]

Could the clutch be slipping?

[opus]

Allison 643.  Blue Bird All-American.

[buswarrior]

Coaches can't pull themselves out of holes.

And by holes, you'd be shocked at how shallow a tire divot will trap a coach.

If you have jacked each corner, do it again, and fill each hole with gravel, higher than the hole,so when the tire comes down, it is more likely to be sitting on a mound than compressing what you put in there.

Or, you can mess with a recovery strap, another vehicle and figure out how not to rip parts off either the coach or the other vehicle with the recovery strap.

Moral of the story?

ALWAYS have the tires on improved surfaces, or make piles of gravel to roll up on in the parking place.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[robertglines1]

might try letting the engine/trans warm up good. Sometimes a cold automatic will act up.Cold trans fluid might not be putting enough pressure on clutch pack.Especially if someone put the wrong fluid in it.

[opus]

Gravel....there isnt gravel anywhere to be found at this time of the year.  I know about parking on higher ground.  I had plans but then life got in the way.  I'll have to get a skidder an pull it out or something.  I dont think jacking it is going to get me high enough.

I spent many years doing heavy recovery.  I can jank it out without ripping it apart.

Bus was plenty warm.  You can feel it torquing, but cant get anything to spin.

[robertglines1]

not familur with that particular tans. some start off in second unless you put it in first manually.Does it have a parking brake on the end of the transmission just before the drive shaft? wheels could turn indivually  B ecause of spider gears in rear end.   Drive line brake

[buswarrior]

Watch you don't snap the u-joints in the drive shaft!

Coaches are NOT, ABSOLUTELY NOT, capable off-road machines. Getting stuck can lead to breaking things and expensive repairs.

That is why my emphasis, no matter what the plan might be later...

...ALWAYS...

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Brian Diehl]

How about some wood scraps under the tires?  That should be easy to come by ...  Much easier than trying to figure out a tow and less stressful on everyone and everything.

[opus]

[Ace]

From the looks of it from your pictures, you have other problems. I don't think the hole your in is deep enough to keep it from moving. Heck I have been in deeper ruts than that at some bluegrass festivals and wet too!

[buswarrior]

Ice bound is a whole different thing than being in mud or sand...

Be careful!

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[opus]

I'm not going to break anything by trying to power out.  I am not trying very hard under power.  I have dealt with a lot of peoples results from doing that.  Its not ice bound now, its just sitting in the ruts.  The rear end is about 3" off the ground, so it has sunk some.

[white-eagle]

so did you pull it onto more solid but flat ice?  will the wheels turn if you are out of the ruts?  Do the wheels turn by hand if you jack it up, (i thought you said they did before).  are you sure it really went into gear?