FEL Pump Stolen!

I was excited about getting to the Fifty Acre Wood today, I had got the tractor un-stuck my previous trip, its been dry for a couple of weeks now, and I would be able to get a lot of work done. That's what I thought, someone else had other plans for me. As I got up on the tractor and got it started I reached for the lever to lift the front end loader and nothing happened. I shut it down and went to take a look thinking perhaps I has busted a line and there wasn't anymore fluid. Well when I got to the front of the tractor I was surprised to see that the hydraulic pump that services the front end loader was missing. Someone had stolen my hydraulic pump!

After getting over the disbelief and anger that some one would actually steal my hydraulic pump, I surveyed the area to find a few missing parts that might help me figure out what I would need to replace the pump.

I sat there a while, going through my mind, what type of person would knowingly go on to another man's property (trespassing) and disassemble part of his tractor (destruction of property) and steal another man's property (theft). The tractor isn't exactly in plain sight from the street, hidden back among the trees, so its not like a casual passer by would see the tractor and decided they needed to strip it of a hydraulic pump. No this had to be some one local, that knew the tractor sat on the property and took the time, probably during the day and week, disassemble the pump. A targeted intentional and calculated theft!

After getting over my initial shock and anger, I got to work doing the only thing I could do, disconnect the front end loader so I could move the tractor and assess the what might be needed to get a replacement pump. This meant getting model and serial numbers, making sketches and dimensions of the pump area to hopefully find someone who could provide a replacement.

After all this was done, I left dejected from not being able to work the land as I had expected and was hoping, I had such high hopes for the day.

(I had to remove the bucket to move the tractor)

(Here it stands bucket-less)

(Mount for the hydraulic pump)

(Atleast they didn't destroy the hose)

(They did manage to cut the non-pressure hose)