Skip to main content

Brush Removal

Today, this afternoon, I went after the brush near the Guard Light again. Years ago, Nancy gave me a Poulin Pro weed eater with a separate head for brush cutting. It has an odd four-edged disk-like flat blade. I used it today in place of the pole saw head and later this evening I used a file to sharpen the flat blade. It takes an edge on each side of the flat blade. I am sure it will work better now than when I tried it with its very dull cutting edge. This thing is loud! I will wear ear protection.

Paul (our minister) came over to help me and together we made three times the progress I make alone. I used the Polaris Ranger utility vehicle to haul the Yamaha generator, two electric cords, a Sears chain saw (electric), chains, bar oil, a brush grubber, a clawed pole for reaching into the sticker brush to pull cut brush out. I had the pole saw and the brush cutter head too. Paul and I drove around the 8.3 acres too, just for fun. I think the gas in the Polaris is at least a year old, so I am going to use the UTV often and use up the gas in it. I may pour Seafoam into the gas tank to help keep the engine and carburetor clean.

Together we cleared enough sticker bushes and small trees so I could get to the wild grape vines. Some of those vines were four or five inches in diameter. The Sears chainsaw whizzed right through them. I also hit the barbed wire fence and the mesh fence from time to time. Hard to see them in the brush.

The Yamaha generator was a bit difficult to start; however, once I got it going it purred along and provided plenty of power to run the electric chainsaw. When t was time to shut off the generator, I turned off the fuel and let the engine use up the gas in the carburetor. It seemed to take five minutes.

Next week I can again cut brush and clear out cedar trees I want to make go away. I am thinking of renting a Skid Steer with a scissor tree cutter. There are also mulching cutter things that mount on the front of a skid steer and will “eat” trees and brush very quickly. Getting rid of cedar trees myself one at a time will take years. Years!

Popular posts from this blog

Farmall Cub Switch Replacement

It was a cold, wet, dreary day in Central Texas. Perfect weather in which to replace the light switch I replaced last week. The first replacement was blowing a 20-amp fuse in less than a second when turned to the farthest right position. Fortunately, I had added a separate fuse holder to the circuitry when the replacement did not have a fuse position. I spoke with the nice folk at Farmall Cub Forever and ordered a three position six-volt switch which arrived a few days ago. This time I took pictures so you can see what I was doing. Again, I replaced one wire at a time. The switch has a protrusion which fits in a notch in the console, and I replaced it so the two were properly aligned. I discovered it was easier to take the console off this time, and I did not need a small monkey to reach in the confined space.  I did; however, forget that I placed a piece of board between the hydraulic housing and the hood/fuel tank. So, when I started up the Cub to see how well it would run, there...

Farmall Cub greasing

Replacing gear oil and greasing the ’49 Cub ought to be a straight forward task(s). Well it hasn’t been. The transmission fluid was tan, looking like tan paint. Folks on Yesterday’s Tractor Farmall forum said it meant water had got inside the transmission. I wonder whether this tractor was under water at one time. I bought a Spectricide brand insecticide pump, put kerosene in it, and flushed the transmission, then refilled with 90 weight gear oil. The gear oil looked like and had the consistency of thin honey. Pic 1300 shows the transmission filler plug. A lot easier to reach than the plug for emptying the transmission. Note it has a square head. All of these plugs are square headed. Three and a half pints later, the transmission was back together. After the transmission, I decided to check the steering gear oil. It was not tan. It was black as could be so I flushed the housing with kerosene again and refilled with ¾ pint of 90 weight gear oil and replaced the filler plug. Pic 1301 s...

Uncle Phil Cause of Death

Phil was hit and killed by a drunk who was driving on the wrong side of the road and then left the scene of the collision. The man then hid in the nearby woods. Authorities found him, took him to a hospital, then he was arrested and jailed (in Vanderburg county) and is awaiting extradition to Wabash County. I hope he stays in jail until convicted. Uncle Phil was totally innocent, minding his own business. I have known Phil since he was fifteen years old. That is a long time, sort of.