Tractor Stories

The Piranha Tooth Bar is installed on my Kubota bucket. I used a 4 pound hammer to adju st the side braces of the tooth bar so it would fit inside the bucket. I used the larger clamp to snug the braces up to the inside of the bucket so I could tighten the nut on the bolt with then lock washer in place. The hammer was used to bend the brace in and then to bend it to fit better. I used an air tool attached to the air outlet I had put on the  tractor  side of the  Tractor  Building. A 15/16 th  inch socket fit the bolts and nuts of the tooth bar and an adjustable wrench held which ever was the other side ( nut or bolt). The pictures show the tooth bar and the fasteners. While I wanted to try out the new implement, there were a few other things to do before it got too hot. I got the riding mower out and mowed the rest of the front yard, including where we planted Bluebonnet seeds. Then I decided to venture into the side yard and cut trail. That lasted for ...

Since my Billy Goat is scrap metal, I decided to look at alternatives. The BG dealer/service center does not keep the BG in stock but can order one. Electric start is close to $4K. Too much Swisher Predator 24-inch electric start can be purchased from Sears for $1,904.46 or from Home Depot for $1,799.99 (does seem to be the same machine). It has a Briggs and Stratton 11.5 hp (344 cc) engine. Lowe’s has a similar Swisher 24 inch cut machine, but with 10.2 hp Honda engine (389 cc) for $2,219.99.  So, for $500 more, I can buy a Swisher with a Honda engine which is superior to the Briggs and Stratton engine. For $100 more I can buy the electric start Briggs and Stratton engine from Sears instead of Home Depot. The Billy Goat dealer said he had no used machines. He does have one other brand brush cutter which actually has a string cutter instead of a blade; however, for $100 additional I can get a blade (I think it is circular). The machine made by Echo and sold under another brand has ...