Tractor Stories

Today I used some 2x6 board to make a mount against the outside wall of the Tractor Building so I could then drill a hole for the air line and screw the attachment to the outside wall of the building. Actually, I used 2 ½ inch screws and screwed them into the 2x6. I used glue and long screws to secure the 2x6. On the inside I used a piece of plywood as thick as a 1x4. I screwed and glued it to the 2x4 upright. I made a template to help me align the hole for the air hose and drilled through the 2x6, the outer wall, and the inner plywood. Then I mounted the two air attachments after sealing the joints in the various things that fasten onto the 2x3x1 block of aluminum. It was a lot harder to accomplish than it is to write about it. J Anyway, next I shall address the block which is where the air line from the compressor will plug in. I have already added the pieces to it and sealed them from air leaks. The kit contained some brass plugs where a hole needed to be filled because there was no...

This afternoon I decided to attack the brush and thorns around the Guard Light pole again. I got an idea that I might be able to use my Kubota and its front-end grapple to dig below ground and pull up brush by its roots. It sorta worked. I did manage to get a few large grape vines and some thorn and tree plants up. I then used my lopping shears and pulled and pulled. I worked for about 2 ½ hours. In the end I had a pile about ¼ the size of the one taken away by the city truck on Monday. The area is looking better and better. Tomorrow I may be able to get a few cedar trees cut down and hauled away. I tried to rent equipment to cut cedar trees. The rental place said he had nothing I could use. He suggested renting a bulldozer to push the trees over. I have eight acres of trees in town and would need to do something fairly quickly with the uprooted trees or I would have a big fire hazard drying out on the ground. I will try a couple other ways to get cedar cut down. Mean time I am going t...

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 ...

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 ...

Recently I purchased some new implements for use with the two Ford tractors. They had been on an 18-foot trailer waiting my figuring out how to remove them. I attached a boom to the  8N Ford  three-point hitch and tying the disc to the boom with a chain, was able to lift the disc and turn it to face off the trailer and then lift and drag the disc off the trailer. Once on the ground, I replaced the boom with the disc and proceeded to start in my garden area which has not been disturbed in years. The green Coban covers the broken finger I received which chipping Hackberry limbs. In the picture is the very limb which kicked back and got me. My leather gloves looked fine, but my finger sure did not. The  8N Ford  does not steer easily on a good day and is very difficult to turn with the wounded left hand. I had to give up the disc operation until the splint comes off so I can better grip the steering wheel. As a result of this adventure, I am going to restore my 640 Ford...

When the weather was good enough to clear and haul some cedar trees, the 1949 Farmall Cub was called to action. It is the perfect size for a small acreage operation. After the trees were cut, I rigged a chain between the tree and Cub to drag the tree to a convenient location for further cutting and then running it through the woodchipper on the back of the 1952 8N Ford tractor. Also, it is very dry, and I could minimize fire danger from any sparks by working on ground which was mowed. It worked well and was fun. Tractor Boy

Today I went to Kempner, TX and got my 18-foot trailer, 5-foot rotary cutter (“Bush Hog”) and 4-foot plow/disc which were waiting for me already on the trailer. The implements are new. The trailer is used. It has electric brakes, and my truck is equipped for that. The dealer had to find a suitable adaptor to plug the trailer wiring into the Nissan Titan towing plug and then I drove them home. Right now, they are still on the trailer in the yard while I figure out just how to remove them and place them in a convenient location. I certainly need to learn to back a long trailer. Tractor Boy

This afternoon was a good time to move the Super X3 mill in its crate away from the door of the Tractor building so the  8N Ford  could be put away. Once I remembered I have a perfectly good overhead lift which runs across the tractor bay, it was simply a matter of rigging a couple “straps” to lift the crate. The chains from Wal-Mart were ten feet long which was about three feet too short. Two chains and a towing strap later I was ready to give it a try. The crate lifted off the floor and was then pushed across the bay. This left room for the  8N Ford  to return to the bay. Well, almost enough room. It is quite cramped in the bay now. Soon I will have either a new worktable or a Harbor Freight mill stand #47599 to hold the Super X3 milling machine. You can see the little work room is a bit cluttered too. The X2 mill will go elsewhere, and the room will get cleaned up. I am certainly happy the 1952  8N Ford  tractor was able to lift the 420-pound crate with ...

Yes, I am back blogging.  Today I hope to hoist the new mill with my overhead crane/lift and then slide it along. Too much fun. I will take pictures. I do wish I had taken pix of the moving operation yesterday. It was decidedly scary. No injuries and only a few scars to the land from the weight so all was well. I visited Hubert's work room and saw his X3 mill. It is really three times bigger than the X2 we also both have. I need a much bigger table! Maybe I could mount it on the one I have, but it sure could use wheels. I need 17-inch clearance for the base front to back and 27-inch clearance for the entire front to back area (for the column as well as the front handle). The X2 fits on the 14-inch-wide table with room to spare as you have seen. I need 39 inches height clearance too. This is BIG, but some people consider it small still. It is easy to have a thousand-pound milling machine instead of one which weighs 390 pounds. J Tractor Boy