Posts Tagged ‘tractor’
Perfect Fit
Recently, we have been contemplating what we might want to use for hauling small loads around the property. I have been inclined toward a trailer that fits the little Craftsman mower tractor, over the big diesel tractor. I decided to see how much work it was to detach the mower deck from beneath the tractor. If it was easy, I could see us putting that machine to greater use, beyond simply cutting grass.
On Saturday, I consulted the manual, and set about pulling a few clips and washers. It was a cinch! But, I got ahead of myself. I jumped right into the task, without considering where the mower was parked. It was between the New Holland diesel, and a wall in the shop garage. The manual instructed, once the mower is detached, just pull it out from the right side.
Oops. That was up against the wall. I tried sliding the tractor to the left, off of the mower, but there wasn’t enough room. Soon, I had it wedged between the wall and the diesel tractor. I did what I should have done from the start, and fired up the big tractor to pull it out of the garage.
(While I was at it, I took the bold step of finally removing the chains from the rear tires. I hate to tempt fate, but am feeling emboldened by the fact that the last 3 or 4 storms of accumulating snow ended up melting off the pavement without any intervention. These late-season snow storms don’t last long on the black asphalt under that April daylight.)
Now that the mower was out from under the tractor, I needed to see if it would start, after sitting all winter. It took some coaxing, but it finally popped. I buzzed up to the house, and Cyndie came out to marvel over my accomplishment. I decided to give her an introductory lesson.
“In my slippers?”
“Sure!”
She did great, except being a bit too tentative when she left the pavement, where the snow stopped her progress and a rear wheel just spun in place. I don’t have any chains for the garden tractor. Yet.
After that, we made a run in to Ellsworth to pick up some items at the hardware store, and maybe check out a diner we had yet to visit. Last time I was at the hardware store, they had a discount price on a nice little trailer that I thought might work just right for us. I measured the opening of the hatch on the back of my car, and brought the tape measure with to the hardware store.
The trailer was still there, and still marked down in price. I pulled out the tape measure. It was close. Too close, I thought. With all the angles of the opening of the hatchback, and the addition of the wheels that would need to clear, I was pretty sure we wouldn’t be able to get it home in my car. The sales clerk said he would check to see if they had one still in the box. They didn’t.
I told him that I wanted it, regardless. I would figure out a way to get it home. Maybe this would hasten the plans Cyndie has about buying a pickup truck. Speaking of Cyndie, she walked up and took one look and said she thought it would fit. That’s no surprise. She thinks everything is possible. I voiced my skepticism, and pulled out the tape measure, to justify it. I figure that she can’t argue with the tape.
The clerk offered to help see if we could get it in, if I just back my car up to the front of the store. I accepted his offer, but felt there was no way this would work.
It rolled right in, rubbing on all sides, not a centimeter to spare. Cyndie beamed. I smiled. We went to lunch at the diner. They made french fries out of fresh-cut potatoes. ‘Nuff said. The day was a perfect fit.
Tractor Lesson
Last Saturday, we received a visit from our fence contractor, who came over to shoot some elevations in preparation for locating and creating the new driveway loop, and the hay shed. Work here has been in a holding pattern, due to the weather we keep getting smacked by. When the spring melt happens, we will be subject to road restrictions for gross weight allowances. That means our plan becomes a bit pinched. Can’t start too soon, but don’t want to wait too late.
In a phone conversation discussing the status of our project, Cyndie asked the simple question about getting the dirt/gravel fill we need, delivered early, before road restrictions are in place. That was deemed a good idea (she’s so smart) and triggered some activity. Our contractor showed up with an assistant to take some readings. The first thing that needed to happen was removal of snow, to provide a good base to work from. I offered to try with my tractor, but warned them I was inexperienced, and had already gotten myself stuck on the ice there, multiple times. Luckily, the guy he brought with him was skilled with heavy equipment.
I jumped at the chance to have him use my tractor, and give me some tips. It was a great opportunity to stand by and watch from the ground, beside the tractor, to see how he manipulated it. I don’t get to enjoy that view when I’m the one driving, taking my lessons via trial and error.
I’m pleased to report that my operation is not very far off. Mostly, it looked like he was doing what I do, except he was doing it better than me. He definitely demonstrated a better ‘touch’ on the hydraulic control for the loader bucket. It made me realize that I usually over-correct. His adjustments were much more subtle.
I was happy to discover that there is an indicator that tells me when my bucket is level to the ground. It was always right in front of my view, I just didn’t know what I was looking at, and thus was operating blind.
When he developed a leg cramp, we switched up and I got to mess around on the tractor while they took care getting elevation readings at a few key spots. I got the snow cleared again from the path where the new section of driveway will be.
If the weather holds, we are hoping to see truckloads of gravel dumped for the driveway loop, and the start of progress on the paddock fencing, next week!
Looking at this picture now, I realize the dramatic difference the last 4 days of warm weather have made. Our driveway is mostly melted, and there is a lot more gravel and grass exposed in front of the barn where we cleared the snow Saturday.
You can see in that shot that we put down some sand to break up the skating rink ice that was developing on the driveway. That, and the above-freezing temperatures have helped immensely!
Lesson Learned
Round 2 goes to John, and if I felt more bold than I do, I would declare myself the victor. However, I am calling it a draw.
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The tractor put up a good fight, repeatedly clinging to the snow that would hit the bucket or blade. As my confidence increased, and I became more aggressive, the tractor sensed the opportunity to up the intensity a bit and left me stuck, teetering on the edge of the driveway, with the front wheels down in the soft snow. I had gotten away with the maneuver several times before. You just never know when the big rear wheels will suddenly lose their grip.
I found myself on the edge of giving in, and shut the engine down to prevent making a bad situation worse. I walked back up the driveway, considering my options. Who would I call for assistance, neighbor to the north, or neighbor to the south? Then I decided to try one last trick before seeking outside help. I remembered an old ice cream bucket that Cyndie had found when we were packing for our move.
The contents of that bucket have been with me since 1980, when I worked as a security guard at a shingle manufacturer in Minneapolis, while I was attending tech school. The manufacturer gave away the ceramic granules that go on top of the shingles, which can be used to provide great traction. It is amazing that I kept that bucket around all this time.
Between those granules and my years of winter driving experience, I was able to ever-so-slowly rock the tractor up out of that predicament. As I looked behind me when I finally got it moving on solid pavement, I noticed the neighbor to the north starting down the road toward me with a bucket of his own in his hand. I was able to wave him off and get back to putting the finishing touches on my work.
Next time down to the road, I took a moment to rotate the back blade 18o° and then backed up to push the snow into the ditch. Lesson learned.
Relative Something 