What did you do with your tractor today?
- Thread starter MFDAC
- Start date
No tractor duties today. Had a guy show up to set a power pole to get power to the wood shop. They are rebuilding a transmission line a couple miles away and got one of those old poles. Cannot sell used power poles for liability reasons, so he charges for his labor and machine, and the pole is free.
I put the 24x12x12 turfs back on my GT16, taking the bar treads off. Had to get a battery for it...
Have had to jump with my jump pack the last few times I had to move it...
SOB... Dammit. What has more than doubled in price in a matter of just a couple years... Definitely not my pay
BATTERIES! IVE NEVER PAID $53 FOR A SINGLE GT BATTERY!!!! But I had to today. And that was with a $3 discount for being a "Rewards" member and 10% discount for my wife working there...
I can foresee having to buy at least 3 more this season, making 4... 3 of which on machines that are going away over the course of this summer...
Have had to jump with my jump pack the last few times I had to move it...
SOB... Dammit. What has more than doubled in price in a matter of just a couple years... Definitely not my pay
BATTERIES! IVE NEVER PAID $53 FOR A SINGLE GT BATTERY!!!! But I had to today. And that was with a $3 discount for being a "Rewards" member and 10% discount for my wife working there...
I can foresee having to buy at least 3 more this season, making 4... 3 of which on machines that are going away over the course of this summer...
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I got 4 of them courtesy of a buddy of my son, I dug out half the diameter and laid them in a long mi gravel driveway to keep the rock from migrating into the grass on either side.
I didn't realize there was so much variation in diameter. The bottom of the biggest is a foot while the skinniest of the top is just over 7".
The guys we got them from were in the process of cutting them up in lengths that would fit into a dumpster
I wish I knew someone that has a concrete mixer (or mortar mixer) I could use once-twice a year for a few minutes each.
I like to (try to) mix fertilizer,and that would be perfect.
Today i did so in and among 3 garbage cans.
I had turf builder, grub exterminator, some Scott's "disease-x" (something I seen in the farm store for the first time) and a bag of diazinon which I understand can't be bought anymore, courtesy of my moms shed when we cleaned it out so the house could be sold .. poured it from one to the other, scooped some into a 3rd, mixed each with a "straight hoe" (usually used to chop ice off the sidewalk in other seasons) and poured each can back n forth into each other, mixed some more, back n forth...
I need to get another spreader. I have 2 broadcast style that are crappy.
I mixed 10-12k sq ft of each and the bags on each say to set the spreader the same as each other, which surprised me. But even though I made sure to chop up any clumps, the thing kept getting plugged up and id have to bounce it off of the ground, to get it to go again. Half the time I couldn't see anything coming out of the spreader... I went thru less (way less) than I usually do because the flow thru the spreader was so hit n miss... I need to get a different one. I think I have a drop type buried somewhere, I used to.... I have less issues with those than the broadcast style. Next week we're gonna be pulling stuff out and starting to set up for a garage sale the following weekend. Have some neighbors doing the same that weekend. I'm hoping to clear some of what came from my mom's house plus some of the stuff I have had myself.... So I can actually find things around here again.
On the fertilizer I have enough for at least 2 more applications, left in a garbage can that I have a sealable lid for...
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On another note I have a(nother) project finally underway. Which will also go a long way towards cleaning up around here.
I have the bare rolling frame to my old 83 Dodge 3/4 ton ready to be picked up from the sandblaster. All painted (well primed)
I have all rust free sheet metal from front to back, from the core support to the tailgate, most coming from states that don't use salt, that's supposed to be going to blast soon. Then on to paint. Once I get there, that too will help make me more space, once those parts are back bolted onto that frame... Been getting lots of deliveries from the brown truck for it... The white one (fed ex) brought me my new rear leaf springs today...
Over $100 cheaper even with shipping from this place in PA "delivered" than to buy them "cash and carry" from the local spring shop .. and once I cherry pick the best of all my doors, fenders, etc I can sell off some of the extras to recoup some of the cost... My son and I have been acquiring these parts for years...I have 2 of these trucks and he has his ramcharger.... Which needs very little in the way of body work. Then my 85 1/2 ton... that one don't need much, mostly a passenger door due to being dented up and creased... Easier to bolt on another door being I have 3-4 sets of them than to pound out what's there...
I have the bare rolling frame to my old 83 Dodge 3/4 ton ready to be picked up from the sandblaster. All painted (well primed)
I have all rust free sheet metal from front to back, from the core support to the tailgate, most coming from states that don't use salt, that's supposed to be going to blast soon. Then on to paint. Once I get there, that too will help make me more space, once those parts are back bolted onto that frame... Been getting lots of deliveries from the brown truck for it... The white one (fed ex) brought me my new rear leaf springs today...
Over $100 cheaper even with shipping from this place in PA "delivered" than to buy them "cash and carry" from the local spring shop .. and once I cherry pick the best of all my doors, fenders, etc I can sell off some of the extras to recoup some of the cost... My son and I have been acquiring these parts for years...I have 2 of these trucks and he has his ramcharger.... Which needs very little in the way of body work. Then my 85 1/2 ton... that one don't need much, mostly a passenger door due to being dented up and creased... Easier to bolt on another door being I have 3-4 sets of them than to pound out what's there...
Is there a Menards close by? They had gt batteries for $35-40
If you think 35-40 is bad wait till you need a good one for a Polaris ranger with a winch. Interstate with 36 month free replacement -$205.00. Last one was about 8 years ago at $135 or so.
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Hope to finish up Carolyn's mower tractor this morning. Got the starter working and back on. engine covers, grease it up , check the blades and should be done. Then put a bucket of mouse bait in the mower shed to keep the darn mice from building hotel in that engine.
My IH 782 and Cub 1862 sat in another shed with mouse bait out all the time, never bothered either one.
My IH 782 and Cub 1862 sat in another shed with mouse bait out all the time, never bothered either one.
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Last time I purchased a battery ( truck ) , I went to 2 auto parts stores for pricing, and ended up getting the battery for 40 bucks cheeper.....from the Chevy dealer. Go figure. They also installed it while I waited.
I have had good luck with what ever brand lawn and garden battery Advance Auto sells. I have 6 years on it and never even bother to put it on a trickle charger for the winter. Seems like it was 56.00.
I have had good luck with what ever brand lawn and garden battery Advance Auto sells. I have 6 years on it and never even bother to put it on a trickle charger for the winter. Seems like it was 56.00.
The battery in Carolyn's mower was made 5/20, and don't like to hold a charge very long. Not sure that alternator is working right on the Briggs either. It fires right off with a boost so been going that route for the last mowing season. Will see what happens after she mowed today.
Cub 1862 with a Kohler Mag18 decided to give a fuel delivery issue the other day. Would die out going up incline or mowing with left side down. Fuel tank full, new fuel filter which stayed full, runs good on level or right slop ground. Original vacuum fuel pump so figured that is where the problem is. Replacement low pressure electric fuel pump on the way. Have two or 3 electric on hand but one is not ethanol friendly and another is not the low pressure unit.
Used 2 tractors today. Mowed our yard with the MF12G without any issues. Blew it off with compressed air and put it in the shop.
Then since it was only 2:30 I decided to mow the neighbor lady's front yard. Got the Craftsman GT5000 out and used it for her yard. Had not been mowed yet this year and even a 22HP with sharp blades was struggling. Probably 8-10" tall in some places, and last summer it hadn't been cut for while too. Her brother across the street was mowing for her, but he is in bad health too. Went over the piles of clippings over and over. They were so big that the tractor would quit steering as it would pack up in front of the deck, lifting the front wheels up. Got that done about 5pm. She came out and sat on her steps watching towards the end, so I figured she wanted to talk. Pulled over to the gate and she walked out with what must be a real long oxygen hose. She tried to give me some money but I couldn't take it. Better try to get the back yard done too. Her west yard is gated and fenced to my back yard fence. This tractor is too big to get in there. Shes got an old Murray sitting in there I better try to get running for that part. She said it was running last summer but thinks her brother took the battery.
My property only goes about 6 feet from the gravel. Hard to see how bad her yard looks, but at least it is cut.
Blew the clippings off the GT5000. That was a mistake doing it in the driveway---LOL! Oh well sounds like the wind will be coming back up soon so it will go somewhere!
Backed it into the shop to do an oil change and grease the deck spindles. Change the air filter too. Really need a sickle mower for her yard!
DAC
Then since it was only 2:30 I decided to mow the neighbor lady's front yard. Got the Craftsman GT5000 out and used it for her yard. Had not been mowed yet this year and even a 22HP with sharp blades was struggling. Probably 8-10" tall in some places, and last summer it hadn't been cut for while too. Her brother across the street was mowing for her, but he is in bad health too. Went over the piles of clippings over and over. They were so big that the tractor would quit steering as it would pack up in front of the deck, lifting the front wheels up. Got that done about 5pm. She came out and sat on her steps watching towards the end, so I figured she wanted to talk. Pulled over to the gate and she walked out with what must be a real long oxygen hose. She tried to give me some money but I couldn't take it. Better try to get the back yard done too. Her west yard is gated and fenced to my back yard fence. This tractor is too big to get in there. Shes got an old Murray sitting in there I better try to get running for that part. She said it was running last summer but thinks her brother took the battery.
My property only goes about 6 feet from the gravel. Hard to see how bad her yard looks, but at least it is cut.
Blew the clippings off the GT5000. That was a mistake doing it in the driveway---LOL! Oh well sounds like the wind will be coming back up soon so it will go somewhere!
Backed it into the shop to do an oil change and grease the deck spindles. Change the air filter too. Really need a sickle mower for her yard!
DAC
I cut grass with my 149 last night. One of the gauge wheels broke on the deck. I borrowed one off another mower deck for now, but I will have to order a new one. No issues otherwise. 
Nice job helping out your neighbor Doug. That sounds like my neighbors yard, which I have to mow this weekend. He has some health issues too and can’t do it himself anymore. I have been mowing my yard twice a week for almost a month now, this will be the first time mowing his this year. I don’t mind doing it, but he always waits until it’s way overgrown. I have offered to come cut it once a week, but he says no, he will let me know when it needs to be done. Usually every 2-3 weeks. From what I can see from the road, it looks pretty tall. I will probably put the mower deck on my diesel to do that. Or maybe I should put the sickle mower on my Cub.
Got two line trimmer going this morning. Fresh gas, 6 pumps on the primer bulb and the 4 cycle was running strong. The older 2 cycle took a bit more persuasion with some carb cleaner. Only wanted to run with choke 2/3 on. Carb cleaner took care of that. Used to be Carolyn's but she won't touch it now that she has the battery unit.
I see you have the shoot on the 5000 mower deck. Most times they throw better ( if ) you can lift or take it off ?
I never run them if I don't have to .
Good for you to be helping your neighbor too, Nick. I would just tell him that it is easier on you and your equipment if you could mow more often, along with getting it done faster. Sickle mower might not be a bad idea!Nice job helping out your neighbor Doug. That sounds like my neighbors yard, which I have to mow this weekend. He has some health issues too and can’t do it himself anymore. I have been mowing my yard twice a week for almost a month now, this will be the first time mowing his this year. I don’t mind doing it, but he always waits until it’s way overgrown. I have offered to come cut it once a week, but he says no, he will let me know when it needs to be done. Usually every 2-3 weeks. From what I can see from the road, it looks pretty tall. I will probably put the mower deck on my diesel to do that. Or maybe I should put the sickle mower on my Cub.
Maybe I could figure out how to lift it up a bit, but out here in wind country, taking it off is impossible if you want to keep the clippings and other debris like small twigs and chopped leaves out of your face. Even with it on when it discharges into the wind it is a beating of debris in the face. That deck is actually open above the end of the right blade too.
DAC