Messing around in the shop

[Toolslinger]

When I was a kid, I recall the knuckles always being loaded with the wrapped up grass. Eventually the whole shaft would be covered. While we never had an issue, it always bothered me. When I ran the brush hog again this spring for the first time in years, I had no issues for some reason. Perhaps the MF 135 rides a little higher than the 8n, or the PTO is at a different angle. Dunno. I also had to run without a shield this time, so perhaps it was throwing the grass more than wrapping?

Bought shields now. Haven't had to use it again. Might be years...

Certainly can't argue with the efficacity of your mesh shield. Planning on making it a permanent addition?

[DavidBarkey]

The other day I had to replace the starter in the car . The last few mornings it would not start when cold out . Not the easiest to do , but definatly not the worst I have done . I had to take twice the stuff apart I would have normally would have to make it easier to do , but the half day was worth not having to pay someone else to do it in half the time . Just trying to earn my keep .

[JSinMO]

When I was a kid, I recall the knuckles always being loaded with the wrapped up grass. Eventually the whole shaft would be covered. While we never had an issue, it always bothered me. When I ran the brush hog again this spring for the first time in years, I had no issues for some reason. Perhaps the MF 135 rides a little higher than the 8n, or the PTO is at a different angle. Dunno. I also had to run without a shield this time, so perhaps it was throwing the grass more than wrapping?

Bought shields now. Haven't had to use it again. Might be years...

Certainly can't argue with the efficacity of your mesh shield. Planning on making it a permanent addition?

I think you’re right. The N series tractors sit low to the ground, plus the PTO is at the bottom of the differential so you end up with a very low, flat shaft angle.
When I run PTO driven equipment on my taller tractors I don’t have this issue.

If I was going to leave the mower on there year round I would make some sort of permanent attachment. But I use that tractor for a lot of different things. Luckily it’s easy to to take the shield on and off so I’ll just throw it on when I mow.

[JSinMO]

Well let’s head up to the shop and what we can do today. Still limited in what I can do with my left side, cramps and weakness but I think sitting still is worse. I had it on my mind to turn the garden over for the winter, then I saw the plowing video Noel posted and that sealed the deal!

Last time I used the 2N and then the Cub for the sunflower patch. I think this time the 41 M will get the job.
I dropped the sickle mower onto some pallets and covered the belt drive.

Boy I hope I remember how I had that mounted next year!

On goes the plow then I cleaned off the bottoms. Let’s go!

After the usual headache getting things somewhat adjusted I made a few passes. Things were going ok but naturally there had to be an issue.

The pin on this side has disappeared!
I guess it broke. Hopefully it will turn up in the spring. After some wrestling around and a few choice words we got back to it. This sure doesn’t look like the job those competition plow guys can do, but it’s plenty good for what it is and who it’s for!

Time to clean off the bottoms and protect it till I use the plow again in the spring. I like to dab grease on the plow then take a rag and cover the surface. Then I grab whatever spray paint is handy and give it a shot.

I’m sure this is probably overkill but it sits outside all year and since I started doing this the plows stay rust free so that’s what I’ll keep doing!


That was fun but rather short lived. The ground I cleared for the sunflower patch really doesn’t need to be plowed but it does need to be leveled up some since I dug the rest of those stumps up and cleared the brush away.

I decided to go get the disc and make a few rounds. Got it hooked up and gave it a quick once over in the shop.
Then up to the patch.

I made several passes back and forth and it worked pretty well. I was able to disc out most of the lumps and dips that were there.

The old M hummed right along. It certainly has more pulling power than the 2N but it’s a complete pain to get that plow set up on it. I really never did get it quite right.
So in the future I’m thinking the 2N will do the plowing and the M will do the discing.
Then it was time for some shop clean up. Implements got put up for the winter and the blade went on the 2N. They are calling for quite a bit of rain for us the next several day so I’m figuring some driveway maintenance is probably in my future. I’d much rather have it mounted now then slopping around in the mud trying to hook up after the rain.

Then some rearranging and I’ll be darn if my truck doesn’t fit in the shop again! Not sure when the last time was that I could pull it in!

So the 2N is here with blade and the 446 is in the garage at the house with its blade. That might just be my winter set up!
Man I am out of shape! Today wore me out. I’m heading for the house and some dinner and relaxing! Thanks for coming along!

[JSinMO]

Well I’m continuing to try and get things put to bed for winter. The rain has finally stopped so I thought I would spend some time trying to work on this baler.

It hasn’t been touched since I got hurt. First thing is to get the old bales out of the chamber.

This isn’t too bad when you do it right after you finish baling. But after a few month of rain it turns into a nasty bit of work.

Talk about opposites, fresh cut hay is one of my favorite smells, nice and sweet. However old rained on and sun baked hay has to one of the worst smells!

This is why if at all possible I clean up equipment when I’m done. Now here I am with a putty knife trying to clean up.

As I look things over I’m seeing things that I’ll have to make a plan to repair before spring. A lot of the metal look like Swiss cheese. Another reason to clean your equipment. I’m sure this is from decades of sitting outside with old hay in it.
I knew it wasn’t in the best shape when I bought it. But I did use it as is for a couple seasons now so that’s good.

I think I can patch it up. Just need to find some suitable steel. I’ll have to dig around and see what I come up with.
For now let’s get into the shop and take care of a problem I caused.

I don’t know if you can see in between the guards on the pickup head but that blue stuff isn’t supposed to be there!
The end of the baling twine fell out of the bottom of the twine box as I was bailing and the pickup head grabbed it and now about half a roll of monofilament twine is in there!

So off comes one of the guards and the cutting begins. What a pain in …

This stuff is stronger than the natural twine I had been using.
I took forever to get it all cut out. I finally got it done and reassembled.
Then I moved on to the jack leg. It’s welded on with some chicken poop welds and they’re cracked. Glad I saw it before it broke off!

I ground it down and and welded it back up. Don’t get me wrong my welds are chicken poop too but not quite as bad!
That it for today. I was hoping to park it for winter but I think this is going to be a bit of a project. I have no interest in “restoring” it, I just want to keep it running. Hopefully soon I can continue on it.

[Toolslinger]

I feal for ya on that twine... I've sucked a few different things in to the flail. Got a couple hundred feet of #4 cotten line once, and then I caught some high tensile fence wire another time. It is amazing how fast it can happen.

[JSinMO]

Well this is probably the last really nice day we’ll have for awhile so I decided to tackle the baler.

I started by welding the frame together then reinforced it with some angle iron and a piece of plate.

This was a really awkward place to get to and I just don’t have the strength and control in my left side so I had a tough time getting the stinger down in there. As a result I’m not very happy with the look of the repair. However it is solid and I think it will work just fine so at this point good enough.

Next I worked on this pan above the pick up head.

This part of it is rotted away really bad. I decided to make a template and trace it out on some fresh metal.

I cut out the rough shape and test fit it. I think it will work fine.

Next time I’ll grind it into final shape and bolt it all together. I would have liked to continue but the
had other plans.
So we spent the rest of the day completing the yearly ritual. I think it turned out ok.

Every year it’s an arduous task of fixing light stands, tying things down to fight the wind, and remembering how I powered everything the year before, but the kids really like it so I suppose it’s worth it.

[MattA]

Display looks good. Try drawing out how things are wired. Next year you can reference and improve on the design.

Are you doing physical therapy/daily stretches/daily exercises to improve your strength?

[DavidBarkey]

Look Nice @JSinMO , A lot of work there putting all that stuff up .

[JSinMO]

Display looks good. Try drawing out how things are wired. Next year you can reference and improve on the design.

Are you doing physical therapy/daily stretches/daily exercises to improve your strength?

I’m doing stretches and exercises until my next appointment. Although I am some better my progress seems to have plateaued at this point. A slow process.