Family Tradition

lennyzx11 · Sep 8, 2019

I have a good friend that has the privilege of borrowing anything I own.
He won’t. Says why should I borrow something and operate it when I can buy the beer and watch you do it?

Too all others. Especially relatives.
I say this. I bought this one and it’s a **** sight more expensive than a beat up ol ford 9n. I am putting every minute of every hour on this tractor with my *** in the seat. Laughing and good humor but it has worked so far without anyone getting pissy.

wheelbuilder · Sep 8, 2019

Years ago, my Brother in law bought me a Milwaukee finish sander as a gift. About 4 months later he asked if he could borrow it. I'd only used it a few times and it was just like it came out of the box. He gave it back covered in paint and with the plate/pad all chewed up. I won't loan him tools any more. If he needs help, I'll help him, but my tools don't get used by him.
I borrowed my good friend's cheapo wire feed welder to tack up a project. I ran it out of wire, so I bought a new spool, even though I hadn't used all of that spool. On my last well, it quit. I dug into it and fixed it, replacing a couple parts. I told him what happened, and he wasn't concerned. He told me he knew it was likely to have a short lifespan, and was thrilled I gave him the extra repair parts I'd bought. If I couldn't make it like it was. I'd have replaced it.

How you treat someone else's stuff is an indicator of what you think of them. Family or not, you paid for your stuff and deserve that others respect that.

Jchonline · Sep 8, 2019

Absolutely no one gets to use my equipment. I am happy to help as an operator on the machine if the opportunity arises. Everyone knows it and no one even bothers to ask. They just already know what I will say so we moved past it years ago. I would just say you are getting a new machine and based on insurance and warranty you arent comfortable with anyone else using it.

MHarryE · Sep 8, 2019

I’ve been the nice relative letting 2 of my relatives and one of their sons use my tractor to clear shooting trails. I told them the rotary cutter could take out up to 2” brush but larger stuff saw it. First day they had a flat on a front and paid me generously to repair. Couple times later they call me on their way back to the city telling me they had a tire problem and left money for me at the tractor at their hunting cabin. Get there - both fronts knocked off the rims so I used their money to buy heavy duty sidewall tires and they have never used it again. Now I need to use my cutter and the slip clutch starts smoking continually. Go back and one of the clutch plates is completely gone. Tell that to one of my neighbors and he said the son was knocking larger trees over with the bucket and then shredding them with my cutter. So now I know how he knocked the tires off the rims (and roared a mile back to their hunting shack) and burned up the slip clutch on my LandPride cutter. So much for being a nice guy. However I have 2 neighbors I have no problem lending equipment to because it always comes back better than when it left. Forgot to mention my old Polaris Ranger quad is sitting in a shed at the hunting shack because the relatives broke the transmission output shaft. They called to get information on model year, etc., but it’s been sitting there over a year. Letting relatives borrow can really suck.

goeduck · Sep 8, 2019

ovrszd said:
I've never removed the key from my tractor. With your thoughts, I guess it wouldn't do any good?

I always remove the key on the tractor I keep where I live and store it on the kitchen counter or in the bottom of the clothes dryer. :shocked: The other 3 tractor keys are on my main key ring so they go where I go.

YanmarFever · Sep 9, 2019

I used to own a tractor dealership, we did repairs and sales.
Most of the major DAMAGE to the tractors was NOT done by the owner, you guessed it, it was done by relatives or friends.

Im talking burnt clutches, broken ring & pinion gears, overheated ect...

I told my friends that wanted to borrow my machines the following. Is our friendship worth $250. ? Of course they would say YES, why? Then I told them, then go rent one... Worked every time.

bigtiller · Sep 9, 2019

tractorErnie said:
I used to own a tractor dealership, we did repairs and sales.
Most of the major DAMAGE to the tractors was NOT done by the owner, you guessed it, it was done by relatives or friends.
Im talking burnt clutches, broken ring & pinion gears, overheated ect...

I told my friends that wanted to borrow my machines the following. Is our friendship worth $250. ? Of course they would say YES, why? Then I told them, then go rent one... Worked every time.

Thar's a good way to find out if the friend is a true friend or a user.

lilranch2001 · Nov 16, 2019

buckeyefarmer said:
Family can be a challange, when they ask "can i borrow your tractor" you might not want to ask "sure, if i can borrow your wife".....

LMAO, I have used this line over the years, with all kinds of responses!

GeneV · Nov 16, 2019

Add neighbors to that list. Couple weeks ago my neighbor down the road be calling me, asking if her handyman could borrow my tractor to dig out a busted drainage field tile. I'm like, NO, but I could go out there and dig that out for you, which is what happened.

Yeh, like I'm just gonna lend that out, are you crazy, man I dunno what's wrong with people!