Recent content by bowenskye

Are you still making the payments on the unit?

When I do custom excavating for neighbors. I break out my time, the machine's time, and the fuel. I can be flexible with billing for my hours, but the machine gets paid in full.

Run it through a crusher, and use it as a base for the new driveway

It seems ironic to me, that one can often buy working, used industrial equipment for less than these new, tiny machines. Its not hard to find a decent D6, or payloader for 15k. Mind you, it won't be nearly as comfortable as the new machine.

Is your stick welder DC capable?

Just get a new rad. Its a lot cheaper than an engine. Better yet, take it to a rad shop, and get a steel rad made. It will cost more, but the tanks are repairable in the future.

Diesel would have to get pretty high for me to go to gas. Maybe if they had made some good fuel injected gas tractors during the sweet spot in the 80's / early 90's. All of my experience with gas tractors has been with points and condensers. I don't care to go back. I can't imagine a modern gas...

Could the solids be clutch, or brake material in suspension? Are the brakes wet type?

8 years ago, I had a kubota t1600hst mower whose tires were so cracked, you could almost see the air through them, but the treads were still good.. They would get get soft every couple of weeks. I bought a liter of slime, and put it in all 4 tires. I later sold it to my neighbor, and he says...

What does it smell like?

If you like to tinker, and you are trying to challenge yourself, go for it. Otherwise, find something old that has existing attachments available. Case used to make some neat lawn tractors with snow blowers, ploughs, etc...

I've never bought a new tractor, but yes, it should. Especially when guys are getting started, and buying their first tractor. A lot of them are just using jerry cans, and that's a PITA.

Nope. The reason that most class 8 trucks have air brakes is the ability to easily hook up to different trailers without having to worry about contamination of fluids.

Beware of brake fade, if you're looking at a unit with drum brakes - especially if you're pulling grades. Look for a unit with a good engine brake. Stopping is much more important than going. Juice brakes are also generally easier to maintain than air brakes

^^^ This ^^^ I spent a lot of my summers on a neighbor's farm, helping with chores, and running equipment, but was nowhere prepared to own a farm. When I bought my own place 15 years ago, I was blessed to have a neighbor farmer who was friendly, patient, mechanically inclined, and willing to...