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On several of the larger pines you can see streaks in a star pattern on the butts. I've been told this is blue stain from a form of mold. In this case almost all of the pine is going to be cut into 2x6s for the shop I hope to build in the future so they won't be visible.

Thanks guys. At this point I agree. Even though all the pines in my pile were freshly dead the ends are running sap. I have also cut them longer than I need. So we’ll see. For a novice like myself the learning curve with this sawmill and milling lumber in general is steep. I’m sure there are...

@plowhog I did buy a pack of blades for hardwoods. I have a fairly large white oak down that I hope to get to in a few weeks. I did not realize you had the trailer too. Where did you set your lockdown position? Have you towed it yet?

I got the 14 which is the biggest they offer. I think they go as low as 7.

Right now I'm very happy with it but it is way too early to tell. We've only cut up one log! Not yet. The mill will stay down at my cabin/property. I live in town about 45 minutes away. Hope to make it down there this weekend and will test things out.

What difference does it make?

I'm not sure. I do not have the manual for the Kawasaki FR with me. I do have the manual for the Kohler Command PRO on my saw mill. It says: "Octane rating of 87 (R+M)/2 or higher" Then: "Research Octane Number of 90 octane minimum" There is a chance the Kawasaki manual said the same thing...

Great resource. There are a good many near me but according to the list most of them are low octane or midgrade. Manual on the Kawasaki recommends high octane. Not sure which tradeoff would be better. Maybe a tank of ethanol free midgrade for storage and then 10% ethanol 93 octane for regular in...

That's just the way things work in the world of commerce. Always have.

I got the WC68 wood chipper along with the sawmill. It works great. Seems well made. The Sawing with Sandy videos influenced my choice.

If that is actually the reason it sounds like the worst reason ever. Most people who are going to actually assemble something will have a wrench and a socket. I had a funny thought when I saw a Wood-Mizer video and there was a decal on the mill that said "Built in USA". I thought, heck, my...

Does anyone know why? I'm just curious.

I am putting this post in the chainsaw forum because I don't know where else to put it. I hope we can get a sawmill forum here on TBN at some point. Anyway, just got a portable band saw mill. Total novice. I have cut up one log....and it went well. I've got a pile of pine logs ready to mill and...

I thought about that but good grief an extra wrench and a couple of sockets would solve that problem. Maybe another $30? I guess they might think that if I'm so cheap that I bought a mill that I have to put together myself that I might be too cheap to buy an extra wrench.:LOL:

Depends on what you mean by 'a lot'. ;) Total weight is about 1800 pounds.

That is actually the traveling position or within an inch or two. And again, the product video shows it being towed in this position. I would not want to tow this long distances or on the interstate but supposedly it is made for it. Fortunately it will primarily be towed on country roads...

Not intending to start a brand war. I went with Woodland Mills for several reasons. The first was my set budget. The Woodland Mills was the best mill I could afford. For what I wanted in terms of horsepower, width of cut, length of mill and an integral trailer Norwood and Woodmizer were out of...

I think it is available in South Carolina but I do not know of anywhere to get it around here.

Its funny. You search the internet about why Sta-Bil works or how it works or the same about Seafoam and you get four primary answers: 1) It works by doing "A". 2) It works by doing "B". 3) I use it and it works great. 4) I use it and its terrible. The people who respond with 1 or 2 come in...

Assembly was tough but manageable. At least for a stiff old 58 year old trying to keep up with 30 year old son in law in good shape. The instructions are generally very good with a few small exceptions. Assembly was straight forward except for a few small exceptions. But, the trailer parts are...

One thing you can say about this thread is that a lot of folks seem to be sure about other folk's experience. Me: My chain is sharp. Someone else: Probably not. :)

Woodland Mills responded and they say that is where it is likely to work best but to adjust it according to my experience and tongue weight. I have not had a chance to test it. I do not live where the mill is located. And in my original post I indicated that I was primarily looking for...

I wish there was a saw mill category. Even the simple ones like mine are relatively complex in terms of set up and all the steps it takes from loading a log to finished boards. Not to mention people wondering which brand to buy. What their needs are. What it takes to make one worthwhile whether...

The particular trailer shown above is their off road only trailer. I just looked at one of their product videos and it shows the trailer like I have being towed down the road with the saw head unit in the position indicated in the manual so I guess they got it all figured out. As mentioned, the...

I just received a Woodland Mills HM126 Woodlander XL which is their HM126 sawmill on a 16.5 foot trailer plus about 4 feet of trailer tongue. We got it all assembled and running this weekend and everything went well and it works great. But, the saw head unit, which rides on rails, is locked in...

To be clear, I'm considering a fuel stabilizer because that is what _Kawasaki_ recommends in their manual. And again, they did not specify which one. I normally do not add anything to fuel or oil in any vehicle. I generally think it is snake oil. I know a lot of folks feel otherwise. (I do put...

Great. Thanks guys. Will go with Sta-Bil. Really like the idea of the fuel line shut off valves too.

I bought a new Cub Cadet ZT2 z-turn this summer. It has the Kawasaki 22 hp FR engine. I have never owned a grass cutting device that cost this much money. I either mowed with the rotary cutter on the tractor or a push mower. During the off season I never did anything to my push mowers for...

I hope so but the proof is in the pudding. We'll see.

I do not remember the figure but our neighbor in town got mulch delivered. I asked the price and was staggered. Was it real "mulch"? I don't know but it looks like what comes out of my chipper with some age on it. But that's not even the real issue. Where my cabin is no one will deliver. Could...

A lot of the scraps that will come off the sawmill will be pine. I generally do not burn pine in my fireplaces. So, the chipper should make short work of the scraps and the resulting chips will be used for landscape beds etc. (I'm not talking about a fancy yard/garden. Just beds around the cabin...

I think the primary pine killer here is the southern pine beetle. That should not be an issue with wood chips I wouldn't think but I've heard the beetles also introduce blue stain mold. Some of my logs have evidence of that (I think). I am not sure that by itself the blue stain mold would be a...

Great pointers, thanks. Mine is on a trailer. I understand that initial set up is difficult but that once done the trailer is pretty rigid. We will see. Fortunately my son-in-law is a surveyor. He has a good mind for this stuff!

They are indeed handy moving brush around. And they'll be great for loading the saw mill.

@norshud . The manual on the mill now suggests using the torque wrench as the preferred method and to only use the belville washer system if you've calibrated and shimmed them based on the proper torque spec. What I'd heard was the original belville washer system worked well but later down the...

Yes, WC 68. Hope your recovery goes well and you get to use your mill soon.

Update: Took delivery of a Woodland Mills HM126 with the extended trailer. My daughter and her husband went in half with us. Why Woodland Mills? Several reasons: 1) Cost. For a basic mill they are one of the lowest priced manufacturers. After deciding that I did need it to be on a trailer...

Update: My Woodland Mills WC68 arrived today along with my Woodland Mills HM126 saw mill and the 16' trailer. My wife and I assembled the chipper in about an hour and a half which included cutting the PTO shaft and filling the 5 gallon tank with hydraulic fluid. That part took a long time. It...

Used mine today to line up the 3 point hitch. Great tip guys.

I pulled a pair of pliers out of a tire once. One of the handles went right in. The biggest problem I have on my property is locust trees. Somehow my tractor has been unscathed but have had several flats on my truck. Was able to plug them though.

That is a good idea. Might keep it on the tractor instead.

Yes, the rakers are the right height. I mostly use the Stihl sharpening tool that several people have linked to. It sharpens the teeth and files the rakers at the same time. The bar is in good shape. As mentioned, there is nothing wrong with the Farm Boss. It does what it is designed to do...

I thought I had or wanted to have most every sort of practical tool and now I discover these things that I never knew existed. It will go in my truck tool box. I got under the truck this morning and I can’t find any damage or even a mark. That surprises me because the sound it made sounded...

I looked them up and the description said they can also be used as an alignment drift.

Thanks guys. No telling what it did to the underside of my truck. I did not get to do a thorough inspection today. Will get under there tomorrow. But at least I got a new tool!

I was driving through a small town yesterday when it sounded like something crashed into the side of my truck. I did not see anything in the road and thought maybe a man hole cover had come up. I pulled over and could not find any damage to my truck. Then I walked down the road and found the...

I am happy to be educated on the matter but Tractor Supply had hydraulic “oil” and fluid. By the descriptions the “fluid” is more versatile. I bought the oil since that is what the manual called for.

My son in law is a surveyor. He wears Meindls every day and has for years. He swears by them and most of his crew and his brother’s crew wear them as well. The ones they wear are nearly $400 but they are uninsulated. The company pays for theirs. I need at least 400g Thinsulate or equivalent for...

Thanks guys. I did read on the description of the Tractor Supply hydraulic "oil" not to use it with wet brakes or in final drives. It looks like my local Tractor Supply only has hydraulic "fluid" in stock but it is ISO 46, which the chipper manual calls for, and it sounds like from what you guys...

Getting a PTO chipper next week. Infeed roller is hydraulic with its own hydraulic pump. Manual calls for iso 46 hydraulic oil. I see hydraulic oil and hydraulic fluid available. Always use hydraulic fluid in the tractor of course and I realize hydraulic oil is not appropriate for that...

There is an REI store not too far from me. Have heard great things about their service and products. Have never shopped there since my needs are more for a hunting boot than a hiking or snow boot.....but in reality there is probably a lot of crossover in terms of features and design.

I heard back immediately from Dave Page (always a good sign). He will do a complete "re-bottom" and re-sole for $125. Since the uppers are in good shape and a new pair of comparable boots would be well over $350 I am going to give it a shot.

There is a video about how he got started on their web page. Worth a look. Just search "Dave Page Cobbler". Their personal take on people's favorite boots is interesting and accurate. I've had plenty of junk boots but the good ones I'll never forget. Okay, I'll never forget some of the bad ones...

My Brownings are traditional welt design and a local cobbler was able to resole them. But, they are now 15 years old, got much heavier use and the uppers are pretty much shot. I contacted Meindl USA about my boots. They said they have no repair facilities in the US. They referred me to Dave...

I'm going to attempt the repair myself. Nothing to lose at this point. Will get both surfaces clean. Get boots warmed up. A few globs of Shoe Goo where the rubber is deteriorating and then contact cement everywhere else and then tape them up to hold everything in place. Will probably take four...

Nevermind. I just removed the rubber soles that were peeling away and the rubber bed underneath is crumbling away. These cannot be repaired. Sad. And I doubt I'll buy another pair of Meindls. $325 and only last 5 years of fairly infrequent use is unacceptable. My previous Brownings lasted...

I have a pair of Meindl 10" hunting boots which are the best boots I have ever owned and possibly the most comfortable footwear I've ever owned. I don't know how old they are but no more than 5 years old and have not seen particularly hard use......although I may have done some shovel work in...

Hah hah. We've gone from just sharpen your existing saw for once all the way to two man saws with motorcycle engines. I love TBN.

Thanks. My son-in-law’s older brother is deep into modding saws. Does a lot of it himself. Stihl only as far as I know. I can talk to him as well. But in all probability I won’t go down that rabbit hole. I will probably see him tomorrow so I’ll see what his thoughts are.

Okay, I’ll bite. And I’m sure I’m opening a can of worms that I’ll probably regret, but if porting provides that sort of power to weight improvement why aren’t they that way from the factory. Or maybe the better question is what is the downside? I’m fairly familiar with the give and take of...

Sort of. We felled 3 pines today. The largest was about 20" at the base and almost 90 feet tall. The smallest was 16" at the base and around 65 feet tall. My son in law felled all three. Just for the story all three fell exactly where we wanted them to using wedges. For the third one we also...

I guess you guys are right. Must be a dull chain.

@John_Mc Thank you very much to the links for those chains. I have not been able to find them anywhere else and Stihl lists them as "unavailable" and so did the Oregon site. Agree that the 20" bar might be too much for the Farm Boss and I think you are right about it being a 271. My...

We had one of those when I was a kid. We thought it would be fun and we begged dad to take it with us to get firewood. We were mistaken. I don't think it has been used since then.

I never have yet but maybe this time will be the one. ;-) I'll give an update once I decide to get a bigger saw or not.

Yep.

Yep. That's the point of this thread. I do appreciate all the tips to keep the saw sharp and all that. And I'm sure I could do a better job sharpening it. I'm sure my technique could be refined. I'm sure I could be in better shape. Those points are well taken and appreciated. But I still don't...

Saw is down at my cabin so can't post pics right now. The Stihl sharpening tool tops off the depth gauges as you file the tooth so they should be fine though.

I have used wedges (wooden) in the past for felling larger stuff. But that was a long time ago. Don't have any now. Expecting some in my stocking for Christmas. As far as brands, I have no experience with Husqvarna. Other than the one little Echo everything else has been Stihl including...

Okay, I'm going to throw a bomb into this discussion. I wasn't going to talk about brands, but what about an Echo? I had a small one that was stolen and it was excellent. Their higher end ones are about 10-15% less than comparable Stihl, within a few ounces of the same weight with similar power...

This is off topic and might not be appropriate for this forum but as the OP I'll add my two cents. Amazon, especially with Prime is cheap, fast and easy. You can almost always find what you need and get it in a day or two with less hassle than driving out to Walmart/Lowes etc. That's why I...

Actually that is a valid question that no one here can answer and maybe I can't either. I sharpen the chain regularly as mentioned. But is my technique good? I don't know. The Stihl jig makes it hard to get wrong and I was decent with a just a file in years past. The electric sharpener is all...

Agree. I guess I should clarify. I'm not in _bad_ shape. I split and cut my own firewood. I run 1-2 miles 3-4 days a week. I am not on any medications. I am not overweight. I weigh less than I did in high school. I do not have any major health issues. My back gives me trouble from time to time...

Yes. Probably a third of the replies are that I need to sharpen my chain and quite a few of them suggest that I use the Stihl sharpener.......even after I've said multiple times that the chain was/is sharp and sharpened with that very device. I am not complaining. The advice is sound. And in...

I will get some new chains. Its time. But that is not the issue alone. Again, the chain has been sharp. And again, the example of the 12 inch trees is just the tip of the issue. In the future I will be felling trees up to and sometimes over 26" in diameter. That is the real issue.

No yellow Stihl chains are made for this model.

Yep. I uses after each use of the saw and occasionally during the same job.

The blade has been sharp. That is not the issue.

Good points. It is not that the saw makes it impossible to do the job. I am not an experienced feller but each of these pines I cut with perfect hinges and each one fell exactly where I wanted it to. The chain is well used but it was sharp. The point was that the work was harder than it needed...

Agree about the log size. Assessing our needs and budget we did not even feel that the 130 would be necessary for what we want to do with it. The only temptation will be when we get a blow down of a nice big oak. If that happens and it is too big for the mill we'll slap the chainsaw mill onto...

I honestly don't remember which one mine is and I'm not at the cabin to look and see. Probably the 271. But it is 4 years old so the models may have changed. On a side note, it appears there is only one type of chain that will fit my Farm Boss and it is an anti-kickback chain. Both Stihl and...

I guess I should have clarified. Not a chainsaw mill. I ordered a Woodland Mills HM126 band saw mill on a trailer.

For felling trees the work will be fairly brief. Drop the tree. Top it. Knock a few branches off. Cut it up into a few lengths. Probably drop no more than one or two trees at any given time.* The issue with the Farm Boss is that when the bar was fully into the tree on the back cut and sometimes...

I'll have the Stihl Farm Boss and my ancient but runs-like-new homeowner Stihl 025 which is perfect for limbing.

That will be the case most of the time.

Thanks guys. Great advice. Agree with the power-to-weight-to-fatigue ratio. That can be a hard call. I guess I'm looking for the perfect combo there.

I've got one. It is great. I've also got files and an electric on bar sharpener. The one you showed is the one I use the most. Quick and easy and does a good job.

I'm 58 years old and I'm in decent but not excellent physical condition. Average strength I would say. I am not a chainsaw guy. In other words, I've been using decent consumer Stihl chainsaws all my life but I don't know anything about cc's, chain types, tuning, modding etc etc. Primary use has...

My deck will get a lot of sun. High humidity. A good bit or rain. Times of drought (like right now). Like my front steps, probably nothing short or teak or redwood will hold up for long periods in such conditions. Mill doesn't ship until December and it will take time to cut and dry whatever I...

All the piers and sills on my cabin have this. Primarily as a termite barrier. 20 years. No termite treatment. No termites.

I think they have been hit by the same stuff we are all getting hit with. Covid related stuff. Trouble getting junk off the boats from China. People being paid not to work. Not enough truckers. Etc. That is what is killing us at work. We are woefully understaffed and the only applications we...

I ordered a Woodland Mills. They are currently saying Nov 31. They're water tanks are aluminum. Maybe that's the problem. Woodmizer states they are 44 weeks out. When I contacted them they said at least 45 weeks out. Even if I picked it up. With Woodland Mills I can cancel the order at any time...

My son says every paint business expert has a different opinion about what works and what doesn't. And that they'll fight you over it.

Thanks guys. Several thoughts: You guys are all over the place with recommendations, many of which are contradictory! ;-) I'm not complaining. I asked. As for patio vs deck. Not an option. This will be 4 feet off the ground. As for old growth wood. Tell me about it. The wood on my nearly 100...

All of the pine here is primarily used for pulp wood and everyone calls all of it "yellow pine" including loblolly, short leaf and the various hybrids. You can sometimes sell large straight pines for telephone poles. My loblollys are in creek bottoms. That's why they are so big. The creek...

I think we have mostly short leaf pine, or some hybrid variation of it that volunteers from heavy planting in the region. People tend to call it yellow pine but not sure if that is accurate. I have tall, straight 40+ year old trees I can choose from. We also have loblolly. My loblolly trees are...

I am getting ready to order a portable saw mill. It will take several months before it gets here. One of the first projects will be to build a deck extension off of the front porch of my cabin. This will be uncovered and fully exposed to sun and rain. It will be made of pine from off of my...

We have lots of wild pigs where I am. They are a nuisance and very destructive. I shoot them whenever I can. The 100 pound or less feral looking sows are fantastic eating. White meat. No gaminess at all. No fat so you have to consider that when cooking them. I seek them out. We grill the tender...

I have been told that these are intended for router sized motors and not for higher draw, higher powered motors and will either burn up the motor or the speed control. But as mentioned, I know nothing about this stuff.

I bought an inexpensive motor rated switch. Thanks guys.

You are correct. It actually says "Max AMB" and then 40 C. Some of it was scratched off and hard to see but this is clearly referring to the max operating ambient temp. Thanks.

I have a 1/3 hp electric motor that I want to make into disk sander (French Wheel). I've got an arbor and a chuck and a wheel but the motor needs a switch and I'm an idiot when it comes to electricity. I can wire it, I just don't know what to get. Motor label say 115 volts; amps = 40 max. Do I...

I've been through a lot of cheap sprinklers. I'm talking above ground, not sprinkler system stuff. I don't water much but when I do I don't want a big old hassle. I prefer the chink-chink-chink type but everything I've bought in the last ten years has been junk and does not last. All from China...

Recently got a 54" Z turn to mow the grass around my cabin. Several acres which I used to mow with a 6' rotary cutter on my 45hp Kubota with Ag tires and then push mowed around the cabin. Not only does the Z turn do it faster but it now looks like a country club! The problem is, in order to keep...

So far the new belt has about 3.5 hours on it and it looks fine.

In another thread I started about belt wear that I was getting with a new Z turn I mentioned that I slo-mo videoed my mower deck belts while the PTO was being engaged. At medium throttle there was tremendous belt whip and it jumps all the way out of the grove of the center spindle pulley and...

There is indeed a lot going on and the first half a second or so looks like utter chaos. The whole deck jumps up. The tensioning spring/pulley bounces back and forth a long time before settling down. For anyone who is curious it is very easy to do. Just get someone to sit on the mower and do the...

Here is a screen shot of close up of the video with medium throttle PTO engagement. You can see that the belt is well outside of the edges of the center pulley. It never looked like it would come off but when engaged at full throttle it did not jump nearly as far off the pulley as at medium...

No thanks. Not against electric but none of those would be up to the job I have.

You can't directly upload videos to TBN and I do not use or subscribe to any of the hosts TBN accepts. Sorry. (I'm not a Luddite, I just choose not to participate in the majority of social media platforms.)

I don't know how to do it from my phone and I'm not at home but will post them tomorrow. Do you know if I can directly upload them to TBN or do they need to be hosted somewhere?

There was about an additional hour on the meter and at least down a gallon, maybe a little more. I also checked the blades and he had indeed sharpened them nicely. Again, even though this guy is not the friendliest sort I cannot fault him on his service or prices. I did slow-mo videos of the...

That's what he claimed and a good part of a tank of gas was missing so I have no reason to doubt him. I'll check the hour meter in the morning. And if he did then I give him credit for at least trying to replicate the problem.

Got it back from the dealer. He inspected it and saw no problems. He put a new belt on it. He mowed two acres with it and says the belt still looks like new and it does. He says he sharpened the blades. Not sure why but nice if he did. Filled it back up with gas while I was there. He charged me...

I'll pick the mower up Friday afternoon. I'm sure I'll be billed for the belt and labor. Its also an hour drive there and an hour back. That's life. I am going to document things clearly this time starting with the dealer's work order/bill. Will get pics of new belt in place along with hour...

What can be done about that? They do not appear to be adjustable.

I will look into that. I'll have to get my wife to be on the mower to do it. I'm assuming this was fairly easy to see happen? The thing is, I have never engaged the PTO with the deck all the way down. I might have done it with the deck at the highest setting but never at the lowest. In fact, it...

Wife just got off the phone with the dealer. He says he could not find anything wrong with it. He said maybe I ran over a stick or a pine cone and messed up the belt. Twice. (Yes, that sounds pretty lame to me too). So I'm guessing he's going to charge me for belt and labor. If it eats another...

I did check the belt guides/retainers and I did not see rubbing there.

That's my biggest fear. Then what? I hate selling a defective machine to someone else. Maybe trade it back in to the dealer for something else. But I think Cub Cadet are the only Z turns he carries. Maybe one of their higher lines?

I probably would too. We’ll see.

He might charge me for it. If he does I will pay for it. But he'll get a polite ear full and a bad review. For whatever either of those are worth. In my mind if a manufacturing defect leads to a premature failure of a consumable then Cub Cadet should eat that cost.

Update: Was mowing this weekend. Everything going great but started to hear a slight thrumming noise coming from the deck. Also thought I smelled hot rubber (but maybe not). Stopped, looked underneath and the deck belt was almost completely destroyed. Rather than pulling the deck off and...

Sorry guys, I can't give any more details about the pump or the wiring. They live an hour from me and I only get over there every few weeks.....and.....despite being a decent weekend-warrior mechanic and carpenter I am an idiot when it comes to electricity. @workinonit , I live below Charlotte...

I think it is on its own circuit but I will check and make sure.

Thanks guys. The well is over 400 feet deep. Rain should not affect it at all. Not sure if the power cable is in conduit. It is buried of course. I would assume the well guy and the electrician have matched the breaker and the pump specs but who knows these days. I have a multitester but do...

I am asking this question on behalf of my daughter. She has heard me say so many times "I had a problem and went to the "tractor web site" and those guys told me how to fix it." So now she asks me to ask you guys to solve one for her. The problem is, I don't really have all the facts. But here...

Thanks guys. Good info. As long as it isn’t some sort of design flaw of my mower I can live with it. (This ZT has a fabricated deck by the way. ) And to clarify, it cuts my lawn just great even at near full speed. It’s the tall seed stalks that are the issue. And it’s not a big issue. If it...

First a comment: I recently bought a Cub Cadet ZT2 54". I don't know if buying a Cub Cadet was the right move but buying a z-turn sure was. Getting the 3-4 acres done so fast and they look so good (compared to the 6' rotary cutter behind 45 hp tractor). If this particular model keeps doing what...

Thanks guys. That helps me understand the difference but not sure what the actual practical, every day use advantage is. Also, not sure what the disadvantage of the lower priced mechanical infeed system is. Finally, not sure why no one seems to make one to run off of a set of remotes on the...

Can you explain the difference between hydrostatic and hydraulic in this case and why one is better than the other? Also, what advantages do those two have over mechanical feed? Thanks.

Thanks guys. Lots to think about here.

I would probably be there. But fortunately my son-in-law is very competent and has lots of experience with tractors and equipment. @dlctcg Agree. And what we were getting from the county was not really mulch either. It was just chips that their crews brought in and people's yard trimmings etc...

Thanks guys. Good info. Since this is something my wife wants more than I do the budget could probably be stretched a bit. ;) Agree about the DR brand. Watched the video on their web site on their PTO unit and it looked like it was going to shake itself apart. Not too worried about the labor. I...

@nyone My property is out in the sticks. I doubt anyone would be willing to dump there but I will certainly make some phone calls. And I have no idea how many yards I need. Was filling up a 10'x6'x3' trailer about twice a year but could use even more than that. So, all-in-all not a huge amount...

So you're saying the self contained units are more capable at a comparable but somewhat higher price? Or do you have to go way higher on price to get that better capability? I am not familiar with self contained units other that the DR Chipper-Shredder (brand) types or the big units the tree...

We use a lot of mulch. Until recently mulch was free from the county. Unfortunately they stopped their mulch program (backwards rural county can't get anything right and when they do they eventually mess that up). Purchasing mulch at the volume I want is very expensive. Anyway, looking into pto...

I did check everything when I changed the belt but I did not remove the deck. This time I will remove the deck and check everything out in the open and on both sides.

Sorry I was confusing. The original belt was frayed, I believe, because it came off the center spindle pulley twice early on and rubbed on the center spindle shaft. After that it stayed on and functioned properly for nearly 5 hours. I only replaced it because it looked so bad. Why it came off...

Too Scottish to quit being cheap. ;)

I have a new Cub Cadet ZT2 54" zero turn. It has about 8 hours on it. The deck belt came off of the center spindle pulley twice. I'm pretty sure that I did something wrong the first time; either shut the engine off with the PTO engaged or starting with it engaged. Not sure. Put it back on and...

My manual says to mow at full throttle for better blade speed and cut quality as well as properly charging the battery. I've seen tear down videos of dead engines that claimed they were run at lower throttle speeds which caused overheating. I can't attest to the validity of those videos though...

You made me wonder if I'd read my manual wrong so I went back and checked: Move the throttle to the FAST position. Pull the PTO switch up/out into the ENGAGED (ON) position. NOTE: When operating the tractor be certain that the throttle...

Thanks guys. That's probably the approach I'll take too.

I just bought a Cub Cadet ZT2 54" zero turn mower. Really liking it so far. But, I was looking at the manual for the 23hp Kawasaki FR691V and was a little surprised to see that at 300 hours it recommends that the combustion chambers be cleaned, adjust valve clearance and clean and lap valve...

My new Cub Cadet ZT2 54" manual says very specifically to engage the electric PTO at full throttle. To state that as standard operating procedure they must have a reason for it. I don't know what that reason is but it seems to be common across several brands according to this thread so that is...

Good idea.

Thanks guys. I also blow mine off after every use. Just seems to make sense to me. I will also plan on changing oil every year even if not required based on hours. Funny thing is that that after a pleasant spring with plenty of rain there hasn't been any rain for around 10 days and little or...

Time for the 5 hour new engine oil change. Kawasaki FR series 24 hp. Manual gives the typical ranges of oil which always make it hard for me to decide. I read somewhere but cannot find confirmation that Kawasaki put out a service bulletin recommending 10w-40 in their mower engines. I do not...

A lot depends on your budget. I was sure I was going to go with a Kubota or a JD but the sticker shock turned me off of that. I got a Cub Cadet ZT2 54". Compared to similarly spec'd JDs and Kubotas it was as much as $1000 less expensive. It is a residential model. Kawasaki engine like many of...

Makes sense.

Got the pump in and the tank in and the fuel filter changed. What a goat rope. Took about three hours. The fuel filter was a real hassle. In the frame rail but up against a cross member where you can barely get your hand in there and can't see much. I just don't get it. One foot toward the rear...

As mentioned, neither of my Fords was ever driven repeatedly with low gas and in fact the one I'm working on now I kept very near full of gas for the last 4 years since it was only used on weekends. So that isn't the issue in this case. Having said that, since I'm not a mechanic and did not do...

I've had a JD light duty bush hog for 16 years. Other than using some large batwing mowers to help a friend get his fields cut the JD is my sole experience with using a rotary cutter. But 16 years is a pretty long time. There isn't much, in my opinion to differentiate one similarly spec'd...

The problem is common enough that I have had two Fords with the issue. (My daughter and her husband inherited the other one and footed that bill.) Neither spent much time with low fuel. Both well cared for. Youtube is also full of videos regarding the problem. I've known folks with various...

That is a whole other rant but I absolutely agree. It is perfectly bizarre to have to remove beds and/or tanks to fix a problem that is clearly a common one on older trucks. I am sure there are efficiency gains but doubt that they outweigh the hassle of replacement which would otherwise be...

Thanks! Here are a few pictures of this adventure

A general fuel system question. Does the fuel system need to be bled when all of this gets put back together? If so, how? I know there is a little valve on the fuel rail over the injectors.

I got off work at noon today and headed down to the cabin. Got the bed off the truck in well under an hour. If the bed bolts are not rusted/frozen it is simple. One bolt was a little tough but PB Blaster loosened it up in no time. Used the FEL to lift it off the truck. With a tractor the size of...

You'll get used to it fast. My first experience ever on a ZT was backing my new one off my trailer. That almost ended in disaster but somehow got it down without incident. Still not sure how. My experience as a new ZT owner is that you just take it slow and it comes pretty naturally after an...

@ponytug That's good info. I think I researched this a number of years ago and then promptly forgot it. As mentioned, the special no-stink anode rods work great but for probably less than a year. Fortunately, as soon as the water that was standing in the heater has been used we no longer have...

I could not find such a module on my 03, at least not anywhere near where it is on the 04. None of the 03 and earlier diagnostic work ups have mentioned that module. So not sure if there is one on the 03. Anyway, once the bed is off I track down anything and everything connected to the fuel...

Changed my mind again. Going to replace relay and fuel filter. If still no go I'm going to pull the bed off if it doesn't fight back too hard. If it still looks too hard with the bed off I'll take it to the dealer with it off. From all the videos the only real hard part about bed removal is the...

I'm not sure. The 04 and up seem to but I looked for one where they are on the 04 and could not find it. I've watched a few more videos and have decided the job is not for me. Going to take it to the mechanic at some point.

@LittleBill21 I've heard people do that with the truck bed but not the cab. However, I'm willing to poke around in there and see what that would involve. I don't weld so not sure how I'd seal it back up. The tank on this truck is only 25 gallons but it is at least 5 feet long and has a 1/4 tank...

I checked and it is not the fuel pump fuse. It could be the fuel pump relay which I am going to replace. I'm going to replace the fuel filter as well. I'll do both of those things before diving in. The emergency fuel pump shutoff was not tripped.

I need help with a problem. I have a 2003 Ford F150 that probably has a dead fuel pump. This is basically a farm truck and stays down at my cabin so there is no urgency to fix it. I have watched all the videos about how to replace the fuel pump. Even though it requires removing the bed on most...

Thanks. You are right, a commercial unit would have been my first choice if cost had not been an issue.Even the commercial Cub Cadets are very different machines from the residential units. As is I feel like what I paid for this unit was a stretch. And even if I had had the funds for a...

Agreed. But as mentioned, there is, at least in my mind, a reasonably good chance that it was due to me not following proper operating procedure as specified in the owner’s manual. Since then I have been and have not had an issue. If the problem reoccurs while using it properly I will definitely...

Follow up on the new Cub Cadet Z turn: I think I made the right choice of tool and its specs. Since getting used to operating it I am definitely getting the job done faster and the cut looks way better than the rotary cutter. And now, instead of spending 30-40 minutes behind a push mower I can...

I've used Round Up for years on tree stumps. Works great. Keep the concentration high. I paint the whole stump. No reason not too. It even kills gum stumps. I know it will kill the Honey Locust stumps because I've done it plenty of times. I'm not sure it will kill the root system which, in my...

I would recommend poisoning the stump. Locusts will sprout from remaining roots. Putting brush killer on the freshly cut stump might, just maybe, kill the roots too.

Agree about tractors and mowing. I've worn the shoes off my rotary cutter using it like a lawn mower. Having said that, I've been getting by that way for 16 years. Anyway, today I bought a Z turn. I had already decided I could not afford a JD or Kubota 54" zero turn or riding mower. So I...

Thanks guys. I don't know if my well is deep or shallow. It is 300 feet which seems deep to me. Especially when I was paying for it. ;-) If the propane heater will not help with the smell or the build up of deposits there is no compelling reason to switch.

I've got several problems with the electric water heater down at my cabin. The first is that it makes the water stink like rotten eggs when water stands in the tank. We go down there about three times a month. I've tried all the remedies. Some work, like the special rod you put it, but not for...

My property is covered in them as is the cattle ranch next door. My B-I-L, the rancher next door, says he gets flats fairly often from them in his big tractors. In 15 years I never have and I mow under and around them all the time. I certainly do not run over fallen branches on purpose. My farm...

Subcompact diesels cost as much as nice z turns. I already have a 45hp tractor with loader.

@BF2011 Very good info. I'm leaning that way. No narrow gates to worry about. @5030 That level ZT is way beyond my current means or needs. I may borrow a friends garden tractor and see how it does.

@frogracer It looks like yours is a 60". What HP engine does it have? Also, if you don't mind, can you give me a ballpark figure on price? Edit: Never mind on the price. Great price but way out of my budget for now.

Agree, but my tractor is a 2005. I'm assuming it was the cheapest option.

I have 3 or 4 acres I normally mow with a 45hp utility tractor and 6' rotary cutter which is not exactly 'lawn' but more like lawn than field. (I have mowed this with someone else's JD yard tractor and it did okay). I also have the yard around my cabin which I push mow. Getting tired of push...

I understand why the tires are filled. It is an absolute must for my tractor and what I do. There are just much better options than calcium.

I talked to my B-I-L last night. He's a farmer. Lives next door to my cabin. He said a ZT was probably a good idea but he did mention that I consider how rough the terrain is in terms of comfort. He mentioned, and I have noticed this myself, watching someone zoom around on rough ground on a ZT...

I do have rust around one of the rear rim valves. I guess that means they put calcium carbonate in the rears at the dealer. I don't know why anyone uses that stuff.

I have also been around and around on this issue. I have a weekend cabin with 3-4 acres of grass/field/lawn that I mow with my 45hp Kubota with a 6' rotary cutter plus a push mower for around the cabin. I've been doing this for 16 years but its getting old. Mowing around trees etc with the...

I do not run on pavement. I use the loader a lot. Mine stays in 4wd. Because it needs to. Lead-lag is generally not a serious issue based on wear for me since with my terrain there is always the ability to slip if needed. If I do tires I will replace them myself. B-I-L has a large Ag shop just...

I think in my case new fronts and old rears would be fine as the rears have virtually no tread wear. However, when the time comes I'll probably do all four just to have the job done at once. All four tires are performing fine. No significant leaks. I suppose I've lost some traction on the...

I have a 16 year old Kubota L4400 4wd with about 600 hours on it. Came with Ag tires. Fronts are worn, torn, chipped and cracked. Considerable tread loss (fronts are overdriven compared to rears). Could easily keep running them for a while but it wouldn't be nuts to replace them. Anyway I think...

Yep. I looked back and you did. And then again later. But in the words of the immortal Bones McCoy "Dammit Jim, I'm a doctor, not a ".........mechanic. I will say this: I brought the saw down to my property this afternoon. One pull with the choke on then one pull with the choke off and it fires...

You are welcome. I just wish it didn't involve admitting that I am a stooge.

Not a compression issue. Always good firm crank. It was the spark plug. Got a new one today. Runs fine. I still can't get my head around why it was a spark plug issue. It would crank and run. That means it was getting spark. Why would a spark plug fire and then not fire? Final analysis: I...

He’s a bit of a wiz with saws. He rebuilds them and modifies them. So if there is an internal issue he’d find it.

I will replace the impulse tube. It is not hard to do but requires another tear down because it isn't very accessible. No big deal. New spark plug too. Muffler is clear. Couple of thoughts: When it cranks it cranks easily and runs normally for 10-15 seconds then stops as if flooded (has to sit...

@BlackOps Could be the magneto. They're not expensive but if I keep replacing things I could have just used the money to buy a new saw. I'm already in about $80.

@5030 Tank strainer replaced already. Only thing left in the fuel system to replace is the impulse tube.

Installed the new carb. It is OEM. After a few pulls it turned over. Switch choke to open. One pull and it fires up. Responds to throttle inputs and then 5 seconds later it quits and will not restart. I could cry. That is the exact same problem I started with. Very disappointed and frustrated...

Okay, got it all back together except the carb....a small miracle.... Should be quick and easy to pop the new one in when it gets here and see if I've wasted $40.

Yes, I understand that. I don't think I'm explaining how this toilet's 'S' pipe is constructed very well. I'll try to link to a picture so it might be clearer. But again, the top of the 'S' does not share a common wall with the lower part of the 'S'. The upper part of the 'S' holds the water...

Sorry guys. Missed the last two posts. @PILOON , I have replaced the filter. No help. I have torn the saw completely down with the exception of the crank case/piston assembly. Everything is thoroughly cleaned. I can see nothing wrong. I looked at all the cheap Chinese replacement carbs and...

I'll snake it before I pull it but it is flushing fine so I doubt that's it. The more I look at this toilet the more certain I am that it is not a crack. As mentioned the 'S' pipe is a true 'S' and is completely out in the open underneath the toilet. I can see the whole thing; both sides. Any...