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Yep. They are often referred to as a "Flyback Diode": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyback_diode

Was your blade like one of the ones in post 839 in this thread? The Stihl Chisel Tooth blade is reportedly pretty good for saplings. I own one, but haven't tried it yet. (After a friend straight-gassed my Johnsered 2036 brush cutter, I replaced it with a Stihl FS240. I've used the string head...

The new design is great. I like it better than the old one. The fact that is comes with equipment for parbuckling is a plus for those who don't already have a way to load logs. i checked with Woodland Mills. Their design is able to dump the full rated 2000# load (unlike the Dr PRoducts...

Strangely, I was actually thinking Woodland Pro, went to Bailey’s website and searched for “Woodland Pro chain” to make sure it hadn’t been discontinued, but then apparently wrote “Windsor” twice instead

Sorry - I meant Woodland Pro. Not sure where I came up with "Windsor".

Doesn't Carlton make the Windsor Pro line sold by Bailee's? Windsor Pro chain is still available. Maybe Oregon just shifted it to another division?

Interesting that we've had such different results. What model of trimmer/brushcutter are you putting it on? On our larger machine, I never run the string head. It's always either the 3 pointed blade for lighter stuff or the saw blade for saplings/thinning or buckthorn work. You do need enough...

Fore stuff that is to heavy for string, but which wraps up around the saw blade styles, I use one of the 3 pointed metal blades. It works pretty well from grass up to seedlings and small saplings.

THe string works great for grass and smaller weeds. If you need to remove tougher stuff, you really need a metal blade. I'm not really a fan of the chainsaw style blades on these trimmers. They rob too much power from the trimmer. I tried one when the blade that came with my brush cutter saw...

The same way I knew the self-applied spray was working, and I assume the same way you know your self-applied treatment is working: I don't find ticks on me, despite working in areas that are heavily infested with ticks. As further indication: I often do trail building and maintenance, felling...

Topic drift is a way of life here. No point in getting worked up about it... especially when the OP starts the drift.

The pretreated stuff does work. My oldest pretreated clothing are T shirts from Insect Shield. I estimate they have been through about 50 washes and are still working. When I used to spray my clothing with Permethrin, I'd get about 4 or 5 washes out of it before it faded and became ineffective...

I bought a Wallmart AGM battery for my dump trailer to run the hydraulic pump. It's 5 years old and no problems yet. I do try to be sure to charge it back up as soon as I get home after using it, and I keep it on a smart charger when not in use. Almost all of the aftermarket automotive type...

Same place the rest of us go, they just take good care of them and replace them on a schedule long before they start to get weak.

Those great Husqvarna combination fuel cans we were talking about a nuber of pages back seem to have completely disappeared from Amazon - at least when searching from the US. I had been checking from time to time, hoping for a price drop (Most of them were coming from Europe or Japan). I can no...

Both Calcium Chloride and Magnesium Chloride are corrosive.

And don't forget these important points: https://zapatopi.net/afdb/

I know it's not what you were looking for, but I just use a plastic 5 gallon can and add a vent, so it pours faster. I bought a 5 or 10-pack of vents from amazon similar to these: https://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Blitz-Scepter-Essence-Midwest/dp/B00Z3TQZJ8/ THey make a huge differenc ein the time...

That's my rule of thumb for much of their stuff, but I have had good luck with their Icon hand tools. I also have their Daytona 3 Ton Super Duty Low Profile Floor Jack and have been happy with that (it was only half full of hydraulic fluid when I bought it, but next time I was at the local...

I just can’t bring myself to trust the HF battery chargers. The charge and float voltages on the two I measured were not where they should be. (One too high, the other too low.) That was years ago, maybe they’ve improved by now, but I’d rather not chance it. As far as leaving hammers around...

I was happy with the deal. I would have liked to get a bit more off compared to the price of a new one, but they were really tough to find when I was shopping. The dealers in my area wouldn't even take an order for a new one. They just said "we'll put you on a list and give you a call if one...

The narrow vs wide decision was made long ago. For my needs, bigger is definitely no better. I'm going small/narrow which is why I was focused on the Mule SX and the Pioneer 520. I don't use this for tearing around on steep trails. I use it for lighter work when it's too wet/soft for my tractor...

I ended up buying a used 2022 Honda 520. The key in my initial post was "small UTV". The 50" width suits me fine. I don't need to tow huge loads. I have a tractor set up for work in the woods for the heavier work (forestry grapple on the front, 3 Pt hitch logging winch, dump trailer, forwarding...

I have a good relationship with my tractor dealer for over 20 years. That relationship has bailed me out when I broke something and needed a quick turn-around on service. If I thought it was an honest mistake, I'd just go in and talk to them about it. If they could not make good on the price...

I lost a good brush cutter that way. (Actually let someone use it. Figured it would be OK since I told him to use only my gas and I was working in the same area. He straight gassed it with some fuel for a log splitter someone else was running.)

I had never seen that description before, Gordon. It's a bit different than what Stihl claims in their promotional video. They say that is monitors conditions 33 times per second and adjusts accordingly, controlling ignition timing and fuel metering. MAybe Stihl has update their system since...

I have heard from a couple of guys who did muffler mods (which require a retune on the old carbs) who say the autotune handled it just fine. Also heard from one guy who had his saw ported and said his saw still acted fine and the sparkplug looked normal. So it does seem the autotune is doing a...

BTW, if you do remove the tuning limiters to get a saw's mixture adjusted properly, be aware that on at least some saws, they should be replaced when the adjustments are complete. On some saws, removing the caps and leaving them off will cause the mixture screws to vibrate off of their setting...

I'm no chainsaw mechanic, but what I've read indicates that more oil does make the saw run slightly leaner. For two possible reasons: 1 - as you indicated, less gas in the mix (though none of the reading I've done is clear on what affect the oil itself has: does it offset some or all of the gas...

No, but you should make sure to adjust your saw's carburetor for the fuel you are actually using, as changing the amount of oil will affect how rich/lean the carburetor runs. That was true years ago with some of the early bio-based bar oils. If you run it regularly, it was not much of a...

Stumbled across this a while ago: Before I got my antique truck, I bought a 2009 Tacoma Access Cab (has the mini doors behind the main doors to access the tiny seats in the back). I rarely actually put people in the back seats, and I sure wouldn't want to do it for a long trip, but it's been...

I have not greased a bar tip in 15 years and have not had problems using mostly Oregon or Husqvarna and Jonsered bars, even with lots of bore cutting. I did lose the tip on a Tsumura bar after what I thought was rather short usage, but those bars are known for having weak tips. Some chains...

Unless the slot is just the right size to capture the head of a hex head bolt.

Looks like much of my property. I'm not sur ewha smertime conditions are like in that area, but the road appears to be running in the bottom of a slight trough. Maybe it's just how the snow is piled. If it is in a depression that can make for ongoing maintenance problems. Will you have to...

Good luck with it then. I've been on the requesting and as well as on the granting end on several occasions. Just sharing what has affected decision-making when we were awarding grants. It's seldom just a simple yes or no. We ranked the applications, and then started awarding funds until we hit...

If it's still private property (and not owned by a non-profit or similar organization) that makes grants more difficult. Even if the landowner says "I let the public on" grantors know that that permission can be with drawn at any moment. An agreement with some recreation group can bump your...

Most of the grants I've seen for this sort of work go toward properties which guarantee public access. They are not going to pour thousands of dollars into private property when the owner has the right to change their mind and decide. There were a couple of suggestions here that are worth...

They stop the same as any other vehicle on the road. They all have 4 wheel brakes. You need good tires and good sense. I suspect that part of the issue is that with 4WD the drive may not be aware of just how bad the roads are until they actually hit the brakes. That's the wrong time to find out...

It's been decades since I tossed around many hay bales, but assuming this is typical 2 string square bale, they probably weigh around 50 lbs each? 150 bales x 50lbs = 7500 lbs. Maybe a Honda Foreman can actually move that much, but they were rated for something like 8 or 900 lbs towing. When...

That's one of the best descriptions I've seen. The concept of thinking about where the bumper of the tow vehicle is pushing the trailer while backing up is an important one. Another important concept is the idea that while backing, once you start a turn, you have to take some action to stop...

Huh? The death trap has nothing to do with the vehicle. It has everything to do with the idiot behind the wheel who thinks that an AWD SUV makes him/her invincible. (and put on some REAL snow tires for the winter. Those "All-Season" tires... just ain't, at least not if you live in an area with...

Do you have the Woodland Mills T-Rex trailer?

It's a design limitation (probably of the boom). One of their options is a 1500# rated hoist to replace the hand crank winch. Even with that electric hoist, the 600# dump limitation remains.

A major shortcoming of the DR VersaTrailer (in addition to the limited 35˚ dump angle) is that while it can carry up to 2000#, it can only dump 600#. I considered getting one years ago, but that dump limitation was something I just could not live with. I checked with Woodland Mills. Their...

I'm familiar with the MUTS trailer. Just could not tell what it was from your rear-view photo. I've only seen one, and that was some time ago, but they seemed like a good design. The Woodland Mills Multilander is a nice ATV trailer as well. I had written them off, since it disappeared from...

Another useful accessory is the cover. Make sure you get the one to fit your trailer. The one for the 1200# trailer won't fit the 1500# trailer. The correct cover will also fit with the extended sides on. I've found it handy when I have a load of gear and want to keep rain or snow off of it...

What type of trailer is that in your first picture?

I have the Polar tandem axle 1500# trailer (model 8262) that Bridge4 linked for about 8 years. I added the side extensions which increased the capacity from 22 up to 35 cu ft. It comes with the pin hitch, but I also purchased the conversion to makeit work with a 2" ball hitch. It's held up well...

When searching for bigger ticket or unusual items that I am willing to drive a bit for, I regularly use SearchTempest to search multiple Craigslist areas. You put in your search terms, a zip code, and a radius around that code you wish to search, and it comes back with a search of all of the...

Yeah. The magazine was a discovery when recovering a car from a ditch.

Surprisingly, a rolled up magazine or newspaper works well also.

Does anyone make chainsaws that don't have automatic oilers anymore?

I'd love to have some of that equipment, but just can't justify owning it myself (there is a limit on how much unjustifiable equipment my other half will let me make off with. She gave me no guff on the forwarding trailer - in fact encouraged it. So I'm letting any new acquisitions rest for a...

I agree. I really understate the need for this. Without outslope or some other measures will either wash out or be a muddy mess. We do have areas where outslope is just not possible, or where outslope alone is not enough to protect the trails. So we resort to other or additional measures to...

We tend to like a little bit of outslope on our side-hill trials to help keep them from retaining water.

You really need FOPS (Falling Object Protection System) for that. ROPS will do just about nothing to protect you from falling debris.

Have you guys considered starting a gun thread? I don't mind a bit of topic drift - In fact, I often contribute to it myself. However, there seems to be enough interest in the subject to merit a dedicated thread. It would make things easier to find when trying to search out "who was the member...

There's a lot of that going around. Lot's of volunteers and lots of interest when it's just a concept. It's a different story when it comes to actually fitting it in their schedule and showing up.

Only if the turkey was so big, he needed his tractor to haul it back home

Can't see the attachment, but I'm guessing it's the brake release.

Unfortunately, it doesn't always work that way. It depends on the load applied, the material the straps are made of, and he condition. I've has better luck getting ropes back apart than straps. A rolled up magazine also works wonders in assuring the strapes are easy to disconnect. I tried to...

It's been over here in my part of Vermont (the Champlain Valley) for a few weeks now. I was hopeful that another cold snap we had a while back would freeze things up, but the 10" of snow we had just before the temperatures dropped insulated the ground too well.

The first photo was one of my trails. The second was a clearing I made in the woods behind our local elementary school for an outdoor classroom area that was part of my daughter's Girl Scout Gold project (similar to an Eagle project in Boy Scouts). That's not my normal mode. I do very little...

The old army truck I posted a photo of doesn’t even have a key. Just a switch on the dash labeled “ignition” that energize the ignition (but not the starter). So it’s: Battery disconnect on Ignition on Choke Clutch Engage starter with right toe and gas pedal with right heel And if you get it...

Every time I take my 1951 Dodge M37 truck for a drive or a session working in the woods (a 1 ton on road, 3/4 ton off road pickup truck made for the US military during the Korean war.)

I like the no spill cans as well. You're right, there is not much of an advantage to the Husqvarna can if you are out there on a tractor or SxS that can carry your gear for you. I'm in the situation where the area where I need to get work done is on the opposite side of my property. It's mainly...

are they open cuff, or do they have elastic or velcro or some kind of closure on the cuff?

Well, right now that price on amazon has fluctuated right up to $108. If you have a link to where I can get one at $40, please share it. At that price, I'd order one in a heartbeat. [EDIT: I did find one on eBay for $53.90 plus $23.95 shipping = $77.85. Still a bit steep for my needs.] I...

My guess is that it’s a storage space for a coil of steel cable?

Not sure if you noticed it, but there is a cable attached to the front of the tractor. Apparently the tractor alone was not enough to get the job done. They were pulling the front of the tractor. Apparently they pulled too hard. Impossible to tell if they broke a perfectly good tractor, or if...

I just bought this wrench roll for my 13 piece Gear Wrench flex head ratcheting wrench set. The biggest wrench in the set is 1" (overall length is 13 1/8"), and it fits fine, with room to fold the top edge of the fabric down over the top of the wrench prior to rolling up the tool roll...

Taking them off and shaking them out did not always work so well for me. As I used the chainsaw, the little finger and the righ finger of my left glove would start to fill up with chips. Sometimes it would just shake out. Other times, the sawdust/chips got compacted in there and was a real pain...

Way too expensive for me to buy new. I had been wanting one for years, but just could not justify the price. The used ones which came up for sale were far too big for my needs and/or beat to death. I got it for a little over half what a new one ran at the time. If I had to pay full price, I'd...

Why is it that no one makes a left handed chain saw?

Because the left hand is the single largest area of injury. The right hand is not really at much risk. Putting the protection where it's most needed while trying to preserve mobility where it's not.

I use these leather Carhartt gloves for firewood and working in the woods. The leather holds up well, and the elastic cuff keeps the glove from filling with sawdust when using a chainsaw. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006RJWQX2/ Unfortunately, the local hardware stores only carry the style...

Been there, done that. Cracked the clutch housing on my NH TC33D. THe only reason it was not in two pieces with its belly on the ground was that the backhoe subframe & belly pan and limb risers/FOPS up above held it together. Dealer estimated $7000 to repair "IF everything came apart and went...

I own a forwarding trailer, but it's on the heavy side for use behind an ATV or SXS: it's probably close to 1500# empty, and can carry a 6000# payload. Mine is too small to be of interest for a commercial logger, and too expensive for a typical landowner to consider just for personal use (I got...

I wonder if what you are hearing is the "beat frequency" caused by slight differences in the frequency at which the generators are running. They are supposed to run at 60 Hz. Most common generators (other than inverter generators) do this by running at 3600 RPM. If one generator is running at...

LouNY started a thread a while ago about putting on chains. You can find that description here: Mounting Tire Chains. My method varies slightly form what he described. Those changes are described in response #37 in that thread...

I don't really see them used around here other than by farmers. I did see some on a skidder at one point. I don't know if I've seen them on a compact tractor in at least 20 years (and wasn;t paying much attention to what chains were on CUTs before that

It appears that OFA no longer sells anything called "EKO" chains. It appear the same thing is now sold as "Tapio" Compact tractors would use the Tapio 9 chains. (They also make Tapio 11, 11HD and 13 chains for larger tractors and skidders more than most of us on here would need, I suspect.) I...

Topic drift seems to be a way of life here on TBN

What is the tracked vehicle?

It's also done for EV because it's an easy way to shed a large load without having to install extra equipment. The charger is already able to measure usage for billing purposes, and it's able to be controlled remotely, as long as it has an internet connection. You pay an arm and a leg to charge...

That looks cool! What is it? Is that a Quadractor? I have not seen one in decades. Always thought they were an interesting idea. My vintage UTV is a Coot: And my modern counter part, helping with storm damage cleanup:

Part of the reason the price is so high is that it is not sold in the US (does not meet US gas can specs) so you are paying shipping and handling - from Japan in this case. I saw a similar link a while ago which shipped from a European seller. It might be more affordable if someone were...

If you use a progressive depth gauge tool to set your raker height, it's far less important to keep all teeth the same length, since each raker is customized for the individual associated tooth. Non-progressive tools or methods require keeping teeth the same length for them to work correctly...

@ning is exactly right here. A couple of years ago, I was serching for the best lube to use in the recently rebuilt transmission transmission of my antique truck. A company which specializes in the restoration of these old trucks (and is highly respected in this segment of the antique vehicle...

Actually it's not whether a lube is synthetic or not that makes it hard on yellow metals. Some lubes, both synthetic and non-synthetic are engineered to be safe with yellow metals, some of each type are not. I use an Amsoil full synthetic transmission oil in the transmission of my antique truck...

Not sure how it works in your state, but that's not how it works here. By shifting heavy uses to off peak hours, it is saving the saving the utilities money. If our utility saves money, the ratepayers save money: Our regulated utility basically operates on a "cost plus" basis (their rates are...

Thanks for that explanation @mo1 . I should have said DEF/DPF, but I guess even that would not have covered all of the options. I guess that your final phrase sums up the real answer to my question: there are "only different kinds of bad". I have an almost 22 year old New Holland TC33D that I...

I'm not sure how the electric utility controls things for that EV rate schedule. I do know that for the setup to get the free charger, they did not control the power to the charger, and there is no sensor on the 240V circuit. They control the charger itself (which is why they require a...

I don't write the rate system, I just live with it. Frankly, I have no problem with it. EV charging is a high peak load. There are not many other household items that come close to that demand, and those that do tend to be significantly shorter duration (cooking in an electric oven or running...

Here's a less than 2 minute video that shows using the tongue & groove technique for small back-leaning trees in more detail:

Not really. They offered a program and delivered on it. I just did not remember all aspects of the offer and conflated two different programs in my mind. My utility offered a free level 2 charger for people who purchased a new battery-electric vehicle. This was the real reason I involved them...

I have a Milwaukee M18 battery chainsaw. I got it because I already had a substantial investment in the Milwaukee M18 tools. With the sale they had going on (got a blower and a couple of large batteries out of the package deal), adding the saw was a no brainer. Plus, I just wanted to get an...

There are a few posts about it in the "tractors and wood" thread. You might find them by searching for "Metavic", since my trailer is a Metavic M95. I suspect mine would not be of interest to most ATV/UTV owners, since as equipped the loader and trailer probably weighs close to 1500# and the...

Isn't there a brand or two out there that has figured out how to meet the emissions standards without resorting to DEF and regen cycles?

In our area, you can get a special rate on your EV charging usage if you use a compatible charger and allow the utility company to disable charging during peak demand "events". The events happen several times per month, usually in the early evenings during a major cold snap or heat wave. It...

I wanted one for use behind my tractor for years, but just could not justify the price - especially when you look at sizes appropriate for use behind a compact tractor. The price is significantly higher than the already steep price for a unit like what is shown in the video. Several years ago...

I use wedges for directional felling because it's faster to set up than using my logging winch. The winch gets called into service for that work only in more severe cases, if there is stump rot, or if I want to be extra careful about some high value target near by. I always wonder about idling...

As others have already noted, that's a great video, Gordon. To clarify for those who are not as familiar with the tongue and groove method of dealing with small back-leaners: The tongue and groove is not about steering the three. The hinge is still doing that (you are losing the center part of...

You don't need any "product" to remove ethanol (unless you consider ordinary tap water a product). Add water, shake well, the ethanol combines with the water and settles to the bottom of the container. Drain off the water. If it was in fact 10% ethanol, and you start with 10 gallons, you will...

Just be aware that the ethanol in E10 gas adds a few points of octane rating to the fuel. So if you start with 91 octane, you are down to about 88 or 89 octane once the ethanol is removed. Since fuel also can lose octane over time as it sits (and some of the more volatile compounds evaporate...

The only problem with the MX5400 for me is fitting it in my garage. I don't want a cab (which would fit), but the foldable ROPS is too tall when it's up. Once I add the limb risers and falling object protection, the foldable ROPS is no longer foldable. I looked at the L3901/L3902. Nice size for...

Others have mentioned the pure-gas website. I's a great resource for finding non-ethanol gas. It is user-maintained, so it relies on users keeping things up to date. If you find a gas station with non-ethanol available, please add it. If one listed no longer carries it, please update the...

I agree 100%. I can't comment on whether TruFuel is good stuff or not, since I've never used it. I've seen that video before, and frankly I'm a bit disgusted with it. For someone who professes to be a mechanic, she should know that you can't just dump in a different fuel and fire it up and claim...

I have never seen one that adds data line protection in one unit. If someone were to make one to do this, you would need to run the data connections over to near the whole house suppressor in order to connect them. That's generally bad practice from an electrical/RF noise perspective...

One thing I'll add to that: just because a problem doesn't show on the voltmeter, doesn't mean a problem doesn't exist. You might catch something, or the problem just might not be happening when you are checking, or the response time on your voltmeter could be too slow to pick up the surges or...

I'm wondering what you've got going on electrically at your house to fry so many surge protectors.

If that was supposed to be a link, it didn't work. Given that you said it's sharpened with a 5/32" file, that makes it 3/8" low profile (a pole saw just does not have the HP to drive a full-sized 3/8" pitch chain). I agree, the 3/8" LP cuts a lot nicer than the 1/4" pitch that Stihl is pushing...

I've been assuming that polesaw was switched to 3/8" Low Profile chain (sharpens with a 5/32" file) and not a full-sized 3/8" chain (sharpens with a 7/32" file). Is that correct? I can't imagine many pole saws would have the HP to drive a regular 3/8" pitch chain. That's usually found on 60cc...

I agree with @jyoutz . Having a choker or two will come in handy if you are doing much of this work - either skidding trees or freeing ones that are hung up. You can use either a cable choker as he showed or a chain choker. I don't want to get into the debate of which is "better". It's mostly a...

I believe that 3 minutes at full throttle is also supposed to be under load, isn't it? (I imagine the reset might work with no load, but I would not want to run a chansaw wide open for more than a few seconds without a load.) It does make me wonder what happens for someone who is chainsaw...

The odds of my buying a skidder or construction equipmnt are pretty slim. However, I really should trade up to a larger tractor one of these days. It would mean having to redo all of the customizations I've had done over the years for working in the woods. My dealer (who isalso a Kubota dealer)...

I like Husqvarna saws (at least once you get toward the pro end of their product range). I'll admit I'm biased because both my mother's parents were from Sweden. The problem in my area is that all of the Husqvarna servicing dealers seem to be disappearing (or in the case of a local John Deere...

Echo has a 5 year consumer and 1 year commercial warranty on chainsaws in the US.

Out local Home Depot had Makita saws in their equipment rental program, but they did not sell them (other than selling their used rental equipment every couple of years). If I recall correctly, they may have sold the lower end (and possibly mid-range) Husqvarna at one point, but I believe they...

The pro level Dolmar saws (and the better Makitas which were just relabled Dolmar, once Makita bought them out) had good reputations. Like every saw maker, they also made some saws which were not intended for full-time commercial use. I wonder what models your buddies were using? About the...

I'd probably own a Dolmar/Makita saw by now, if there were decent servicing dealers in my area.

Sounds like something I would do.

Who makes that jug?

Yes. Posted about it in the general "Owning and Operating" section (I meant to post in the "Parts and Repair", but messed up.) You can find the thread here: Bad News on my TC33D. Long story short: I cracked the clutch housing which joins the front half to the back half of the tractor...

I just leave my chains in the box they came in, or in a Ziplock freezer bag (which is a bit heavier duty than their regular bags). A friend uses short lengths of old fire hose to store and carry his in.

The reports I'm seeing about Makita is that they had announced they were discontinuing production of gas engine products at the end of March 2022. I have not been able to find published confirmation that that actually happened as scheduled, but it's clear they are getting out of those lines.

Torvy - Way too many variables to go from a text description. I hesitate to give advice on hung trees unless I'm there in person looking at it, but at least some photos would be helpful. Some hat show how the butt is resting, some showing the whole tree and how it is hung up, and somethign...

Do NOT use a "Recovery" strap for this. Recovery straps are designed to have a good bit of elasticity, which is exactly what you don't want when pulling on a tree. If it should break, or something lets go, that elasticity acts like a sling shot.

I would never live in a place that didn't have "real" winters, including those days well below 0˚F. On the other hand, I could do with a shorter mud season each spring, and skipping deer fly season altogether would be just fine with me.

In that case, I probably won't mess with them. The studded chains do fine for me.

If you have recommendations on a brand and model of snow tires for uses on a garden tractor, I'd love to hear them. Right now I'm running chains (sometimes leave them on year round) I ran turf tires on my garden tractor year round. It's smaller & lighter than the Iseki/Bolens shown in that...

I guess I'm lucky. My tractor dealer stocks a large supply of both SAE and metric bolts. They sell by the pound for a reasonable price. The hardware stores don't have much of a selection over 1/2", especially in grade 8, and there metric sizes seem to run out at around 12mm or so.

Finally getting around to draining the coolant so I can replace the heater plug. I've somehow lost track of what coolant/antifreeze I've been using. Is it just the standard green antifreeze or does it use something special? The owner's manual is no help. It just says 50/50 mix and capacity is...

That's a nice set-up, Ernie-32. I've often wondered about making of buying something similar, but my tractor is often tied up running other implements as it is, and so many of the longer logs I use for firewood are larger than I want to pick up by hand. I'm always interested to see what others...

Thanks. I figured that was the case, but thought I’d ask.

I'm not sure from your statement whether you are missing the distinction between Full Chisel and Square Ground/Filed. You can sharpen a full chisel chain by round filing or square filing (the picture on the right in Geoduck's picture labeled "Square Tooth Square Grind"). I agree that sharpening...

Does TBN rent or sell its email list? Lately, I've been getting inundated with tractor-related spam email. I'm not sure what touched off this recent wave. Just thought I'd ask.

So if I'm following you correctly, you don't use any full chisel, round ground? It's either full chisel square ground or semi chisel? I use all full chisel round-ground (or in my case round-filed). I've tried full chisel square ground and really liked it, but I like to hand-sharpen in the woods...

I own a cheap Harbor Freight "Pittsburg" torque wrench in a 1/4" drive and a 3/8" drive. I used them extensively when I was working for a solar PV installer. They were accurate well within their stated spec of 4%. (I want to say they were within 1 or 2%, but I may be remembering incorrectly.)...

I'm guessing you meant set it back to the lowest setting on the tool after use. Most torque wrenches don't go to zero.

Same here. I have not been able to get out in the woods much with my tractor this winter. Fortunately, we did get enough of a freeze after the Dec 23 windstorm that I was able to get out with it and clear the trails - what a tangled mess. Mostly white pines. Things did get solid enough that I...

Well, hopefully I haven't fried it. It was not submerged. I was concerned about it overheating, so only plugged it in for a few seconds. I guess I should submerge it and plug it in again to make sure it works before installing in the tractor.

Strange results from my testing: Anytime I plug in the heater, it trips the GFI. I tried plugging in to another GFI circuit, and it does the same thing. The replacement heater and cord came in today. Hoping it was just the cord, I plugged the new cord into the old heater on the engine. Same...

I have not tried that, but I have plugged 5 other things into that same outlet, and they operate without any problem. Pretty sure this is a problem with the block heater or its attached cord. Just need to get the time to poke around and see what's up.

Duh... yeah. I guess If I had stopped to think a bit, I would have realized that.

My SAE flex head ratcheting wrench set has disappeared. I'm sure I just left it some where while I was working on something, but it's been a few weeks with no sign of it. I'm sure the best way to make it show up again is to buy a replacement, so I'm in the market. My old set was a Gearwrench...

Instead of working on my tractor (trouble shooting the block heater), I spent the day today finishing up some Crop Tree Release on the far corner of my property (part of an EQIP cost-sharing grant I applied for a couple of years ago), and cleaned up a bit of storm damage along the way. On the...

Am I looking for a short between Hot and ground or hot and neutral? (perhaps that's the same thing, if the neutral is tied to ground?) Once removed and the wire ends are tied together unless the wire is broken somewhere, wouldn't you expect a short?

Thanks for that information, Vigo327. I did not realize that ALL plies on a bias ply extended up the sides of the tire. I've not had much luck getting information on the sidewall ply ratings of various tires. I have heard that R1 (Ag) style tires sold for compact tractors typically have lower...

My main reservation with the R14 tires is trying to determine if they are as tough at the R4 tires, particularly in the sidewall area. When using them in the woods, I generally prefer R4 over R1. The traction is not as good, but I almost always have "Euro-style" chains on anyway. The R4...

Those of you using sawdust as one of your ingredients: are you actually using sawdust, like from a circular saw or table saw, or are you referring to the chips from using a chainsaw

The single easiest way to start a fire: make sure you are using properly dried/seasoned wood. It catches so much more easily than would that is only "almost dry enough" that you don't need anything fancy to get it started. I use a single sheet of newspaper crumpled up with some well-dried pine...

Thanks. I never would have though to search for "Freeze plug heater"

I'm probably looking in the wrong place, but I have been unable to locate this either on the Messick's page or in my hard copy of the parts manual.

15-19.5 tires are the stock size on a Kubota L45. This is an R4 tire size, but they are available in the new R14 tread design.

I suspect this may be the problem. The tractor is 21 years old. I hope to get time to trace the cord tomorrow afternoon. I'm wondering if the cord alone can be replaced, or if it's molded in to the heating part. I'll guess I'll se tomorrow.

It's not the circuit breaker that is tripping, it's the GFI sensor in the outlet. I have not plugged in anything new, and if some other appliance has a ground fault, it should be tripping even before I plug in the block heater.

Yes, the cord is fine, as was the second cord I tried. Other grounded applicances on the same circuit do not trip the GFI sensor. Block heater cord is a male 110VAC plug. It's a molded plug, I can't see how water could intrude, but I guess it's possible. I do need to trace the full length of...

The latest issue with my TC33D: the engine block heater now trips the GFI outlet in my garage any time I plug it in. I have not yet even looked to see where this is on the engine. I'm hoping it's not a big deal to get to. As far as I know, this was a factory installed item (could have been a...

I forgot to mention that I had completed this repair a while ago. I drove it several times by just jumping the terminal at the starter with a screwdriver. (That also let me get it off the soft ground and into the garage.) The repair was easier than I thought. I had been worried about dealing...

Without seeing the layout of his splitter, it's hard to say how tough the swap from vertical to horizontal would be. If it's not a complex switch, I'd prefer the horizontal anyway. The 8 HP engine should be able to drive a 16 GPM, 2-stage pump, if you want to speed things up a bit. That's what...

I do have a couple of antique UTVs: They are called Coots and are articulated and amphibious (or at least mine would be, if I plugged the holes some previous owner made in the tubs). THey were Made in the '60s. Both are currently down, waiting for me to get around to fixing various oil leaks...

Well, I ended up buying a used Honda Pioneer 520 from a guy about an hour away from me. Seems to be in good condition, and has 1000 miles on it. I have been keeping my eyes open for a smaller SXS for a while now. Are there many Pioneer 520 users on here? Do you have any recommendations on a...

Or maybe they'll come out with a less deluxe version. If they had one that was closer to the Ranger 570, but with modern batteries and charging (Lithium-Ion batteries aand the standard J-1772 charge port, like the Kinetic has, I'd have given it a serious look.)

I agree, the Kinetic sure sounds like a great machine, but way too expensive for my needs.

The Kinetic IS a ranger, but good luck finding either of their EV Rangers in stock.

Ok. That makes more sense. When your main batteries finally go, there is a thread on here somewhere where a guy replaced his flooded lead acid batteries with Lithium Ion (I believe the package came with a new charger as well). Not a cheap swap, but might be worth considering when you get to the...

You were able to mix tradtional flooded lead acid and lithium ion batteries in one pack?

It sure is! It’s certainly more capable that just about every other electric UTV I’ve seen or read about. I briefly considered getting one, but the price was not justifiable for me. It’s also larger and faster than I need. If they come out with a smaller and less “deluxe” model, I’d consider one.

I’ve had good luck with the AccuWeather app on my phone and their website from my home computer. Lets you set the default to the closest station (useful when traveling) or to a specific place, or to default to last location viewed. Hourly forecasts go out several days. (You can get more from...

Polaris’ old electric UTV could use an update (still uses flooded lead acid batteries). Their new one - Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic - sounds like they made a really deluxe version and thought of everything. I have yet to see one myself, but the reviews are good.

Without a doubt LogRite makes the best commercially-made logging arches around. If you are going to buy, rather than make one, the only real question is which of their models to get.

Long Lane Tractors in Elizabethtown, PA is basically a New Holland graveyard. That's where I went to find a replacement for the cracked clutch housing on my 21 year old NH TC33D. They sold me a good used one for something like 35-40% of the cost of a new one. (Thanks to whoever it was that gave...

A skidder drags logs on the ground. I believe what you are referring to is a forwarding trailer. I own one, and use it behind my compact tractor. I've really enjoyed using it, and appreciate how it is so much easier on my trails than simply skidding the log out. However, they are expensive: you...

The new price is in the first paragraph of the first post, and that price has come down from what it was a year ago. (The price for some steel products has been plummeting since abut September, though in some product categories, it may not yet have filtered all the way through to retail, end-users.)

Thanks everyone.

"More than" which way? In favor of the buyer or the seller? What would you figure a "neutral" price would be?

I have an almost new set of V-bar Duo Grip tractor chains and the chain tensioner devices. (I used them less than one winter season). A friend is interested in buying them from me. New price for the chains and tensioners would be $715. Neither of us is looking to take advantage of the other, we...

Thanks, @shooterdon . It will only be for plowing light snows. I have a 3 Pt hitch mounted snow blower on my tractor (plus I have the loader) for the big stuff. It's slow working with the blower, so the UTV would be for quick passes after moderate snows. I definitely want a roof. I'm leaning...

Thanks. This is exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping for.

I'm looking at small UTVs to be used for working in the woods - especially when things are a bit too soft/wet to get out there with my tractor. I'll bring chainsaws and associated gear in the bed or in a small trailer. Occasionally might tow a 750# log splitter. I'd like engine braking - which I...

This is a miles question rather than an hours one, but I guess the two are related... Is 1000 miles consider low time on a UTV? (2022 Honda Pioneer).

Yes. Already ordered it.

Trying to figure that out. I'll never reach the connector on the switch. Trying to figure out where the wires run, so I could jump the other end.

Well, I found the problem. I can see the switch, but could not quite reach it. I reached in with a screw driver, thinking I could depress the switch and start the tractor. I just barely touched the roller on the end of the switch arm and it fell right off, along with part of the arm. The roller...

I was afraid that was the case. I was hoping I could reach in and fiddle with things, but that may mot be possible. The service manual does note that the switch can be adjusted up and down to obtain more travel by loosening the screws holding it. It also notes that the roller arm on the switch...

For some time, I could not start my tractor with the range selector in the neutral position between 1st and 2nd range, but the other neutral worked normally. Today, it stopped working all together. Fortunately, it waited to fail completely until after I got the tractor home from an afternoon of...

Exactly. You just can't get the same tooth profile. (Well, it is possible, but the carbide would chip too easily if it were shaped that way.) Note that I'm not saying someone shouldn't use carbide chains. It's just a trade-off. If that trade off works for the end user, great... go for it.

If you are cutting in very dirty conditions, the carbide chain will definitely last longer. I don't use them, since they cut slower than a regular chain which is properly sharpened (and carbide chains are more difficult to sharpen than a regular chain). I'd rather spend a bit of time...

I thought I saw some on there without a primer, but I just took a quick skim.

It is a known problem.

No, the part I installed was the original part number. There are two part numbers. One fits the pre-2002 models only, the other fits newer as well as older. Neither the dealer nor any of the used parts guys had any idea if the newer part was actually better, or just different. (One made a...

Used OEM tank/rear handle assembly from Chainsawr.com is about $40.

THe problem with longer term swaths of vegetation is that it keeps growing, eventually progressing into another type of habitat. I'm specifically targeting brushy habitat in this space. I have done patch cuts in other areas that I might not cut again for 10 or 15 years.

I know what you mean. I have the Jonsered 2152, which is the twin sister to the Husqvarna 353. Nice saws with pro-type construction (without the pro-type price) that just keep on running.

chainsawr.com Has used parts for a lot of different saws at reasonable prices.

Sometimes, "crap like that " is the goal. I have a meadow that I mow on a rotation: I mow about 1/4 of it each year, and allow the rest to grow up. The next year, I mow a different section. The goal is to keep it in early successional species for wildlife habitat. However, I don't want to just...

I had always heard the rule of thumb was 5 HP per foot of width for a brush hog type rotary cutter. (Finish mowers generally require less HP than brush hogs.) Obviously, this can vary significantly depending on what you are mowing. (Tall, dense grass really eats up the HP.) It also varues...

Just got the final bill. The total was about half what the dealer estimated "if everything came apart and went back together well, and no further damage was found." That estimate did not include dealing with removing and replacing all of the "extras" I've had installed on the tractor over the...

All back together and back home from the shop. I don't have the final bill yet, but it will certainly be well under what the dealership estimated. Need to put the chains on and swap to the bucket to clean up the driveway a bit tomorrow.