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Thanks Peter. I already have my chipper, but this satisfies my curiousity - auto feed vs hydraulic roller feed.

As mentioned in my posts here, I have the Wooland Mills WC68 with hydraulic feed. It works well for me and will pull in the kind of brushy stuff we want to chip up - i.e., stuff of reasonable size with lots of side branches - that avoids using the loppers to cut that stuff into more digestible...

Thanks to everyone for your kind comments. The most satisfying aspect is that it was almost exclusively DIY - step by step, project by project - and a never ending list of "what I would like to do next. . . ". Really nice.

Peter, this is the view from my dog park 'beer garden' (or margarita hutch at times). I love sitting up there at the end of the day with the dogs. Regarding the terraces - they were here. We added steps to some of the tiers and graded slopes for access. I am guessing they were intended for an...

Fuddyduddy, seems you really toured California back then. Okay, for the pics you wanted - I will try to post a few shots from my dog walk on one corner of the property. And one of a fraction of my wife's flowers, one of the morning 'goat greeters', and one from top of our 'dog park' - I call...

Fuddyduddy, if you are asking me for the pictures (?) I will try to get to that later today or tomorrow - took some yesterday while out with one of the dogs on a corner of the property.

Peter, we also use electric chain saws- usually for the smaller stuff and trimming and cutting up what we want to save for firewood. A couple of Echos work well. A smaller Craftsman battery power saw from Lowes not so much - we have to keep returning it for a new one. And we have gas powered...

We have 90. In one day in 1986 we moved from Los Angeles to the mountains and never looked back. Central California foothills - wooded and rolling hills - some steep areas/ravines - with elevation from about 2300 to about 3000 - maybe higher? We have fenced the perimeter and cross fenced nine...

2manyrocks, I finished preparing the chipper - Woodland Mills WC68 - arrived a few days ago - trimmed the PTO shaft, filled with hydraulic oil, checked and rechecked everything, took it to the first of many, many brush piles, and started it up. It worked well. I cannot compare or provide the...

Wsurff and Scootr - thanks for the idea and for taking and sending the great photos. I will try to do something similar. I don't weld - a major regret at 80, but I will find a way to get it done. Again, thanks to you and everyone who responded.

Thanks - good to know. You are right - it is just a 'lift - transport-and set down' situation. I will have to rethink an issue with the chipper PTO shaft though. I have not yet used it but the instructions give detailed information regarding whether you might need to trim the shaft or not and...

Gator, I looked at those - and still looking. What I could not resolve for myself yet was how that would work out without a fixed connection point. What I mean is, I am wondering if it would not put the force up or down rather than straight out as it would if the top link implement hook up was...

I like this idea. I can make a template for the size and hole locations out of some scap wood and take it to a machine shop. Thanks! In the meantime I will try my 'blocking to tilt' idea - just posted.

Thanks to everyone for reading. My top link is hydraulic - came with the tractor when I ordered it with TnTilt. The implements used mostly are box blade, and grader blade, and rarely the middle buster, and now - a new pto chipper, The chipper is the most difficult to get hooked to the top link...

The hydraulic top link was provided when I first bought the tractor and requested topntilt with it. I knew very little then and did not think about the link of the top link and how that could affect things.

I posted this a minute ago but somehow lost it. I hope this does not go in twice. Anyway, my top link is inconveniently short at times - by about 2-3 inches typically. I can make the connection with a bit of hassle and sometimes need to use a lever to lift the back of an implement to tilt it...

Dave - I watched a lot of videos of all the units that I was considering. It was an interesting journey. Anyway, based on one of many videos I watched, a guy built a 'guard' of sorts to protect parts of the unit which were somewhat below the rack where split wood was above and could fall from -...

Pulled the trigger. Most of the units were very similar re the bottom line of getting the job done. Affecting my choice were these considerations: the relatively small amount of splitting we will be doing; what was available to be sold in California (not all were); what was available locally...

Hidden, interesting information - I had not considered the HFreight option at all - certainly reasonable cost wise and the reviews are great. So, now I am wondering if it is the way to go given that I would be splitting about a cord a year - my guess. But I also want it to be able to go vertical...

I'm back for another recommendation (last week I followed your advice regarding a PTO chipper). I am now looking at log splitters. It would only be for personal use, i.e., we are not selling firewood to others. I don't really know how much we would be splitting - as it would only be used for the...

Again, thanks for all the advice. I just learned that my Woodland Mills WC68 arrives on Tuesday. In advance of that I downloaded and read the manual, watched four Youtube videos about the unit (and learned about a nice safety feature), and bought the required hydraulic oil (it runs the automatic...

I have read that if you plan to use your own chips for mulch you should wait a year or so (let them age in place) as otherwise the fresh chips can leach nitrogen from your soil. We will have a lot of chips and I am now wondering if I can use those for some erosion control in some areas - also...

Or there is always this option instead of chipping - LAMO every time I see this...

Peter, I doubt I am at risk - I am now 80, and 50 years of using a variety of vibrating tools including hammer drills etc. without consequences. Also, for what it's worth - the chipper we bought has a hydraulic feeder and checking the manual online I learned that you are not supposed to be...

Many reasons actually. It takes a lot of work: preparing a burn pit, grading a bit around it, dragging the material to the pit (it is never all nearby), and then the time to burn it and babysit the fire until it is out (hours) and getting 'smoked up' a good bit. And also making sure you have...

Thanks guys for taking the time to help out. It is very much appreciated. I will check out all of the units you mention. One change in my search though - the rest of the family (SIL, daughter, wife) told me today that they much prefer a gas unit and not a PTO unit as they may use it when I am...

Our situation: We have a lot of wood of all sizes from trees that fall or ones we take down. A lot. We have been harvesting the wood if over 3-4" and sometimes even keep the some of smaller stuff - all for firewood. But in the process we generate piles of the brushy/small limbed/twiggy stuff. We...

Scootr, that is the one I am looking at. I have one already but I built it up as a true carry-all, and now call it my ranch-uber. The grandkids love it. Otherwise we use it to carry tools, chainsaws, etc. to the back country as needed. The sides and front come off but the back and bottom are...

We had a new road cut and 3/4 crushed rock laid - about 500 feet and 10-15% grade. We also have another driveway (800') I maintain with my grader blade (nice crown there). Anyway, for the new road, I have used my box blade and grader to spread the crushed rock, but not ideal - doable, but I am...

We can call ours right up to the yard fence. Trained them to come at a certain loud voice 'call' which to them means a bit of hay will be waiting. Then as they gather (they will eat the hay from our hands) we spray them (their backs) with a small spray bottle we got at TSC. They don't mind it or...

During the 'fly season' we do this: - we use Justifly salt blocks. They are supposed to stop the flys cycle - it is referred to as a larvicide. We used to use Rabon Sweetlix but apparently that is no longer made. Anyway, we noticed a very significant decrease in the fly population. Before...

Darth, after seeing this pic, I have decided that I will never, ever, never post a picture of my tractor.

After reading a number of reviews and talking to a few pool guys, I ordered a Pentair variable speed pump. The variable speed pumps are much more expensive than the single or two speed pumps, but in California, only varialble speep pool pumps are allowed. I installed the last two pumps and don't...

Updated: Ignore above post. I have decided to buy a new variable speed pump (the only kind allowed in Cali) and do a DIY install. The new pump I am looking at is about $1,300. Locals want about $480 to install it, but I installed the last one myself, and have checked out the manual on this one...

Our pool pump started whining and getting louder and louder. The last time this happened I took it in and had the bearings replaced. But that guy died and after many calls to 'pool service and repair' businesses, I cannot find anyone who repairs these anymore. I will keep calling but in the...

Now that is an example of confidence. I would have liked to listen in on the planning - from the initial idea to the suggestions for getting it done.

I bought a used Powder River cattle squeeze. It is in good working condition functionally, but has rust in places and moving parts need some lubrication. We are removing rust and will repaint those areas where appropriate, but I am wondering what would be the best choice to lubricate the moving...

fishheadbob, thanks for replying. We had cattle from 1986 through 2015 and like you, rarely had much profit. But the cattle did graze the hills down to mitigate any fire risk. Yeah, I don't think the IRS would be interested in my losses, and I was always confident I could support every single...

As I prepare to get back into the cattle business, I have done a bit of research and thought I would share a particularly useful link...

Tinhack, Thanks for the input. But I was only referring to things I bought recently - in 2022 - to get ready for starting up again in 2023. We last had cattle in 2015 and then leased the pasture. I terminated the pasture lease effective 12-31-22, and then bought a lot of fencing material, wire...

Japody, thanks for commenting. Yeah, for many years ('86-2014) I did the Schedule F. I am not certain my accounting of everything was perfect but it was doable. Then when I started leasing the pasture instead, I just claimed the rental income less any expenses I had. As I recall, we would make...

riptides, thank you for commenting. Based on your suggestion and another's here, I did a brief review online re LLC's specifically for a cattle business and that has convinced me that such is the way to go. I will start that process. I assume I can easily transfer ownership of cattle, supplies...

Peter, yeah, back in the cattle business. I don't necessarily need all the extra work but we can manage the grazing much better if we are running it than if we just lease the pastures. The lessee - understandably - had to manage his operation to make it work for him and so that meant not having...

Torvy, thanks for your advice re the LLC. I have not thought about that. We will be quite small - likely never exceeding about 15 head or so at any one time, but there is still the risk of loss and liability. I will look into that.

Roustabout, not sure about that. My brief research online found that it did apply to cattle operations, although there could be ways to avoid the rule's application in some circumstances. A list of the circumstances that could mitigate against the 'hobby' rule's application were listed.

An odd year for sure. Typically we plant tomatoes in early to mid April depending on the weather generally. Then we get abundant harvest of tomatoes beginning in June and continuing to the first week of December. We still have them in December but the taste seems gone after that first week in...

Yes. Just my wife and me.

Background: We had cattle (8-12 head) from 1986 to 2015. Sold all in 2015 due to potential/approaching fire issue. From 2015 through 2022 we leased the pasture (80 acres) to another. In 2022 I terminated that lease in anticipation of restarting our own cattle business this year. And the lessee...

A bit off of the subject - but not much. While you don't want to leave a financial burden regarding funeral and related expenses, it is also a good idea to not leave your family with the task of preparing an obituary at a time they are grieving and do not need more stress and an additional...

Interesting animals. We twice caught, unintentionally, possums in 'live-catch' traps intended for squirrels. Both times when I tried to release them they would not leave the trap. Shook the trap, rattled the trap, turned the trap upside down - they just hung on. Finally, I used a garden hose and...

I don't know about that, but I do know that if you are lost in the woods the best way to find your way home is to follow a possum - they seem to always know where the roads are.

This is exactly what I was told when we were negotiating for solar in 2018. I called the power company to ask why there was such a difference in what they charged us and what they would pay us for any excess production. They said they pay the solar customer at the same rate they can buy power...

I have not tried this yet. Just saw it, but if it works it will double my supply of buckets immediately. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/man-s-super-simple-hack-to-get-buckets-unstuck-is-so-ridiculously-easy/ar-AA19sFZu?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=b167c16e0dbc4dce921278aadc90fe67&ei=51

Interesting. It worked out for us. Our cost was $29,200 and we received about $10,000 back as a tax credit. This was in 2018. Based on the electrical rates at the time of installation my memory is that the calculations were that we would recover all we had invested in about five years. I would...

I can't help with all of your issues, but can tell you what has worked well for us. We made several raised beds (about 4' x 8') out of 8 x 8 x 16" cinder blocks stacked two high and capped with 2 x 8 x 16" caps. We staggered the second tier and then filled the cavities with dirt. We did not...

Peter, we also use mosquito fish in the troughs. What we have learned, we think, re the fly issue is this: 1) if the water troughs are placed far enough away the fly issue is substantially diminished. 2) if we put out the Rescue fly traps early in the fly season, the fly issue is...

Thanks Peter, I have everything fenced for precisely that, i.e., selective grazing near the home and barn etc. first and then moving out farther and farther. And, for the real close in areas, I recently refenced areas for goats - which my wife prefers close in as they don't have the same fly...

dirttoys, thanks for responding. Agree that there is an overgrazing risk in some situations. Our lease provided that we were to meet and discuss options if it appeared that the land was being overgrazed or undergrazed (as we wanted to mitigate fire risks). I will consider how to more effectively...

At the end of 2022 I terminated the lease I had with a guy for cattle grazing on our land - Central California foothills - 90 acres less estimated 10 acres for our own use = about 80 acres for him, and at $800 a year (cheap - I think) and that was based on $10 per acre per year whether he put...

I would not pay to have an attorney conduct the exam - why pass on the fun you can have if you go in with the right attitude. In California it is called a 'debtor's exam' and can be done every 120 days.. I have attached a link to a list of questions, but actually, I think you could come with...

1) Don't give them places to hide and wait for their food. As many have said, no lumber, debris, and whatever. 2) Keep the weeds down - we have goats. Two reasons: I don't think they will be as likely to travel where there is no cover, and if they do travel you can see them. And raptors can see...

BTW - the augers I used re the original post/hack (putting in T-posts in hard ground) were these from Harbor Freight - inexpensive and do the job. https://www.harborfreight.com/18-in-ship-auger-bit-set-3-piece-68165.html

Another hack. I didn't want to start a new thread just for this, and thought it would fit in here.

I read the reviews, and the questions and answers posted about the product (you can learn a lot there). Sometimes you can sniff out fake reviews by the way they are written (balanced, mention the good and the bad things about a product), but sometimes you can't figure it out. Here are two ways...

Bekaert

I learned that today. A corner post - wood - was no longer plumb after I stretched the wire - and now the gate at that point can't latch because of the new gap. So, need to re-engineer the gate end of things - maybe add another post to close the gap somehow.

A few months ago I scored twelve 330' roles of high tensile field fence (Bekaert) and a couple of rolls of high tensile barbed wire from a fencing contractor that was shutting his business and moving. He had other barbed wire - the kind I was used to (carbon?) but said he much preferred the high...

Responding to replies: I could not haul him out of the ravine until the next morning, so no bacon - and I didn't want to do that anyway. I hauled him way to the back of the property (90 acres). I have buried them there before but they are always dug up, and without a back hoe it would have been...

The wild pigs are usually smaller and typically scatter when they see us. This one, not so much. He came right up to the dog kennel and didn't care about efforts to scare him off. He got into the yard and scared the H**l out of my daughter. Huge areas of pasture were torn up, and he kept...

I put a removable bench inside and now have what the family calls my "ranch uber." Other uses - transporting: tools, generator (to where it is needed), hauling wood, gravel, bags of concrete, concrete blocks, and whatever I need to take to where I am working.

Winter of 1967. In a train car traveling from Seoul to Seochon. At night. A seven hour trip. Missing windows and wind and wooden seats. Nowhere to go to escape the cold. No options. I seriously thought about just getting off at some village-stop and just going up to a house and hoping they would...

For locks, pouring any water over the lock has worked for me. Once in an emergency I had to use my own water if you know what I mean. For pipes, I have installed below ground shut-offs to the outlying bibs, and where we cannot do that, we leave the fartherest bib dripping, and have used a heat...

12-28-22. 1:30 P.M.

Again this year, the wife says she wants nothing and needs nothing. Daughters say the same. Grandkids have a few things they would like to get. So trying to buy Christmas gifts is always a challenge as I feel somewhat compelled to get something for everyone. But me - I always have a list. This...

I will be 79 in February. Went to college 1962-66. When our daughters went to college there were no warnings either - just promotions. The warnings had to come from us.

I remember well when our daughters started college. On the move-in date we were there helping them move in - there were booths of all kinds set up around the campus - many of them offering credit card sign-ups (very different than when I went to college). It was a great opportunity to explain...

This is a bit off point, but at least it has to do with cash - and it is interesting. A number of years ago we decided to pay off our mortgage balance - I think it was about $20,000 at the time. Anyway, I went into the bank to do that with a check and they referred me to a guy at a desk. He...

We use the most advantageous credit card we could find (regarding discounts, cash back etc. ). It was my understanding that debit cards were riskier than credit cards because your money was gone - and with credit cards you were not liable except perhaps for $50 if you delayed reporting an issue...

Not doable for everyone, but goats handle it for us.

We have lived on our 90 acres (Sierra Nevada foothills) for 36 years. For the first half of that time we did not own a tractor so what we could do to improve the place and tackle projects and make things easier was minimal. Then we got a tractor and what we could do and have done increased...

Good advice. Always check the simple things first.

Few friends. None have tractors.

Hey, thanks to all for the suggestions. The drill-doctor idea is timely. Every year the kids ask me what I want for Christmas and I always say 'nothing'. This year I asked for a post-hole digger as one of the fiber glass handles shattered. But now, I will ask for a drill-doctor. Any particular...

Thanks, grs. Great idea. No need to have a re-do here. I will do that. Usually I will do a search but I don't always have luck finding the threads. Much appreciated.

I will put my collection of dull drill bits up against anyones - both in terms of the number of bits and how dull they are. I guess I have a problem tossing them. Anyway, yesterday after trying a number of bits to get a job done and finding none of them sharp enough, I thought about either...

Wow, how sad. Such a familiar guy here. I always enjoyed what he had to say. Sorry to hear this.

Two things to add to the discussion that may be useful: 1) I used to use the breathing strips. I did this because I have a deviated septum that prevented easy nose breathing if I slept on my left side. The strips worked somewhat to let me breath when I slept that way. But they were a PITA and...

Thanks. I wanted to do an in-home sleep study but they recommended I do it at their facility. The cynic in me wonders if it is because they can charge more. I am very interested in learning about any issues though.

I am finally set for my overnight sleep over - on 11-30. BTW, when I initially consulted with my dr. about my concern about sleep issues (during a visit about something else) I indicated that I never woke up gasping or similar, but would wake up actually holding my breath which I would then wake...

Something that has proven to be very useful for me is a battery operated fire "bellow". If you have a fireplace you may want to get one. Every one here loves it. I used to use a long half inch piece of pvc to blow air when I was working on starting a fire in the fireplace - it worked but was a...

Here is one I built. The front and sides come off (top board holds the sides in and then the other boards slide up and out, and there are latches for the sides) although I have not needed to take them off for the uses I have had for it so far. It has slots for chainsaws and shovels etc. on the...

Ponytug, good advice. One of the culverts does have a steep dropoff and the other one can be made to have one as well. Also, I think between loosening up the dirt at both ends and perhaps dragging something through there (not necessarily a tire) and also having some rain with enhanced velocity I...

i7win7, thanks - something to try when water is flowing. I will try to find a tire the right size.

I have four culverts on the property. Two of them I have installed - actually I replaced two older original culverts (one that clogged up and one that washed out). They are all fine right now but I see that there is some dirt and such building up in two of them - a 15 inch one and an 18 inch one...

It will depend on where you live and what you need to do, but for me, in order of the time used: FEL, Box blade, pallet forks, grading blade, and carry-all (to which I have built a box/uber +). And whichever one you really need at the time for the task is the most important one you have. Others...

Sorry. I tried to just copy it and post in several different ways but finally the only way I could get it done was to copy the link the way I did. There may have been other ways but my skill level wouldn't get me there.

https://fb.watch/gBmKprUNtd/

This is timely. I have just this week been referred to a sleep study professional for an in-their-facility sleep analysis. They have not scheduled that yet. I have never woke up gasping for air, but have at times woke up holding air in, and then puffing it out. They tell me there are different...

I have three and have used them all - answer is three.

I do, but likely not frequently enough. I once gave bicycles anonymously to a couple of deserving middle school kids - I had asked the principal to pick one deserving girl and one boy. And a while back, I learned that a girl in our office was living in a studio apartment with no refrigerator. I...

Oh Yeah, and it can happen so fast even if you are going slow.

I used to get 2 x 4s for about $2.00. Then they went up to $7.13 a year or so ago. Last week they were $3.69. Plywood is still crazy. Not many options though if you want to keep working on projects or need the material.

Okay, here's the plan. Tell her that you had put your pants on backwards and so the billfold ended up in the front where it was not expected to be. Then tell her that doing this was of some concern to your doctor who said it was caused by stress at home and that he said that it was very...

Trying to see the level was maddening until I added the oil dye.

I have not checked back through all the posts in this thread to see if this was already posted, but worth taking a chance to post it anyway. It's what you do when you have two vehicles that you could not sell on craigslist.

OldMcDonald, When we bought the property we also bought the cows he had - they were not all steers. He had Santa Gertrudis cattle, but the neighbor had angus and other mixed breeds. So, when the neighbor's bulls tore through the fences and visited our cows, our cows started dropping other...

Thanks Peter, I think that is what we will do. I did love having the mules here for a time - one issue was that they would not tolerate any dog they did not know. The guy that brought them had three heelers and that was no problem but we had to watchout for our dogs. A while back I looked into...

That's the kind of specific information I was looking for. Much appreciated.

Ultrarunner, we also have goats in fenced areas around the perimeter of the home-compound - with goat-fencing - maybe 100 feet plus out. They do an amazing job there. My wife prefers goats as the cows draw more flies. A guy kept a few mules here a while back for a few months - interestingly, the...

We live on 90 acres of rolling foothills - partially wooded. Years ago we had cattle- primarily to keep the grass down to mitigate the fire risk, and also to just enjoy having them. It was mostly uneventful - I was able to handle the fences, to lasso and band-castrate the young bulls...

A small thing, but important. Remember when the bed is up.

Moss, I never figured you to be that young given all the wisdom you impart here and all of the experiences you have related. Anyway, it sounds like it was a perfect day. I have not been fishing for a long time, but I fondly recall how great those long days fishing were even though we caught nothing.

Thanks to everyone. Later this week I will have some time and will pick up oil and hydraulic fluid in town and change all fluids and filters and the screen, and blow out the oil cooler. Hopefully, that will resolve the issue.

Thanks again. I have changed the oil and all the filters before so I can and will do that. And I have from time to time blown out the radiator with compressed air so I should also be able to do that as you advise. Advice appreciated.

About 1400 - bought it in August 2003 with 16 hours on it.

Thanks Alexpops for responding. I checked my files, and I think it was in October 2019. Damn, time flies. I cannot find the receipts for that as I also had the front seals replaced then - I wanted to check the hours that were on the tractor at that time. Currently about 1400 hours on the...

Kubota L3410 HST. If you have been in the seat long enough and pay attention you can sense when things are not running quite the same. I have noticed very recently that in reverse it is considerably slower than before at the same/usual RPMs and in midrange. I am not totally sure, but going...

Locoweed, I looked at those - they should work even with the variety of vehicles we have - F150, Pilot, Prius, but the cost is about two thirds of the cost of the medium duty remote controlled solar automatic gates. I am going to lay out the cattle guard extension I had built years ago and see...

Peter, no, I have not thought about drive through electric fences - unless you mean the automatic gate openers which I have checked on extensively. If I can make it 8' wide I sort of feel that they are not going to jump that span - but not sure. In my favor, I guess, is that it seems that only...

timbatrader, higher is not the issue as it is a cattle guard. I just want to make it wider to see if it will work out and deter them. I can likely make it as wide as 8' with a couple more pipes added to the extension I already have.

We have two cattle guards. The one at the main road at the end of the driveway is about 7' wide and as far as we know cannot be jumped. There is a gate there that we keep closed so we really don't know that for sure, but when it has been inadvertently left open we never had issues there - but it...

I have solar so avoiding the increases so far, but I check on the rate increases from time to time just to feel good about my ROI. In California and quoting: The average per kilowatt hour rate for PG&E residents has been increasing by about 4% each year for an increase of 44% since 2008, while...

The tractor and implements have been paid for years ago. I don't keep track of a year to year cost, but it would involve fuel, oil, hydraulic fluid, filters (air and oil and more), grease, batteries, replacing a few hydraulic hoses (due to owner back dragging errors), parts for repairs I have...

redman, way out of warranty period. Tractor is not new - bought in 2003. Apparently this is not uncommon given the experiences of others who have posted here. I have - as some have advised - checked the draw-down on the brakes separately - they are even, and have looked at adjustments but so far...

Update: I have not solved this and the other day after parking it on a slope and putting a wheel ramp behind the wheel, I went to work on a fence. I heard some creaking and went back to see that the tractor had rolled back about 10-15 feet into a bush - I had aimed it to do that in case it...

I posted about this, or similar issue, a while back. My issue was that the brake lock on my L3410 would not hold on a slope. I will update my experience and efforts on that thread now. I have not solved it. https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/need-a-primer-on-tractor-brake-lock.454795/

Solar has worked out well for us. Cash cost was $29,200, net cost was about $20k after tax credit. Our monthly electricity bills at that time were about $340 a month - today at current rates would exceed $450 a month - and that cose keeps increasing. The system will have paid for itself at the...

I saw this on the way to San Diego. The guy seemed quite content - proud even.

I wonder if we can get his report of what happened. And more photos. In any event, thanks for the post - there can never be too many reminders of what can happen. Helps to calibrate the pucker factor.

RalhVa, I had a Chamberlain driveway alert for many years then it stopped working - got another (same brand) but it did not work as well. So bought an eMacros unit with a half mile range - so far loving it - choice of four 'alerting' sounds and volume adjustment and other options. We have...

Again, Peter, thanks for the information - all very useful and welcome. We should be able to follow your advice re the roof and obstructions as it is a fairly simple design. I use goats where the tractor cannot safely go to create fire breaks, and basically scrape away the areas around the home...

Regarding the bidet - they attach under the toilet seat so no space issue actually. This is the one I bought (three times). Installs in about 15 minutes...

Ponytug, all good questions. The roof will be metal - I have not thought about what seamless might mean - will check that out. I was also checking out Hardiboard siding or something similar - or some stucco with faux rock facade - we don't want wood. They do want some faux rock as it would fit...

Things I can think of right now: When I remodeled our kitchen I added a second sink. Love it. Few kitchens have a second sink but if you ever do have one you will always want one. I installed a whole house fan. If I ever move I will install a whole house fan there. When it cools a...

Ponytug, thanks for info. Actually, we have been planning the build for a couple of years and we have lived here for 36 years so are very familiar with just about every corner of the 90 acres. We have considered just about every aspect of the build over and over and so selected the site, the...

Thanks for the responses. I appreciate it all. I can clarify a bit - in response. It appear that the home (mountain style cabin with loft) will be 1727 square feet including the loft. Footprint - just checked - would be 30 wide (the depth -front to back) and 52 feet long. That width does not...

Good point. I think we are okay with that though as roof will slope north to south and full access on those sides. We are looking a 40 wide plan - about 12' of which is a front deck.

I have discussed other aspects of this before (daughter building a home on our property)- now, a different question: We have graded and compacted a pad on a hilltop. We are looking at mountain-style home and checking out plans she likes and I raised the question about the width and depth of the...

I'm not going to vote because I think you are collecting information about me.

When I have edited, I think I have limited it to typos, misspellings and such. I suggest that if a poster wants to make a substantive change after there have been responses, that instead of changing then content of the original post, to simply add "UPDATE" below the post and add the content...

There are some really nice fireplace inserts - wood burning - that can be put in with a double or triple wall piping concealed by brick (real or faux) and which look great. We looked at one for a second home which would take 24" logs- maybe larger, and had blowers. Some of that may be within...

I am not the person to rely on re this issue - what I know I learned here. But, I recall that when this happened to me - i.e., tractor just would not start and I went through the usual suspects (battery, connections. . . ) - I finally figured out that it was the neutral switch (until then I...

The only time my fuel gauge stopped working was because mice had chewed through some wires. Just a thought. I don't know if that is your issue.

Central California foothills: Last week - $3.09 per gal. We own our tanks.

Millions long for immortality who don’t know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. -Susan Ertz

Welcome. You will find this place to be invaluable as you learn about the tractor experience. I would be a bit lost without this resource - it has helped me over and over and over. And once in a while, I have tried to be helpful as well.

Well, it is good to know that it is just not my tractor that has an issue with braking on an incline. Until I figure out if there is a viable adjustment, I will carry the chock along for those times I am in the hills and on an incline - I will be back up there today - I have about two more days...

Well, the tractor manual apparently anticipates that the brakes may not be enough as in the section on parking, it states: "If it is necessary to park on an incline, be sure to chock the wheels to prevent accidental rolling of the machine." There is also a reference to adjusting the brake...

Thanks to all. I will follow up. 1) I bought it with 16 hours on it, so new. 2) I am not sure I always had the issue as a lot of initial use was not on inclines, but likely yes - always an issue if my memory is accurate. 3) I will check out the manual and threads re adjustments. 4) There is not...

Thanks rScotty, it is reassuring in a way to hear that others have had the same experience. As for not parking on a slope at all - I have to agree - but not always an option as I will haul up my gear (tools, saws, wire, post hole pounder, T-posts, and more) to where I need to work, and then, I...

Tractor is an HST - not sure if that would be a factor. I did a brief Internet search (after I posted here) and see that others have had this issue - creeping after setting the brake.

Cycledude, thanks for responding. However, that is what I am doing - I am depressing the brake pedals with as much force as I can and then setting the lock lever. Then I wait and watch and there is a very slow creep down if I am on an incline. If you are correct and it is not supposed to move in...

I have a Kubota L3410. We live on 90 acres in the foothills of Central California. The 'hills' part is what presents the issue. Very frequently, including today and yesterday, I am in the hills with the tractor and need at times to stop and get off. Today it was to use a chainsaw on some trees...

Wow, that is 'nano'. Interesting concept - and needed.

They need to charge a monthly fee for people who do not use their turn signals.

Many, many years ago, I think it was on cereal boxes - you "could" buy land in Canada for - like a few cents. I don't recall the details but it intrigued me then and still does. I hope someone else remembers this and can provide a bit more information. I recall - I think - that some of it was...

Yep.

Same with me. If I don't have a list of challenging things to do I sort of feel empty. I keep adding to that list and in fact I am always thinking of things I can do, build, fix, improve, or try. It's frequently hard but not exactly work. The satisfaction is the reward. I think most here will...

Gravity. Can't live with it, can't live without it.

Yeah, we do. Our plan has been to attach field fence to the aging 4-line barb wire fence around the perimeter of our property - 90 acres - and repair the barb wire runs as needed. We will do that bit by bit as we have time and the spirit moves us to do it. We are also cross fencing some other...

He had a bunch - all lengths - but they were already gone.

I used a pipe floor flange bolted into a tire rim and filled the tire with concrete for a post I needed to anchor one end of a rectangular swimming pool shade cloth - it is about 10 feet up, and for my use, I also added an eyebolt about half way up and used rope from that to two anchor points...

I scored big Saturday - made three trips with the pickup to a fence contractor's yard sale and bought 12 rolls of 330' field fence (Bekaert high tensile fixed knot) for $1,000 (so we paid about $84 a roll). For another $150 I got one and a half rolls of high tensile barb wire, 100' of 6' chain...

I don't know why I did not realize what that is. I was taught about that on my very first construction job right out of high school - never saw one but the boss kept talking about it. It is a sky hook. I was sent to fetch it a few times. Never found it though. It is supposed to be very useful.

This is what I bought a while back. I use it with a loggers chain to hook onto and pull out sections of trees that I have cut down and need to move out of the way. It has been very useful in those situations - and especially when you cannot get in close with the tractor...

Eddie, It is the woven field fence - from TSC. 330' x 47" rolls. We have used that fencing in two very large areas placed over three strands of barbed wire on T-posts without any issues. No escapes and no hang ups with the goats. I may decide to bite the bullet and permanently fence in a couple...

Everybody has to do what they are comfortable doing. Me - I would deal with it at every level until they made it right. That is just me. I could not rest until it was corrected. BTW - interesting story - Lowes - years ago I found the Lowes' bills confusing - if you chose the 24 months no...

The cost of ownership is one thing - but the value of owning a tractor is priceless.

Well, between gas for the car and gas for the tractor, the tractor wins. A closer call though if the choice is gas for the tractor or food.

Likely that is an issue. And it is really, really dry here. I think I will go with some hog wire and T-posts. I can get that done and it will resolve somewhat permanently. The electric fence was going to be taken down as soon as they cleaned out the ravine. Thanks for taking the time to respond...

I think I have to agree re the charge - it was a real jolt (when I touched it by accident) but nothing like you describe. Regarding the depth of the 'ground' - it is an 8 foot chainlink fence surrounding a concrete sport court and I think we put the posts in at about two feet - but then...

Ponytug, in other areas around the home 'compound' I have barb wire with hog fencing and they clear that out well - and in a more forested area but still fenced well they take out everything including poison oak, shrubs and low hanging branches. So, I have a decent buffer regarding fire risk...

Gee Ray - thanks for responding. Regarding the ground, I ran a wire from the grounding lug on the charger to a chain link fence post that was nearby. I assumed, then, that it would be a very good 'ground' given that the chainlink fence post would conduct to the chainlink fence and to the other...

Sea2summit - good to know - guess I should have posted here first. Thank you for responding. My wife thinks the goats are smarter than me. But would they not have been shocked even with the existing wires?

At considerable effort, I prepared/graded a weed free path for a route of electric fence around a ravine that needed cleaning out (primarily to mitigatge a fire risk). Probably about a 400 foot run. I put in the electric fence posts, ran three strands of wire - one strand was the recommended...

Since the ball can move a short distance, and since the barrel has been cleaned somewhat, I am wondering if the ball is misshapen so that once it starts to fall out it turns a bit and sticks due to a wider diameter across one part of the ball. Just thinking.

I think this was a 'one and done' situation - likely will never happen again, and doubtful it has happened to anyone else. I agree - you would think the critter would have jumped out. I also thought that maybe it was already dead in there but if so he was very recently dead as it was totally...

Y'all need to check your T-pounder before you lift it up and over a T-post and start pounding. At least I do. Not the best way to start the day - we were stringing a fence and I began to use the pounder on a T-post. The first clue that something was not right was when, instead of the usual loud...

Just saw this. I don't want to work anywhere near power lines - actually, don't like even being near them. And if I have to I will sit for a long time thinking about how to be safe. Man electrocuted in Fridley after striking powerline with chainsaw

I have no solution to your problem, but I have a dumb idea (my wife says I have many of those). What about - if it is possible: -oiling the inside as others have said - standing it up front part down for a gravity assist - then putting ice in the rear (if possible) to maybe shrink the ball...

I agree - totally agree. Litigation is a terrible way to settle issues (but sometimes the only option). I told my daughter and SIL that we had grounds to sue but that we did not want to live with that (stress- expense - distracted from building the home) for 2-3 years and so we would move on...

Thanks for posting. When it involves safety there can never be enough reminders.

Ditto on taking care of the crews. For various projects here I would let them know I would get their lunches - asked them when they took lunch and went and brought food back. I made sure there were chairs and shade and a table for lunch time. Had ice and sodas and water. At the end of the day, I...

This proves once again that posting here is alway a wise first step. I am getting much advice, information and support and it is very much appreciated. I mean that. I will think over my strategies - with the input received here. Possibilities and likely: (all will be documented in emails)...

Yeah, I used to buy 2x4 studs for $1.97 and a few days ago I saw them for $7.13. I should have mentioned - we negotiated an even lower home building price in September-October 2021 but they bumped that price twice before we worked out all the details and signed in November 2021. So in that...

Yeah, I figured we would need to do a lot of it, and/or making some deals with locals up here in the hills - there are many with different skills. I have done a lot of electrical, plumbing, framing, drywall (hate that!), and more. So, an option. Thank you for the input.

Thanks for this information. I will ask for that. I have also started to look at log cabin kits - the daughter loves them and the mountain and hill top setting with fantastic views from the site would work out. I will visit the County Building dept on Monday to check out how the manage that...

Sad day here today. After signing a contract to build a second house on our 90 acre property (about $265,000 for the building only - we have to do the well, pads, septic and more) we waited for six months for the permit to be issued. Well, it was approved this week but the builder now says due...

dodge man, the pad is for the well head (controls, booster pump, pressure tank, and such). Our daughter and son-in-law are building a home on our property - we have 90 acres and have lived here for 36 years. It will be great to have them here as we get older. We have gone through the...

3Ts - you are spot on with that advice. For the well at the main house, the well house/covering can be completely tipped off the pad to one side to allow full access when needed - and it has been needed twice in 30+ years. It takes two strong guys to tilt it off and put it back but so very...

Actually, it cleaned out easily - immediately after we were done, we dumped the rest of the water in to the bucket and broomed it around and it came out clean. That was the easiest part.

I don't have a lot of cat knowledge, but will share this: We have two cats - someone gave them to my wife. We fixed both of them. They are quite old now. Then someone dropped off, or a feral cat had, three kittens. They showed up here. We trapped them, found homes for two of them and kept one...

Okay, finished it, so my update: Took the tooth bar off. Loaded up garbage cans with water- and smaller buckets to bail it with. The form already had rebar and wire. Coated the inside of the forms with cooking oil. Lined up the FEL along the form (3.5 x about 9' - and set to be about 5" thick)...

When my Husqvarna riding mower conked, I did my due diligence to find a replacement. I could not find any of the first 3 or 4 on my list of wants. I settled. One of the simplest JDs - and not the one I would have chosen. but it works fine and actually is quite suitable for our uses - I guess I...

Agree. I have always said that when the time comes that someone has to change my diapers I am checking out. The quality of life issue will control my decision.

Happened to me with something I bought at Lowes - more than once - missing parts and obviously were 'returns'. I returned the last item and explained that it was not the first time. The manager came out and was extremely gracious - thanked me and said they would take this up at the next meeting...

Never more than 90 seconds to a minute. Once a day, typically just after breakfast. One and done. I do take in a lot of fiber including supplements and so evacuation is complete.

It will be in the 90s for a few days, so I will wait until Monday when it is supposed to be a bit cooler and then will tackle this. I will take and post pictures and report back on the experience - the success or lack of success, the celebration or the regrets.